21cm Morser 18 Howitzer

21cm Morser 18 Howitzer
Country	Germany
Type	Howitzer
Manufacturer	Krupp
Period	1939–45 Built: 711+

Photo galery of a 21cm Morser 18 Howitzer, The 21 cm Mörser 18 (heavy howitzer) (21 cm Mrs 18) was a German heavy howitzer used in the Second World War by independent artillery battalions and batteries. A number were also used by coast defense artillery units.

Source: Wikipedia

21cm Morser 18 Howitzer
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21 cm Morser 18 Walk Around
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A Masterpiece of Heavy Ballistics

The 21 cm Mörser 18 (Mrs 18) was the German Army’s primary heavy howitzer for reducing enemy fortifications and delivering massive indirect fire. Designed by Krupp in the 1930s to replace the WWI-era Mörser 16, it was a colossal weapon that prioritized accuracy and platform stability over mobility. While technically a howitzer, the Germans categorized it as a “Mörser” (mortar) due to its high-angle fire capabilities. It was famously used to smash through the “impenetrable” Belgian forts in 1940 and served on all major fronts as the ultimate “door-kicker” for the German artillery.

Attribute	Technical Specification (21 cm Mrs 18)
Role	Heavy Siege Howitzer
Caliber	211 mm (8.3 inches)
Barrel Length	6.51 meters (L/30)
Weight (In Action)	16,700 kg (36,817 lbs)
Max Range	16,700 meters (approx. 10.4 miles)
Shell Weight	113 kg (249 lbs) HE or 121 kg Concrete-Piercing
Traverse	16° on wheels / 360° on firing platform
Production	Approx. 711 units

Design Engineering: The Dual-Recoil Innovation

The Dual-Recoil System: The Mrs 18 was one of the first mass-produced weapons to use a revolutionary dual-recoil system. The barrel recoiled within its cradle, but then the entire top carriage recoiled across the main chassis. This “double absorption” meant the main carriage didn’t budge during firing, allowing for incredible accuracy and a much faster return to target.
360-Degree Firing Platform: The gun featured an integral circular firing platform. When deployed, the crew would lower the platform and crank the wheels off the ground. A single gunner could then rotate the entire 16-ton assembly 360 degrees using a rear caster-wheel jack.
Split-Load Transport: Due to its immense weight, the Mrs 18 was usually transported in two loads: the barrel on one trailer and the carriage on another. It required heavy 12-ton half-tracks (like the Sd.Kfz. 8) for towing, and assembly in the field took a well-trained crew about 30–60 minutes.
The 17 cm Sibling: The carriage was so well-engineered that the Germans later used it to mount the longer-ranged 17 cm Kanone 18. This carriage standardization (Mörserlafette) was a hallmark of German logistical efficiency early in the war.

Operational History: The Concrete Breaker

Fortress Destruction: In 1940, the Mrs 18 proved its worth by leveling the modern concrete fortifications of Eben-Emael and other Belgian strongpoints. Its specialized concrete-piercing (Be-Percussion) shells could penetrate over a meter of reinforced concrete before exploding.
The Siege of Sevastopol: During the brutal 1942 siege, these guns were used alongside “Karl-Gerät” and “Dora” to pulverize Soviet bunkers. The steady platform provided by the dual-recoil system allowed batteries to drop shells with sniper-like precision into bunker apertures.
Production Rivalry: Production was briefly halted in 1942 in favor of the 17 cm version (which had nearly double the range), but the 21 cm was so effective at short-range destruction that production was resumed in 1943 to meet the demands of the Eastern Front.
The “Tiger” Variant: Late in the war, a prototype was developed to mount the 21 cm Mrs 18 on a Tiger II chassis (the Geschützwagen Tiger), though only a partially finished vehicle was ever found by Allied forces.