Mortar platforms

[sirreg]

What are specs. for mortar pltform

[Des]

12 pounder

28 1/2 long, 14 1/4 wide, 9 1/4 tall
Front of bed to center of trunion 13 1/2

24 pounder

30 3/4 long, 15 wide. 9 1/2 tall
Front of bed to center of trunion 15 1/2

[mwmoore10261]

Mortar bed or mortar platform? The bed of the mortar in which the tube sits has the dimensions already described. However,there was also a prescribed oak platform for the 24 pound coehorn that the bed would sit on for leveling purposes. This consisted of 18 three and one half by five inch deck planks 105 inches long held together by 3/4 inch wooden dowels 4 to each plank. These rested on 6 sleepers same dimension 96 inches long with a 15 inch space between. Iron eye bolts held the thing together and kept the deck from shifting. Don't know how many were utilized as the size and weight would have been a logistical nightmare.
Michael Moore, 10261

[Norm Gibson, 4901V]

The platform that you describe would more likely have been used for the 8 or 10 inch mortars, but would have been used by the 24 pdr if practicable.

[John Wells 3rd US]

I made an exact 1/4 scale seige mortar platform to arsenal specs that we used in N-SSA and Grayling competition for several years. We used a 24-pdr coehorn mortar on it. The full scale seige platform is huge and would make a good foundation for a small house!! (Well, hunting cabin, maybe) We did the whole deal with fox wedges retaining the locating dowels, eye bolts to hold it together and all. But I finally decided it took too much time to set up and level properly, so now we use a 1' sheet of particleboard, painted OD green and place a rubber sheet between it and the mortar bed to limit recoil. Morter shoots about the same. But the platform definitely has the "cool" factor! :D

[rampa_room_artillery]

how about using such a platform for shooting a mountain rifle on for cannon match.??

rick bryan
3rd va co B
ODD
11434

[MR. GADGET]

Got me thinking, has anyone used a fixed mount for a cannon. Or maybe a wheeled deck gun type.
Thinking it would be harder to move but should shoot good. Maybe cheeper.

The bases that were used on some navy cannons look real cool.