The Wehrmacht procured four diesel-electric double locomotives, which were to transport the gigantic 80 cm guns to their place of use and align them in position. These guns weighed 1,350 tonnes and required several trains to transport them. Although four double locomotives were planned, only two were completed, of which only one was actually used.

The guns were not railway guns in the true sense of the word, but rather stationary, which were only transported by rail and had to be set up on site. There, the crews of several construction trains created a spacious position with a double-track curved track to align the cannon. Although the fine alignment was done by electric motors under their own power, the locomotives were needed to move them on the curve of the track. Two of these double locomotives were provided for this purpose, which, thanks to their electrical power transmission, could also supply the current for the gun.

Each half had a six-cylinder in-line MAN engine that produced 691 kW (940 hp). Each of the four axles mounted in a frame had its own nose-suspended motor. A maximum speed of 75 km/h could be reached for transport to the position or other journeys.

After the locomotives were only rarely used during the war, the Bundesbahn subsequently took over two double units in their fleet and kept a third as a spare parts donor. In order to improve performance in freight transport, two Maybach V12s, each with 808 kW, were installed, as they were also used in the modern V 200. The locomotives were given the same red paintwork as the new-build locomotives and, according to the applicable scheme, were designated V 188 due to their original 1,880 hp total output. With the new scheme of 1968, they became the class 288, but the first locomotive was retired in 1969 and was not given a new number. The original D 311 04 and later V 188 02 a+b was renumbered 288 002 and was kept in stock until the beginning of June 1972.