Little David
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with the Davidka ("Little David"), a homemade Israeli mortar used in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
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| Little David | |
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 Little David at the Aberdeen Proving Ground |
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| Type | Heavy Mortar |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | Testing only |
| Used by | USA |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 40 tons (without carriage) |
| Barrel length | 22 feet (6.7 m) |
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| Shell | 3,650 pounds (1,656 kg) |
| Caliber | 36 inches (914 mm) |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Muzzle velocity | 1250 ft/s (381 m/s) |
| Maximum range | 6 miles (9.7 km) |
Little David was the nickname of an American 36 inch (914 mm) caliber mortar used for test firing aerial bombs during World War II.
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[edit] History
Towards the end of the war it was modified to serve as a siege mortar, as it was expected that the US forces would encounter extremely strong fortifications during the invasion of Japan. When Japan surrendered the invasion became unnecessary and Little David was therefore never used in combat. Little David is one of the largest artillery pieces ever produced, by caliber. The mortar was to be transported by two artillery tractors, making it more mobile than a railway gun. Its ultimate effectiveness would have been questionable because of its limited range and accuracy.
[edit] Ammunition
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Shell at the United States Army Ordnance Museum, Maryland
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Little David mortar |
- globalsecurity.org - 36-inch Little David
- Little David Mortar Present day photos of the Little David Mortar at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD
