The 24 cm Theodor Kanone (E) was a siege railway howitzer used by the Wehrmacht during World War II. It was used during the German invasion of France in June 1940 to attack the Maginot Line fortresses. Later, they would also be used for coastal defense in northern France and Belgium. The Cherbourg naval base was defended by this artillery piece during the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944.
The 24 cm Theodor Kanone (E) was an adaptation of six 24 cm naval guns, which were set up in turrets on the Odin-Class warship, which was used for coastal defense. These old 24 cm naval guns had been developed and built between 1890 and 1900. Between 1937 and 1939, Krupp upgraded them, mounting them on a new cradle and fitting them with a brand new breech. For the coastal defense role, the Theodor Bruno Kanone E, that was its full name, was mounted on a circular turntable, which had a pivot mount at its center.
The letter 'E' comes from the German word Eisenbahnlafette, meaning 'railway mounting'.
Specifications
Type: railway howitzer
Caliber: 238-mm
Shell: 150-kg HE (separate loading, cased charge)
Barrel Length: L/35 (8.4 m)
Weight: 95 tons
Breech Type: horizontal, sliding block
Elevation: +10 to +45 degrees
Traverse: 360 degrees (on turntable)
Maximum Range: 20.2 km (22,100 yards)
Below, the 24 cm Theodor Bruno Kanone E on its railway cradle in 1940.
German soldiers load the 150-kg shells onto the railway trailer.
The 24 cm gun barrel on the horizontal position to be loaded with a shell.
