Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 59:22-59:55

Railway guns against destroyers in Norway

German railway-mounted guns exchanged fire with Royal Navy destroyers in Norway, but their hits were less decisive than the ships' return fire.

Coastal ArtilleryDestroyersNorwegian CampaignRailway GunsWorld War II
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Question

Did Second World War railway guns ever engage enemy warships?

Short answer

Yes, railway-mounted guns fired on British destroyers in Norway, but destroyer return fire eliminated the battery.

Notes

No conventional ship-to-ship duel involving railway guns is recalled from the Second World War. Guns on railway carriages did fire on Royal Navy destroyers during operations in Norway. The shore fire scored hits that were troublesome but caused little serious damage. Once a Tribal-class destroyer answered effectively, the exposed railway battery was destroyed.