“Langer Max” – 38-cm-SK-L/45 before Verdun
Current status: Due to supposed structural defects, primarily of the ammunition tunnels, the circular trail in the area of the position near Duzey (Bois de Warphemont) is partially closed to the public.
On the Western Front, increasingly heavier types of artillery were deployed by all participating nations as the war progressed. On the German side, the “Dicke Bertha” (Big Bertha) mortar developed by Krupp in Essen gained notoriety after it was already effectively used in the siege of the Belgian forts at the beginning of the First World War. After the appearance of the weapon, the French likewise called every larger German gun “Bertha” or “Dicke Bertha”.
In addition to this gun named after Bertha Krupp von Bohlen and Halbach, other super-heavy systems were also used. Positional warfare made large-caliber and long-range artillery necessary. Thus, on the German side, gun types developed for warships were already redesigned for land deployment starting in the second half of 1914.
One of these gun barrels was the “Lange Max”. The weapon bore the technical designation “38-cm-SK-L/45”. The value 38 cm referred to the inner barrel diameter, i.e., the caliber. SK stood for Schnellade-Kanone. L/45 designated the length of the gun barrel at 17.1 m, with the value 45 resulting from 45 times the caliber of 38 cm (45 x 38 cm = 1,710 cm). It is recorded that the designation “Langer Max” is said to go back to Vizeadmiral (vice admiral) Maximilian Rogge, who was significantly involved in the development of the system for land deployment in the Reichsmarineamt. This is possible, although not certain, as Rogge was only transferred to responsible positions in the Reichsmarineamt in 1917 and was only promoted to admiral in 1918. The designation “Langer Max” already appears in various reports in 1915.
History
The origin of this German gun type 38-cm-SK-L/45 “Langer Max” was at sea:
At the end of the 19th century, the British began developing modern warships. The rapid technical innovations of this time, in particular the further development of steam propulsion and high explosive ammunition, caused artillery and ship types to emerge in rapid succession among all major powers that were already obsolete upon completion. In December 1906, HMS “Dreadnought” was completed in England. “Dreadnought” means something like “fearnought”. This English ship type was the trigger of the naval arms race with which the major powers of the time sought to outdo each other. Annually, ship and caliber sizes increased. Likewise, construction costs rose, due to which Germany, after the outbreak of the First World War, could no longer keep up with British capabilities.
After the calibers of the British naval artillery had increased to over 34 cm, the Germans began developing Bayern-class ships in 1910. On January 6, 1912, Emperor Wilhelm II ordered a barrel type with an inner diameter of 38 cm. On April 1 and 3, 1912, the Imperial Navy awarded the construction contract for the first two new battleships, which were to be named SMS “Bayern” and “Baden”. The “Bayern” was operational in March 1916, the “Baden” in December 1916. The construction costs were calculated at 40 to 50 million Mark per ship. The “Bayern” sank through scuttling in 1919 off Scapa Flow, the “Baden” served as a British target ship until 1922. It still lies today at the deepest point of the English Channel off Cherbourg. The ships of the Bayern class each carried 8 guns of the 38-cm-SK-L/45 type, which were unmatched in their effect at the time.
Technical
The 38-cm-SK-L/45 “Langer Max” gun barrel, following the development of suitable metal firing mounts and transport procedures, could be used from the beginning of 1915 both as a railway gun and by means of concrete positions. The construction of such positions took up to 6 weeks. Over 35 railroad cars were necessary for the transport of the weapon with all components. The total weight was approximately 270 tons. Shells weighing approx. 400 to 750 kg were used, with a range of up to 47.5 kilometers being achieved by means of a metal pointed cap, and even just under 60 kilometers with special shells. It is occasionally reported that shrapnel shells with over 3,700 balls per projectile were also used. However, this is questionable, as there is no confirmation of this from the French side.
The guns were initially operated by members of the *Marineartillerie* (naval artillery) or also called *Matrosenartillerie* (sailor artillery). In the command area of the 5. Armee (Fifth Army), later the *Heeresgruppe Kronprinz* (Crown Prince Army Group), there was a corresponding *Marine-Sonderkommando* (naval special command) under the command of *Korvettenkapitän* (lieutenant commander) Hans-Walther Schulte. Individual sub-units were responsible for operating the guns. The naval operating crews were supplemented by rotating detachments of the foot or field artillery and also members of regular infantry units. The service uniform of the naval artillerymen in land deployment differed in part from the usual naval design and also from the uniforms of the infantry as well as the stationary artillery. It was field gray. However, no shoulder boards were worn. As with the naval uniform, naval rank insignia were found on the left sleeve. In the photos above, gun crews with and without shoulder boards are recognizable. As headgear, a field gray sailor’s cap modeled after the naval type was used, on which, just like the respective ship’s name for sailors, the artillery unit to which the soldier belonged was noted.
Action before Verdun
Before Verdun, three emplacement complexes had been erected for guns of the 38 cm SK L/45 “Langer Max” type, with the two emplacements near Sorel-Ferme described as a single position. Various secondary sources report that additional emplacements were constructed in the course of the war, or at least that further emplacements were planned. Reliable evidence for this cannot be found in the sources accessible so far. It is only verifiable that in the three existing emplacements in the rear area of the Verdun battlefield, naval guns of other types were also deployed alongside the “Max” type over the course of the war, with caliber sizes of up to 35 cm.
Sorel-Ferme
West of Sorel-Ferme, starting in November 1914, the first two concrete emplacements were built simultaneously by the Krupp company from Essen. The responsible construction manager for the Krupp company was Spetzler. These were positions to accommodate a simple test-firing mount, the earliest design of carriage constructions developed for land use. As a counterweight to the gun barrel and also to absorb the recoil, this type of emplacement had a massive concrete base on the front side. The positions allowed a horizontal traverse of the barrel by approximately 30 degrees. They were therefore limited in their scope of effectiveness.
Today, the positions near Sorel-Ferme are located in underbrush and are heavily overgrown. In the area of the southern emplacement, demolitions were probably carried out when the position was abandoned. Thus, the rear part of the emplacement was blown up, as well as parts of the front concrete base and the flanks. The northern emplacement also shows destruction by blasting. However, due to the heavy vegetation, it is barely visible.
Bois de Muzeray
Early 1915, another emplacement was built north of Loison in the Bois de Muzeray, today’s Bois de Watlemont, which was operational starting in February 1915. This design was also planned to accommodate a test-firing mount, but included several technical modifications. As a result, the horizontal traverse range increased to 36 degrees.
The position in the Bois de Muzeray is well preserved. It can be seen in the upper right photo that the concrete front weight apparently already showed a crack across the base during the operation of the gun. Apparently, the design was not entirely able to withstand the forces upon firing. This might also explain the material damage to the emplacement visible today. The fire control bunker is almost completely preserved except for the rear part. Railway tracks can be seen to the left and right of the emplacement. These originate from the rail assembly crane, which was operated bridge-like over the emplacement for the installation and dismantling of the firing mount as well as the barrel. During operation, a camouflage structure might also have been moved over these tracks, as is known from other positions and as can be seen in the photos under “Technical”. In the fir plantation located north of the emplacement, remnants of the standard-gauge railway line can be found, which reached right up to the gun with a branch line. The emplacement is surrounded by many shell craters. These indicate that the gun was spotted and engaged by the French.
Duzey – Bois de Warphemont
Current status as of September 2019: Due to the alleged dilapidation primarily of the ammunition tunnels, the circular trail in the area of the position near Duzey (Bois de Warphemont) is partially closed to the public.
During 1915, a third gun position was built in the Bois de Warphemont west of the village of Duzey. This position was far more complex. It contained concrete ammunition and accommodation rooms as well as the most modern of all gun platforms used before Verdun to accommodate a firing platform mounting. The latter was mounted on a concrete base located approximately 3 meters deep within the platform. The barrel was held by a metal slewing ring mounted on it. In contrast to the limited possibilities of the older platforms, the gun had a horizontal traverse of a full 144 degrees.
In early July 2014, at the request of the municipality of Spincourt and at the initiative of the Mission Histoire du Conseil Général de la Meuse in Bar-le-Duc, the position was supplemented with a massive gun barrel. Since then, it has been resting on two concrete bases between the position and the parking lot. It is a French 30.5 cm naval gun barrel produced in 1916. It was found in 2012 on the grounds of the Base Nautique Militaire de Gâvres (Morbihan). The 21 cm gun barrel that is part of an exhibition in the area of the Mairie de Gincrey also originates from this naval base. Likewise, the additional 14 cm gun barrel, which is installed in a restored French concrete platform in the Bois de Herméville and has been part of a military history trail since September 2015.
In contrast to the 14 cm gun barrel, a corresponding model of which was indeed used by the French as the “Baroncourt gun” in the Bois d’Herméville, the 30.5 cm barrel in the Bois de Warphemont was at no time used in land operations. Furthermore, it has no connection to the German position. It is recorded that a similar barrel was used as a railway gun by the French near Baleycourt during the Battle of Verdun and later by the Americans during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive against targets in the Verdun area.
In July 2015, the position in the Bois de Warphemont was partially restored. In the course of this work, the gun barrel received a new coat of paint. Against the resistance of environmental activists, the gun emplacement was largely pumped dry, a process that is to be repeated regularly. Thus, the interior of the emplacement can be viewed temporarily. In addition, a circular trail along with several information boards was laid out. Likewise, a small and easily overlooked sign was set up, clarifying that the 30.5 cm gun barrel is a French one and not the one that was installed in the German position. This information board also states that none of the German “Langer Max” guns exist anymore. This information is not entirely correct. In any case, with the SMS *Baden*, several gun barrels still lie between Cherbourg and Portsmouth in the English Channel.
Sources and Research
There is uncertainty in many respects regarding the technical details of the equipment and construction of the individual 38 cm SK L/45 positions before Verdun, the chronological sequences, and their military significance. The units involved either did not keep war diaries or these have been lost. Unit histories are also missing. Only a few contemporary authors have dealt with the subject in greater depth. Insofar as it was covered, contradictions arose.
More precise information can be found in the book by Generalmajor (brigadier general) a. D. Paul Bansi, Niedersächsisches Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 10 (10th Foot Artillery Regiment) – Der Regimentsstab im Felde, Oldenburg 1928, there on pages 38 f. It is stated here that as early as the end of 1914, a 38 cm naval gun had been mounted on a primitive firing scaffold in the area of Sorel-Ferme. This gun had fired a few rounds at Verdun and was then relocated to the meanwhile completed and more modern emplacement in the Bois de Muzeray. From June 1915 onward, targets in the Verdun area were fired upon again from there.
The service regulation of the Imperial Navy, *Entwicklung unsrer Marineartillerie*, Part V 1913–1920, pp. 5 f., states that a first gun was installed in the Bois de Muzeray in November 1914, which was ready for action in February 1915. It had been intended to move the gun to one of the positions near Sorel-Ferme, which, however, was omitted because they did not meet the technical requirements.
Information can also be found in the Historical Archive of the Krupp Company in Essen. In a preface to various photographs of the positions near Sorel-Ferme, it is reported that construction of two emplacements was begun there in November 1914, the guns of which were supposed to participate in an attack near Verdun planned for the end of 1914. Ultimately, however, the guns were not installed because they could be reached by enemy artillery. Rather, two further positions were subsequently erected north of Loison, from which Verdun and Fort Douaumont were fired upon starting in February 1915. Whether this also referred to the position in the Bois de Warphemont in addition to the emplacement in the Bois de Muzeray is questionable due to the distance. In the Bois de Muzeray, which is indeed located north of Loison, there was in any case only the position described above.
The subject of the 38 cm SK L/45 “Langer Max” is a scarcely treated aspect of the Battle of Verdun with clear research potential. Anyone who possesses further information and is interested in an in-depth study of the subject is cordially invited to do so and can contact me.
were AI-edited (notice pursuant to Art. 50 Regulation (EU) 2024/1689).