Kyler’s Kaiserliche Marine Blog: Langer Max
While the battleships Sachsen & Wurttemberg were never completed, their 38cm SK-L/45 guns would still see combat bombarding targets on the Western Front. The first instance of their use was during the Battle of Verdun. Referred to as Langer Max by German troops and Big Bertha by the Allies (Allies referred to any large-caliber gun by this term). During their initial service, these guns were crewed by Kaiserliche Marine sailors & officers.
The pictured firing gun is from Bois de Muzeray; also known as the Muzeray Forest or Loison gun. This Langer Max was one of the first guns completed in February 1915. The Germans used these huge guns with 42cm howitzers at targets to confuse the French artillery spotters.
The second photo is the Langer Max 38cm SK L/45 near Moere, Belgium. It is obvious from the photo you can gain the true scale of the gun.
These guns were also the foundation for the eventual Paris Gun.
Sources:
Photos: Personal Collection