Canon de 240 L Mle 1884
Encyclopedia
The Canon de 240 L Modele 1884 started life as a coastal artillery
piece for use in coastal fortification
s. However the events of 1914 dictated that it would soon see action inland as heavy field artillery during World War I
.
Although the majority of combatants had heavy field artillery prior to the outbreak of war, none had adequate numbers of heavy guns in service, nor had they foreseen the growing importance of heavy artillery once the Western Front stagnated and trench warfare set in. All sides withdrew guns from their fortresses and from storage and built suitable field carriages in an effort to give their forces the heavy field artillery needed to deal with trenches and hardened concrete fortifications.
The St. Chamond company was given the task of building a carriage for the Modele 1884 and this carriage could be towed in two loads by tractors and assembled by winches. The initial conversion were so successful that St. Chamond built another 60 new guns and 60 spare barrels. The Modele 1884 was one of the few heavy guns that could be deployed without the need for rail carriage. Guns that survived the war were designated the Canon de Mle 84/17 and used again during World War II
. Guns captured by Germany
after the Fall of France were designated Kanone 564(f) and used for coastal defense.
Coastal artillery
Coastal artillery is the branch of armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications....
piece for use in coastal fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
s. However the events of 1914 dictated that it would soon see action inland as heavy field artillery during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Although the majority of combatants had heavy field artillery prior to the outbreak of war, none had adequate numbers of heavy guns in service, nor had they foreseen the growing importance of heavy artillery once the Western Front stagnated and trench warfare set in. All sides withdrew guns from their fortresses and from storage and built suitable field carriages in an effort to give their forces the heavy field artillery needed to deal with trenches and hardened concrete fortifications.
The St. Chamond company was given the task of building a carriage for the Modele 1884 and this carriage could be towed in two loads by tractors and assembled by winches. The initial conversion were so successful that St. Chamond built another 60 new guns and 60 spare barrels. The Modele 1884 was one of the few heavy guns that could be deployed without the need for rail carriage. Guns that survived the war were designated the Canon de Mle 84/17 and used again during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Guns captured by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
after the Fall of France were designated Kanone 564(f) and used for coastal defense.