A trench mortar was a species of small cannon consisting of a cylinder of cast iron closed at one end, open at the other, and with a roomy touch-hole at the closed end. They were used largely during the Great War for throwing bombs into the opposing trenches. The carriage was formed of two uprights on a base, the mortar being placed between them pointing upwards at an angle of about forty-five degrees. The charge consisted of small packets of gunpowder tied up in paper in measured doses. The bomb was a tin can filled with a bursting charge and fragments of metal, and with an inch of fuse protruding. The piece was loaded by throwing a few packets of powder into the muzzle, poking them with a piece of stick to burst the paper, and sliding the bomb down on top of the charge. The fuse was pushed into the touch-hole and the end lit, sufficient length being given to allow the lighter to get into safety before the discharge took place. A typical example of a trench mortar was the Stokes Gun. Research Trench Mortar
Abbreviations
Warfare
Research Trench Mortar