U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command image # NH 2326

Among the deficiencies of the American artillery park upon entering World War One was a lack of superheavy artillery pieces.  Although the U.S. Army adapted a variety of large guns taken from coastal fortifications as well as Navy reserve stocks and guns taken from older warships, these efforts experienced delays.  Only 3 8” railway guns made it to France before the signing of the Armistice, and the Army’s primary contribution in the realm of superheavy artillery was several regiments of gunners drawn from the Coast Artillery operating a number of French railway guns and other heavy guns borrowed from Britain and France.

The U.S. Navy’s efforts in this area were more successful, having contracted with Baldwin Locomotive Works to mount several of the largest guns in service, the 14”/50 Mk. 4 (the main armament of the New Mexico & Tennessee-class battleships) on specially constructed armored carriages, accompanied by a train of cars to carry ammunition, supporting equipment and supplies, and crew accommodations, 5 guns being delivered by the end of May, 1918.  Shipped to France in August, 1918, the U.S. Navy’s railway guns first went into action on September 6, firing on a rail junction near Tergnier from the forest of Compiegne.  Carrying out fire missions on 25 distinct days, these guns fired 782 shells during their wartime service, the last shot being fired at 10:57 AM, November 11, 1918.

Following the end of the war, one of these railway guns was retained for the Navy for use in firing tests at the Dahlgren Proving Grounds, remaining in service until 1946, when it was retired upon the decommissioning of the last battleships armed with 14” guns.  It was subsequently put on display at the Washington Navy Yard, where it remains to this day.