They're obviously World War One vintage, but what, exactly, are they? Any thoughts or clues? Sunday, June 6, 2010
Mystery guns
My wife and I had the pleasure of attending the 40th anniversary of the Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres, Illinois yesterday. More on that soon over on my Hetzenberg blog. On the way we passed through the small town of Prairie du Rocher, where the American Legion post has these beasts outside their hall.
They're obviously World War One vintage, but what, exactly, are they? Any thoughts or clues?
They're obviously World War One vintage, but what, exactly, are they? Any thoughts or clues? 
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5 comments:
I don't know what they are, but now I'm curious too. Will let you know if I find out.
I have a lead on these. Will let you know if it pans out. :)
I found someone who's supposed to have the info on them, but he was out when I called. I left contact info with his wife so hopefully I'll have something for you in the next day or two.
Excellent! Thanks for pursuing this. =) We were in a flow of traffic held up at a railroad crossing so we couldn't stop to look at the boards in front of the guns.
Got some more information for you. I'm waiting for some things to be scanned and emailed to me, but a couple of initial bits of info:
The gun is a Krupp 150mm K16/L40 from probably 1902. There's another one of the same type in Dayton, VA according to the fellow I spoke to. But apparently the rarest item in your photo is actually the 4-wheel unit behind that right-hand gun. It's a barrel carrier, in which the barrel of the gun was put on the carrier and the cannon moved in two separate parts before being re-assembled in position. According to the man I talked to, that barrel carrier is believed to be the only one of its kind still in existence in the US, and possibly worldwide.
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