[alfa] 158, Alfetta, and railway guns

[MCosgrove@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Ed and John beat me to the punch regarding the 158's at Tripoli in 1939 and
1940.  In looking up info about that in The Power and Glory, I noted the
following parenthetical quotation regarding the 158. "Alfette or Alfetta as
they were often called before the war---a most detestable and undiginfied
diminutive."  I guess William Court didn't like the nickname.  And lastly,
George Graves, I think, wondered about Skoda and German railway guns.  The
most famous of these, "Big Bertha", pounded Paris from 75 miles away in
1918.  It was made by Krupp, named after the firm's owner at the time,
Berta Krupp von Bohler und Holbach.  In the second world war, "Leopold"
(also called "Anzio Annie", a most detestable and undignified nickname) and
"Robert" gave the allies fits at Anzio.  Unfortunately, I can't find
anything about who made them, but I'd guess Krupp.

Mike in Texas
(praying for dry weather in Houston Sunday morning for the marathon)
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