Was Robin Hood in the RFA?

[Beechhill]

 

Anders Christensen served in the German artillery and left us this tale from their position in the Chemin forest. 

 

"We arrived in January 1918 from St. Avold, where we had been at rest, to Verdun close to Hill 304.

[...] 

One gun had been allocated an unfortunate position and was showered with shells. Among others it received a direct hit to the muzzle, and part of the barrel was torn into four like the stem of a dandelion."

 

Tall tale or a statistical necessity? 

 

/Dan 

 

http://denstorekrig1914-1918.dk/11-januar-1918-anders-christensen-det-var-overraskende-hvor-hurtigt-amerikanerne-gik-fremad/

Edited 11 January , 2018 by Beechhill

[HenryTheGerman]

I cannot confirm the truth of the information given in the report. But in the run of my service in the German Bundeswehr (engineer troup) the handling of explosives and blasting operations was a big part of our job. We went through respective training, including demolition of Flanders fences, walls and buildings and of armoured vehicles, too. Using many kinds of explosives we cut off cannon barrels, blew up old cars and tank wheels (which was not allowed to do on the "Aschenplatz" in Sennelager). - Very well I remember the effect of a charge (of either 200 g TNT or of a slightly bigger portion of Nitropenta plastic) that was put into the muzzle of a tank cannon: The charge made a banana skin-like looking thing from the cannon muzzle. We were highly amused because it was just as to be seen in Bugs Bunny cartoons.

Given that a British Shell was not a shrapnel grenade but a HE, and it directly hit the muzzle of the German artillery piece, the said demolition pattern seem very realistic to me.

 

Regards

 

Henry

[Beechhill]

Cheers, Henry! Luckily I was spared experiencing a Rohrkrepierer in my days serving in the Danish Artillery, so your experience adds to the weight of the story. 

/Dan 

[michaeldr]

15 hours ago, HenryTheGerman said:

the effect of a charge ... ... ... that was put into the muzzle of a tank cannon: The charge made a banana skin-like looking thing from the cannon muzzle.

 

This is the sort of result which Henry's charge must have had

[photograph taken at the Çanakkale Deniz Műzesi (Canakkale Naval Museum) showing what I believe is the effect of a post armistice British demolition job on a Turkish weapon]

As Henry has already pointed out, a lucky hit on the muzzle by an HE shell could theoretically have had the same or similar effect

Edited 12 January , 2018 by michaeldr

[Beechhill]

Oh dear! Looks like one of those novelty cigars, but probably still more dangerous than smoking.

Back to topic; has anyone read about similar incidents? Stories and even specimens of bullets welded together after an in-flight collision are ripe, but largely (even in an earlier thread iirc) unconfirmed. 

Is it possible that the hit in fact was a Rohrkrepierer (the English terminology escapes me)? If the gun wasn't "taking fire" at the time, would/could the crew be working and firing? 

 

I'm not expecting a definitive answer, but I do like the thought experiment, so please contribute, pals! 

[Retlaw]

34 minutes ago, Beechhill said:

Oh dear! Looks like one of those novelty cigars, but probably still more dangerous than smoking.

Back to topic; has anyone read about similar incidents? Stories and even specimens of bullets welded together after an in-flight collision are ripe, but largely (even in an earlier thread iirc) unconfirmed. 

Is it possible that the hit in fact was a Rohrkrepierer (the English terminology escapes me)? If the gun wasn't "taking fire" at the time, would/could the crew be working and firing? 

 

I'm not expecting a definitive answer, but I do like the thought experiment, so please contribute, pals! 

On the subject  of  bullets welded in flight, dig in the back stop of any fullbore range and you will get buckets full.

[petwes]

What would be the effect of  a premature?

 

Peter

[Beechhill]

10 hours ago, petwes said:

What would be the effect of  a premature?

 

Peter

I'd expect something similar depending on where in the barrel it detonated. 

[Medaler]

There are some bits here, though not relating to artillery..........

 

 

Edited 14 January , 2018 by Medaler