Dragon Can-Do 1/144 German Super-Heavy Mortar Ziu (20027C)

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Dragon Can-Do 1/144 German Super-Heavy Mortar Ziu (20027C)
A very neat and fully assembled 1/144 model of the Gerat self-propelled 60cm seige mortar 'Ziu' in khaki/green/brown camouflage. A most unusual weapon built for the German army during WW2, this 80mm long model is supplied with a display case and grass display plinth. Its small size would also make it a most interesting heavy artillary piece for wargaming.

The self-propelled version of the 60cm siege mortar was ordered in June 1937. Trials were held at Unterlüss in May 1940 and delivery of six production vehicles took place from November 1940 to August 1941. In February 1941, discussions commenced. concerning increasing the range of the weapon, and in May 1942, 54cm barrels (Gerät 041 ) were ordered for the six vehicles. At a conference with Hitler in March 1943, it was stated that the first 54cm Gerät 041 would be delivered by June 1943, and the third, by mid-August. The 60cm and 54cm barrels appear to have been interchanged as required. In 1945 US forces captured vehicle II with a 60cm and vehicle V with a 54cm. The prototype chassis, built in 1939, had eight road wheels with external swing arms, production versions had eleven road wheels. Ammunition was transported in a tracked Munitionsschlepper converted from the PzKpfw IV, four rounds in each Schlepper. Maximum rate of the fire was six rounds per hour. Guns I-IV went to the Russian Front in July 1941 with the 628th schwere Artillerie Abteilung. They saw action at various sites, including Lemburg in that year. The best known action was against Sevastopol in 1942. Later four guns were issued to the 833rd schwere Artillerie Abteilung (mot). These guns had the names Adam, Eve (1st Batt.) and Thor, Odin (2nd Batt.) The names for guns V and VI were Loki and Ziu.

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