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As the mortar is a piece of ordnance and has been manned in action by Gunners from time immemorial it is appropriate we examine its history in some detail.
It was a direct descendant of the ancient bombard, and the exact opposite of the gun; of large calibre, limited length, and designed to fire the largest projectile, it was a smooth-bore muzzle-loading piece. Construction varied little from country to country.
During the Middle Ages when siege warfare was common the mortar was employed in the high angle role. While the bombards made a breach in the wall of a fortress to admit the besiegers, the mortars lobbed common shell and incendiaries (carcasses) over the wall to destroy buildings etc and otherwise to keep the inmates occupied. The introduction of these projectiles, c. 1421 and 1460 respectively, approximately defines the period in which the mortar first appeared in Europe.
Figure 1 | Fifteenth century iron mortar on mobile carriage.
Calibre: 6.8 inches (173 mm)
Length: 15 inches (381 mm)
Weight: 81 lbs (37 kg).
Construction is similar to that of the original bombards, ie on the 'built-up' principle of iron rings shrunk over iron staves fixed to a mandrel. No doubt the trail was dug in for high angle fire.
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Figure 2 |
Sixteenth century mortar on a wooden bed. Elevation being fixed, range was adjusted either by varying the powder charge or by moving the complete equipment closer to or further away from the target. Such action was practicable with light pieces with maximum ranges of just a few hundred yards.
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Figure 3 |
A bronze 5-inch (127-mm) of Italian origin made c. 1700 and fitted with an elevating gear. At this time mortars in both Britain and Europe were fitted with an elevating gear or supplied with a quoin or wedge for the same purpose.
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