Project ''Babylon''

By Crusader1307

The controversial ''Supergun'' Program commissioned by Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein, the Project was based on the work of Canadian Engineer Gerald Bull. Bull had long been commissioned by The Hussein Government, and was responsible (in part), for the development of the infamous ''Scud'' Missile Program. This Missile was a moderately effective weapon used against Israel at the onset of The Gulf War in 1991. Bull envisioned using ''high velocity'' Artillery as a means to launch small satellites into low Earth orbit. Hussein's idea of deployment was simple. Develop a Cannon capable of hitting targets as far as Israel (many thousands of miles away). Far-fetched as it may seem (at least on paper) – Bull stated it was fesible.

The first of four prototypes, ''Baby Babylon'' had a barrel length of 151-feet with a bore of 14-inches. It wa similar in design to Nazi Germany's vaunted V-3 Cannon system, which used inverted gas and consistent projectile-like explosives to maintain and increase velocity. Like The V-3 though, it suffered from similar problems with launching of the massive projectile and the matching velocity it needed to maintain flight. Prior to The Gulf War hostilities, many of the components of ''Baby Babylon'' were manufactured in Germany and England (perhaps unknowingly). However, when the true purpose of the components were discovered by UN inspection teams, (3) of The Superguns were destroyed.

Gerald Bull would eventually be found shot dead. It is widely assumed this was an assassination orchestrated by The Israeli Mossad – for his work on The Scud Program. After The Fall of Baghdad, the last remaining ''Supergun'' was taken (in part) to Great Britain – where sections are on display at Fort Nelson, Portsmouth and The Royal Armory Museum, Woolwich, London.