There were four different types of barrels for K.5 (E) guns that differed in the riffling design. The barrel had a useful life of 240 to 550 shots, depending on the charges used.In May 1943, the total order was thirty completed guns, three complete barrels and thirty barrel liners, although only twenty-five K.5 (E) guns were manufactured until the end of the war.A new rocket-assisted projectile, designated as RGr.4331, was developed to extend the range to 86.5kms. The rocket engine ignited for 19 seconds after firing, pushing the shell further into the stratosphere.This is the famous “Anzio Annie” or “Anzio Express” after its capture. There were two guns that subjected to constant bombing the beaches of Anzio during four months.The Allies captured two guns, one sabotaged by their servers and another intact, which was taken to the USA, where various tests were conducted. Currently, it is possible to see this “Leopold K.5 (E)” railway gun at the US Army Ordnance Museum, Virginia.Two trains carried each complete K.5 (E) gun to its firing position. The “gun train” consisted of 13 wagons and the “turntable train” consisted of 18 wagons. They took part in Sebastopol Siege, in the largest concentration of heavy pieces in History.Krupp K.5 (E) guns were on all fronts of the war, leaving evidence of its power. They were at the Sebastopol and Leningrad sieges, and were part of the Atlantic Wall, from where they bombed Dover, on the other side of the English Channel.
