Mortar Question

[davisonschaplain]

Hey Everyone, I just acquired from a retiring Civil War reenactor a full size Coehorn Mortar, I was just wondering what people thought of them and their uses both during the ACW and now during Reenactments

[ole]

Mortars were built to lob big shells into fortified cities. Don't think a battlefield reenactment would have much use for one -- unless you wanted the envy of every other reenactor there, and the attention and questions of most of the spectators.

How did the retired reenactor use it?

ole

[larry_cockerham]

The four we have here in Nashville must weigh close a thousand pounds each or more. Takes a big 'bobcat' loader to move one. As Ole said, they were put in place to pulverize something that wasn't about to move any time soon.

[samgrant]

A contemporary use for a coehorn mortar:

(Caution, not PETA-friendly website)

COEHORN MORTAR - Hunt for Wisconsin Feral Cats. How to Hunt with a Coehorn Mortar

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[larry_cockerham]

Sam, that was an excellent piece of historical information twisted for a somewhat worthy cause. Fortunately my cat passed away a few years ago. As Ole one exclaimed with respect to some of our earlier posts: "Incoming!"

[davisonschaplain]

I have seen that webpage several times as I was kicking around the idea of using their blueprints. And let me say my wife who loves cats will never see it. lol The Reenactor was using it for battle field "operations" if you will. I do lectures as well, so that was one way I was going to use it. And i figured I would at least take it with, if I don't use it the public could still get informed on this piece of equipment, so just wanted to hear everyone else's opinion.

[gary]

Mortars really have no place in fluid, mobile warfare. When it settles down to siege lines or at least both sides are in trenches, then they come into their own. Still, they're a lot of fun to shoot.