13in mortar

[jr baker]

What would a 13in morter round look like ? Like the one they had on rafts down the Mississippi

 

[redbob]

Here is a 13" Mortar Ball (w/fuze) found at Vicksburg, to it's left is a 12# ball for a size comparison and in front of it is a fragment of the ball showing it's thickness.

 

[scooter748driver]

Wow! Big difference. What did those mortar shells weigh?

 

[redbob]

Wow! Big difference. What did those mortar shells weigh?

Around 200 pounds when loaded.

 

[scooter748driver]

I bet those were a bear to load!

 

[redbob]

I bet those were a bear to load!

They used large tongs that looked a lot like ice tongs to pick them up and put them in the mortar

 

[Pollaco]

I find it hard to believe no one showed a picture that big mortar at the Grand Gulf. I'd post mine but there are better pictures out there.

 

[Pollaco]

If the 13" was the "seacoast" mortar how big were the ones on mortar schooners? How were they classified or were they the same?

 

[Dan Kohli]

If the 13" was the "seacoast" mortar how big were the ones on mortar schooners? How were they classified or were they the same?

I'm fairly certain that the Navy was using the 13" seacoast mortar.

 

[redbob]

If the 13" was the "seacoast" mortar how big were the ones on mortar schooners? How were they classified or were they the same?

Same size, same mortar.

 

[bdtex]

I find it hard to believe no one showed a picture that big mortar at the Grand Gulf. I'd post mine but there are better pictures out there.

March 2018:

 

[UCVRelics]

I find it hard to believe no one showed a picture that big mortar at the Grand Gulf. I'd post mine but there are better pictures out there.

Here you go, from my last trip to the park.

 

[redbob]

They used large tongs that looked a lot like ice tongs to pick them up and put them in the mortar

While shown carrying a smaller ball, here is a picture showing how mortar balls would be transported and loaded.