The record for the longest distance an artillery shell has been fired and successfully hit its target is held by the German Schwerer Gustav railway gun, which was used during World War II. This massive piece of artillery was capable of firing a shell over an incredible distance.
Schwerer Gustav:
Firing Range: Approximately 47 kilometers (29 miles).
Projectile Weight: The gun fired massive 800mm shells, with some weighing as much as 7,100 kilograms (15,650 pounds).
Target Hit: The most famous use of the Schwerer Gustav was its bombardment of the Soviet fortress of Sevastopol in 1942 during the Siege of Sevastopol, where it successfully hit targets at great distances.
Key Facts:
Construction and Use: The Schwerer Gustav was one of the largest and heaviest artillery pieces ever built, designed to destroy heavily fortified structures.
Accuracy: While it was capable of firing over great distances, the sheer size and complexity of the gun meant that its use was limited by practical concerns. It was not particularly accurate over such long distances, and its size and weight made it difficult to transport and deploy quickly.
Modern Artillery:
In more recent times, artillery systems such as the French CAESAR self-propelled howitzer and American M777 howitzer have been able to achieve ranges of around 40-50 kilometers with modern shells like guided artillery rounds, which can be much more accurate over long distances. However, these ranges are typically achieved with precision-guided munitions, which differ from traditional artillery shells in terms of guidance and accuracy.