The Dictator

[BOSTON]

ironsight wrote:

The 'Dictator' was the largest known CW mortar to belch fire, smoke and shell in anger. Being a Black Powder shooter, i find this thing fascinating:

Some facts:
Cast at= US Casting Foundry, Fort Pitt, Pittsburg, PA. in 1862
Designed for= Coastal fortifications
Weight=17,000+ pounds
Projectile= 13", 218 pound shell capable of throwing it 2.5+ miles
Charge= 20 pounds Black Powder
Action= Seige of Petersburg. Placed on a fortified railway car
Gunnery crew= Co. G, first Conneticut Heavy Artillery
Current whereabouts= unknown

Here's my colorized PhotoShop'd version with a twist...if only the Rebs had it!:dry:

Saw one last summer at Castle Island (Fort Independence) in Boston Harbor, not as big as the one in the picture. A beautiful star type granite fort next to the shipping channel.

[ironsight]

When we were kids we used to make our own sorta mortars using calcium carbide with a bit of water added, the right sized paint can with a nail hole punched in the side, the right sized rubber ball to seal the can and of course a match. :woohoo:

Once again, surprised i'm still alive! :S