Having considered Franz Joseph's fire sledgehammer ("Franz Joseph's fire sledgehammer"), now let's look at the combat use of 305-mm mortars.
"Motorbatteries" in the battles of the First World War
The effectiveness of the Skoda 305-mm mortars is evidenced by the combat path of the "motor batteries" of the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Army.
By the beginning of the war, "motor batteries" were part of: the 1st Emperor Franz Joseph, the 2nd and 3rd fortress artillery regiments, as well as the 5th and 8th separate artillery battalions. Actions were provided by the efforts of aeronautical companies.
Against the strongholds of Belgium. Baptism of fire
During the Belgian campaign, the Germans were forced to resort to the help of their Austrian ally - using units of 305-mm mortars. Yes, the Austrian Skodas were of a smaller caliber than the German Berts, but they were incomparably more mobile. And the time in the implementation of the Schlieffen plan was the main factor.
It was during the Belgian campaign that Austrian guns, smaller than the "Berts", were christened as the "Miracle Emma".
Mortars were used during the siege of two fortresses - Namur and Antwerp. Near Namur, the Skoda were working on Fort Mayseret - which surrendered the day after the opening of fire, on August 22, 1914. Antwerp, with as many as 18 forts, was a stronger enemy.
The 3rd Reserve Corps of the Germans, in addition to the German artillery (4 420-mm, 48 210-mm and 72 150-mm guns), was supported by 2 "motor batteries" - that is, there were as many Austrian "Skodas" as there were "Big Berts" … It was the super-heavy artillery that leveled the power of the allies' defense, which in another situation could have held out for more than a year. The Austrians worked on Fort Waelhelm - and it was the fall of this fort on October 2, 1914 that became the crisis of the defense of Antwerp. The "Motorbatteries" also smashed 3 other forts, firing a total of 2130 shots.
At the gates of Krakow
"Motorbatteries" met with Russian troops during the Krakow operation in November 1914. The fall of Krakow meant the complete disaster of the Galician front of Austria-Hungary.
The Russian troops failed (unlike Przemysl) to achieve the blockade of Krakow - and the operation ended unsuccessfully (). On December 6, 1914, the mobile Skoda played their role during the counterstrike against the Russian troops, which were preparing for the assault. The Limanovsky counterattack of the Austrians was successful, and a significant role in this was played by mobile heavy artillery, constantly changing positions and adapted to operations in mountainous conditions.
In the Przemysl trap
4 305-mm guns (2 batteries) were immediately caught in the "trap" - which was a luxury even for such a large fortress as Przemysl. They proved themselves during the first siege of Przemysl by the Russians - in September 1914. One of the batteries fought counter-battery against the Russian artillerymen (fire was corrected from a balloon) - arousing the respect of the latter. The lack of its own heavy artillery led to serious losses of Russian troops and the lifting of the siege.
Then the 305mm pads began to experience serious ammunition problems, and they were applied in dosage and caution. The second siege ended with the fall of Przemysl in March 1915, and the mortars were disabled so as not to fall into the hands of the Russians.
In the fire of 1915
In January 1915, a counter battle broke out in the Carpathians, battles were fought at Lupkov, Smolnik and Kozyuvka. But help from the Austro-Germans never came to Przemysl. In the spring and summer, battles unfold in Galicia and on the river. Isonzo, and in the fall - in the Balkans.
On the Russian front, 305-mm howitzers were used both during the mountain war in the Carpathians (for example, in the Stanislavovsky sector), and in the spring and summer during a maneuver war. Airplanes were increasingly used to correct fire. The Russians waged an active and effective counter-battery fight.
In February 1915, 4 Skodas took part in the artillery assault on the Osovets fortress. The enemy noted the accuracy of the fire of the Russian artillerymen - who not only knocked out 2 German 420-mm guns, but also covered the position of the 305-mm guns. And the latter were forced to leave the position. The artillery assault was thwarted, the vital strongholds of the Russian fortress survived - and the attack of the German infantry was repulsed. And in the battles near Osovets, 305-millimeter paper no longer participated.
"Austrian Berts" took an active part in the Gorlitsk operation. So, 12-inch tanks supported the actions of the 14th corps (Tarnov - Tukhova), as well as the 35th division of the Beskydy corps and the 9th corps. But the German 11th Army, which was delivering the main blow, was strengthened most strongly by the Skodas. The 11th Battery was transferred to the 39th Honored Infantry Division of the Austrian 6th Army Corps of the 11th Army. Together with the German 10th Army Corps, the 6th Corps was the flagship of the offensive. The 13th 12-inch battery reinforced the 12th Infantry Division of the 6th Corps.
The 10th battery "Skoda" reinforced the 92nd rifle brigade, the 7th battery reinforced the 32nd artillery brigade of the 2nd army, etc. We see that the field troops were very densely saturated with heavy artillery. A gigantic amount of artillery (700 barrels in the main attack sector), up to the largest calibers inclusive, was an important trump card of the Austro-German command in the Gorlitsk operation.
The 2nd battery was transferred to the 25th Infantry Division of the 2nd Corps of the 1st Army - it was to operate on the river. Nida.
But the resistance of the defenders initially did not allow achieving the slightest tangible result - even the 6th Corps, despite the support of its actions with 4 12-inch batteries. Progress - 2-4 km. True, the Austrians very significantly helped the Germans attacking Gorlice, especially the 41st reserve corps near the Kamenets forest. The Honvedians and the Prussian Guards acted together at Vetrovka. German 10th Corps attacked at Stashovka. And 12-inches actively supported the attackers.
The "Skoda" units of the formations carrying out auxiliary actions - in particular on Nida, were also active. The Austrian officer recalled how Russian 7-inch howitzers covered the Skoda firing positions. The 12-inch fire was amazing - billowing huge fountains of the earth. The officer recalled the defeated position of the Russian battery - after he managed to take the positions left by the Russians. During a fire duel with the Russians 3 days later, one mortar was destroyed along with its crew.
The Skoda also took part in the conquest of Przemysl.
In August 1915, 4 Skoda batteries took part in the siege of the Novogeorgievsk fortress, supporting the Austro-German troops: the 11th, 12th, 15th and 16th batteries.
We also took part in other operations.
In the Alps and on the Isonzo
The Italian front had the peculiarity that there was absolutely no phase of a maneuver war on it - and the hostilities immediately assumed positional forms, also complicated by the specifics of the high-mountain theater of operations. And heavy artillery (especially howitzer) was needed more than ever.
Delivery of ammunition, repair of material and difficulties in camouflage and in moving guns - these are the main problems of the front artillerymen.
The armored towers of the Italian forts became the most important targets for the Skoda. The forts of Verena, Campolongo and Campomolon became a thorn in the Austrian fortified points of Wehrle, Wesena and Lucerne. Withstanding the hits of shells up to and including 220 mm caliber, they became a clear problem.
And all 3 forts in June 1915 were destroyed by 12-inches.
