Because of the difference in available volume, a smooth-bore mortar of a given diameter will have a greater explosive yield than a similarly sized artillery shell of a gun or howitzer.

Nov 11, 2025 · A present-day mortar consists of a lightweight tube that rests on a base plate and is supported by a bipod. The weapon is operated by dropping a mortar shell onto a firing pin in the tube …

Here’s a simplified explanation of how they work: Loading: A mortar shell is loaded into the barrel of the mortar tube. Ignition: The firing pin inside the barrel ignites the primer of the ...

Oct 14, 2025 · A mortar is nothing without its crew, though, and the entire system is built around the team’s flow. The whole weapon sits in the baseplate, a heavy metal dish that absorbs the weapon’s …

Dec 17, 2025 · Israel’s military says troops fired a mortar shell into a Palestinian residential area in the Gaza Strip, in the latest incident to rock the tenuous ceasefire with Hamas.

If a mortar shell is dropped into the barrel and hits the pin, the propelling charge is ignited. Then the explosion of the propelling charge creates gas that pushes the mortar shell (or bomb) out of the tube.

Discover the fascinating world of mortar shells in this in-depth article. Uncover their intricate design, functioning, and military significance as precision artillery tools.

Aug 14, 2023 · To operate, a soldier drops a shell into its tubular structure, launching it skyward, allowing it to descend on targets often hidden from direct sight.

Jun 4, 2021 · The modern mortar was born with the development of the Stokes mortar by British engineer Wilfred Stokes. The 76.2 mm muzzle-loading Stokes mortar could fire as many as 25 …

At the Siege of Vicksburg, General Ulysses S. Grant reported making mortars "by taking logs of the toughest wood that could be found, boring them out for six or twelve-pound shells and binding them …