File:33 inch mortar.png

English: 33 inch mortar drawing.

We must briefly notice the mortars from which these projectiles are proposed to be shot, and of which fig. 46 gives an elevation, with section of bore and chambers and lines of separation in dotted lines.

These mortars are, with the exception of one part, (the base,) and the elm timber ends, formed wholly of wrought iron, in concentric rings, and each entire mortar is separable at pleasure into thirteen separate pieces, the heaviest of which weighs about 11 tons, so that the immense weight when all put together (about 52 tons) is susceptible of easy transport, on ordinary artillery carriages, over rough country, or can be conveniently shipped, stowed, or landed. Special mortar rafts for the use of tliese mortars at sea have been designed by their inventor, and novel and more precise methods of pointing, especially at night, than hitherto practised.