We conclude our brief overview of the participation of 305-mm "motor batteries" in the First World War (see "The Miracle Emma" in battle). Now it was the turn of the 1916-1918 campaigns.
Campaign of 1916
Batteries nos. 6, 8, 11, 12 and 14 fought on the Balkan front. The Italian front was full of "Skodas". For example, the 16th corps had the 1st and 10th batteries, and the 3rd corps - the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Skoda batteries.
The participation of these guns in the Romanian campaign and the Battle of Caporetto became, perhaps, one of the most effective periods in the history of mortars - their kind of triumph.
In the 1916 campaign, the number of "motor batteries" reached 21 (42 305-mm guns), equipped with M 11., M 16 and M 11/16 mortars. "Motobatteries" were withdrawn from the serf forces, becoming the fire reserve of the High Command.
By the summer, the number of "motor batteries" on the Italian and Balkan fronts is decreasing.
But on the eve of the Romanian campaign, the composition of the German 11th Army is significantly increased. So, if the 8th Austrian corps of this army had only one (5th) battery "Skoda", then the 20th corps had 6 batteries, and the firepower of the 3rd corps was increased from 3 to 7 batteries. At the same time, the Austrian 3rd Army, which had several Skoda batteries a few months earlier, retained only one in May 1916. But after the end of the crisis caused by the 1916 Southwestern Front Offensive, the Eastern Front was reinforced with several batteries (the 14th and 13th batteries in the 3rd Army, the 8th, 1st and 17th batteries reinforced the corps Hoffmann and Kralichka of the Southern German Army).
Skoda batteries participated in the Romanian campaign - for example, the 3rd and 20th batteries, attached to the 6th corps. Heavy artillery was very useful in the assault on the Romanian fortresses. Bucharest was defended by 2 strong Danube fortresses - Tutrakan and Silistria. The first consisted of 15 forts - but was taken within two days. A similar fate befell Silistria. Thus, in September 1916, the Skoda once again demonstrated their effectiveness - and Bucharest fell into the hands of the Austro-German troops.
End of the war
The 15th "motor battery" took part in repelling the June offensive of the Russian army in 1917. She also participated in the July counterattack of the Austro-German troops (9 German and 2 Austrian divisions) - the artillery unit of which was led by the famous G. Bruchmüller (firing fist - up to 600 artillery barrels). Having lost their fortitude and shaken morally sick with the "disease of the revolution", the Russian troops were knocked out of their positions, and the 25-km breakthrough was of key importance for the end of the operation - Galicia was lost by the Russians.
In 1917, 54 mortars were made, combined in 27 batteries. In the second half of the year, there were 58 guns in 29 batteries. And 26 batteries (52 guns) ended up on the Italian front - which, after the revolutionary degradation of Russia, became the main one for Austria-Hungary.
So, the group of General Kraus had the 28th, 15th, 13th and 21st batteries, the group of General Stein had the 20th and 5th batteries, the 2-division German group of Berrera, generously equipped with Skodas, had 4th, 14th, 16th and 33rd batteries, etc.
And the Battle of Caporetto (12th Battle of the Isonzo), which began in October 1917, was a real triumph for the Austrian heavy artillery. The Italian positions were swept off the face of the earth, and the Austro-German forces achieved impressive successes. The operation turned into a disaster for the Italians, which was hardly localized with the help of the arriving Allied divisions.
305-mm batteries hit enemy strongholds, communications, transport junctions, and fought counter-battery. Particular attention was paid to the destruction of the positions of heavy artillery and concrete / reinforced concrete structures and armored towers of the forts. The lack of heavy equipment (including transport) in the Austro-Hungarian army (in comparison with the Germans) was more than compensated for by the motorisations of the Skoda batteries, which were also adapted to the realities of mountain warfare. Moreover, the Austrian 12-inch guns also significantly strengthened the power of the German heavy artillery.
In 1918, the Austrian artillery was reorganized. So, already in 1917, a number of fortresses and fortified areas (Krakow, Przemysl, Komarov, etc.) were abolished, and their serf artillery regiments were reorganized into heavy ones. "Motor batteries" were organizationally part of heavy artillery regiments (the 13th and 14th batteries - in the 1st, 1st and 2nd batteries - in the 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 13th batteries - in the 6th, 5th, 8th and 10th batteries - in the 9th, etc. Batteries and regiments reinforced the combined arms armies. The army now had 48 "motor batteries".
On average, in 1918, each army had several "motor batteries" - for example, the 10th Army and the Isonzo army - 4 such batteries.
The Skoda 305-mm mortar became one of the most advanced heavy howitzers of the First World War, a weapon that was distinguished by high firepower and mobility - which allowed it to act equally effectively both as a "forts killer" and in field warfare, in the mountains and on the plain.
And this weapon was waiting for a long service - in the post-war period, as well as participation in the next world war.
