Comments on: Iraqi Supergun Section

By: Alastair

Alastair — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 11:47:29 +0000

In reply to David. The HARP project in the sixties was about cheap satellites. The Babylon gun project in the eighties was, as you say, designed as an offensive weapon project just like Hitler's V3 project.

By: David

David — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 02:06:40 +0000

The project was never intended to launch satellites. It was from the beginning designed to hurl projectiles towards Iraq’a enemies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Correspondence between Dr. Bull and Iraqi officials refer specifically to delivering Sarin, mustard gas, and similar munitions.

By: Alastair

Alastair — Fri, 29 May 2020 17:52:25 +0000

Just checking, but that’s the only photo I took of that section and it doesn’t really show the thickness. However, Royal Armouries have a couple of useful images of the sections in their care at Fort Nelson.

This one indicates the thickness: https://collections.royalarmouries.org/object/rac-object-13168.html

And this one gives a side view: https://collections.royalarmouries.org/object/rac-object-13158.html

By: Alastair

Alastair — Fri, 29 May 2020 17:44:53 +0000

In reply to David Nixon.

Yeah, I guess a section of pipe is a section of pipe, but how thick were your pipes, David? (If that’s not too personal a question to ask!) I’m assuming an oil or gas pipe carrying those at pressure doesn’t have to be quite as thick as a gun barrel designed to contain a massive shell & explosive accelerant…? Serious question. I have no expertise.

By: David Nixon

David Nixon — Fri, 29 May 2020 17:37:57 +0000

Looking at the photo of the section of the Iraqi supergun reminded me of my time working in the American pietro-chemical industry, where I was involved in manufacturing oil and gas pipeline equipment.
Much of the equipment was coincidentally produced for the iraqi oilfields and remarkably resembled pieces like that in the photo. It makes me wonder was I was helping to produce.