Hobby Boss Morser Karl-Gerat siege mortar vehicle
Initial Version Vehicle Model  NEW SEALED BOX

The "Mörser Karl" (or Karl-Gerät) was a super-heavy self-propelled siege mortar used by Nazi Germany during World War II. The term "Mörser" translates to "mortar" in German. The Karl-Gerät was a massive artillery piece designed for the purpose of destroying heavy fortifications or defensive positions. Here are key details about the Mörser Karl-Gerät:

  1. Design and Development:

    • The Mörser Karl-Gerät was designed and built by Rheinmetall-Borsig between 1937 and 1940.
    • The development was prompted by the need for heavy siege artillery capable of breaching heavily fortified structures, such as the Maginot Line.

  2. Caliber and Armament:

    • The main armament of the Karl-Gerät was a huge 600 mm (24 in) mortar. The mortar had a short barrel but fired extremely large projectiles.
    • It was originally designed to fire two types of shells: a high-explosive shell and a shaped-charge shell for penetrating fortifications.

  3. Weight and Dimensions:

    • The Karl-Gerät was an immense vehicle, weighing around 124 tons.
    • It had a length of approximately 11 meters (36 feet) and was propelled by a Daimler-Benz MB 503 engine.

  4. Crew and Operation:

    • The vehicle required a significant crew to operate, including a driver and a large crew for handling the massive mortar.
    • Due to its size and weight, the Karl-Gerät was transported on a special transport carriage and assembled on-site.

  5. Combat Use:

    • Only a few Karl-Gerät vehicles were produced, and they saw limited use on the Eastern Front during the siege of Sevastopol in 1942 and later during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944.
    • The slow speed and vulnerability of the vehicle made it challenging to operate on the battlefield.

  6. Variants:

    • Two main variants were produced: the Karl-Gerät I and Karl-Gerät II. The latter had some improvements, including a longer barrel for increased range.

  7. Post-War Fate:

    • After the war, the surviving Karl-Gerät vehicles were captured by Allied forces, and some were taken to the United States and the Soviet Union for evaluation.

The Mörser Karl-Gerät, with its colossal size and firepower, was a unique and specialized weapon designed for a very specific purpose. Its operational use was limited, and it became a symbol of the extremes to which military technology was taken during World War II. Today, a few surviving examples can be found in museums.