305-mm mortars Skoda M11 and M16. Super heavy sledgehammers of the Wehrmacht

In the fall of 1941, a technician appeared in Crimea, reminiscent of archaic mechanisms from the past: the 11th Army of von Manstein received the Austro-Hungarian siege howitzers of the 1911 sample 305 mm mortar (30.5 CM Bombenmerser M11) with a characteristic short barrel and barrel-shaped shock absorbers , better known under the army nickname "Slender Emma" - an ironic derivative of the letter "M" in the designation - by that time was already considered one of the symbols of the First World War. The “Big gun "of the Czech company" Skoda ", although it looked like a" antiques", but not outdated and absolutely complyed with the requirements of World War II. Mortir was distinguished by high mobility in combination with huge fire power, which made it possible to effectively use it both in the siege as a "killer of forts" and in positional battles. The super-wise of the “sledgehammer” of the Wehrmacht participated in the Polish and French campaigns, in the sight of the mortar of heavy artillery battalions were Sevastopol (1941-1942) and the Blockade Leningrad (1942-1944), and the defense of the capital of the Third Reich was the last episode of their combat use.
This book for the first time in all details talks about the history of the creation, design, operating experience and combat use in the battles of the two world wars of the legendary 305 mm of the Skoda Mortier.
The publication is illustrated by exclusive color 3D projections, unique drawings and photographs