Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0108Description
Damaged stereograph. Image has been ripped away leaving only the backing. On the top edge "---9" is printed, on the left edge "Keystone View Company Copyrighted, Underwood & Underwood, Inc. Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, on the right edge "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. --- Chicago, Ill., ----" is printed, on the bottom edge "V 19267 "The Dogs of War Let Loose are Howling" - French 320's in Action, near Reims." is printed. On the reverse, the following is prnted:
V19267
FRENCH 320's DEFENDING REIMS
This is a battery of four of the huge railroad guns used by the French in defense of Reims. Hurling projectiles nearly 13 inches in diamater to distances of more than 12 miles, these guns are so heavy and exert such a tremendous recoil when fired that their steel railway platforms have to be extremely strong and rigidly reinforced, as may be seen in the battery before us. Such weapons were used so far behind the lines and were so easily and quicklky moved form place to place on railway tracks that camouflage was hardly needed to conceal them. It is an interesting fact that the shells from guns like these travel so far and take so long in making the flight to their targets that one of the elements that has to be taken into account in figuring firing data for them is the roation of the arth, which turns a considerable distance on its axis while the projectile is in the air.
The Americans had only one fully equipped brigade of Railroad Artillery: the 30th, under General William Chamberlaine. But it was very powerful, consisting of 32 guns of 194-mm. (7.6-inches) calibre; 16 guns of 240-mm. (9.4-inches) ; 12 guns of 320-mm. (12.6-inches); 2 gunes of 340-mm. (13.4-inches) ; and 4 guns of 400-mm. (16-inches). In addition there was a detachment of naval gunners under Rear Admrial Plunkett with 5 American made 14-inch naval guns. These huge pieces accomplished great damage to the enemy while they were in use. Their last service was early in November, 1918, when advancing behind the 1st American Army they were able to break up the traffic on the main railroad line supplying the Germain armies by firing on the junctions at Montmedy, Conflans and Longuyon, distant 12 miles or more.
Copyright by The Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection