Hasegawa Plastic Model Kit

60cm Morser Karl 040 Production Type w/Railway Carrier (1/72) 31157

This 1/72 scale Karl 040 siege mortar from Hasegawa represents one of the largest self propelled artillery weapons ever deployed during the Second World War. The Karl-Gerät series of heavy mortars were designed by Germany to destroy heavily fortified positions, bunkers and defensive installations.

This production version of the Karl 040 includes the specialised railway transport carrier used to move the enormous mortar between operational areas. Due to the extreme weight of the weapon, railway transport was often required for long distance movement before the mortar could be deployed on the battlefield.

• 1/72 scale plastic model kit
• Karl 040 60cm self propelled siege mortar
• Railway transport carrier included
• Train track display base included
• Rubber tracks
• Total parts: 414
• Model length: 415mm
• Model width: 55mm
• Suitable for WWII artillery and railway dioramas
• Supplied unpainted and requires assembly

History

The Karl-Gerät heavy mortar was developed by Rheinmetall in the late 1930s as a specialised siege weapon for the German army. Capable of firing massive 60cm shells, it was designed to destroy heavily reinforced fortifications that standard artillery could not penetrate.

These enormous weapons were used in several major operations during the Second World War, including the siege of Sevastopol and the Warsaw Uprising. Because of their size and weight, Karl mortars were often transported using specially designed railway carriers before being moved into firing positions for combat operations.