Smyrna times., 1862-02-20
The Mortar Fleet.

The Mortar Fleet.
COMMANDER roRTER's ExPEDITIoN-DEscBIP
TIoN OF THE MoRTARs AND VESSELS.
Comma nder Porler's m rlar hotilla is rapidly
preparing for sea at New York. A large part
of The vessels Of the feet have received their
formidable armament, aud have started for the
rendezvous at the South or arc ready to sail.
THE MoRTARs.
The twenty heavy mortsrs which form the
principal armament of the fleet. were cast II
Pittsburgh, and are ofimmense size and strength
Their average weight is over seventeen thou.
sand pounds, or eight and a half tons-almost
equal to the weight of the ten inch colnmbiads.
which are nearly three times The length of the
mortars. The diameter of the bore is thirteen
inches. Those with which Commodore Por.
er's vessels are provided. which may be used
alike for sea ard land services, are about double
the weight and strength of the "approved "
English mortars, which have frequently burst
though comparatively small charges of powder
were used and short ranges obtained
The MORTAR VESSELS.
The vessels of the mortar feet number gwen.
ty.one, and, with the exception of the flagship
are sailing vessels Nearly all of these are
schooners Oftwo to three hundred tons burthen,
| Originally they were fitted out as war vessels,
and pierced for four or six guns. Steamers
cannot be advanisgeously employed. An al
most solid mass of wood has been built from the
| keel 10 the upper deck. This slaunch ground
! work is composed of timbers over one foot
square, and twelve feet in length, interaced
and firmly fastened. Two or three inches
above the upper deck the "bed " is built, con-
sisting Of a solid horizontal surface, circular in
! form, with " track near it's edge, upon which
run rollers bearing a revolving platform. The
great mortar.bed 10 carefully braccd, and sup
ported by the entire strength Of the vessel, SO
as to bear the recoil OF The mortar. The design
is apparently perfect.
THE REVOLVING PLATFORM.
The circular platform surmountng the bed
and bearing the mortar carriage is constructed
of heavy tlmbers, and is enc foot in depth and
nearly twelve feet 10 diameter. When in po-
siton for discharge it lies fiat and firmly on
the bed, but BY ingenious mechanism it may be
made to Tevolve, in order TO aim the mortar in
any direction, or to resght 1t If the vessel shifts
it's position. The change OF direction is easily
and quickly accomplished. BY means of four
eccentric sxels in the platforms TO which levers
are fitted, the mortar and machinery (weighne
the weight transferred by the same movement
to greater number of metallic rollers attacheC
to framework Of immense strength under the
platfsrm. Then, by means Of tackle already
arranw ed the whole mass may be moved TO III
desired POSITION, and Instantly, by reverse
: movement, replaced on The bed.
I TIRE MORTAR CARRIAGE.
} The mortar carriage is constructed almos
: exclusively of wrought iron It's length II
about nine feet, and It's height aud width eacl
four feet.
/ THE BOMBS AND POWDER.
The bombshells to be thrown frOm the NOR
tars are of the ordinary description, resemblInl
round shot but hollow, and weighing untitled
ever two hundred posnds each. the most formd
able ordnance missiles known IN modern war
6 tare. with the single exception Of those used II
II the Rodman Columbiad, of fifteen inch bore
e Between seven and eight thousand of Ihes'
bombs have been furnished for The fotlla, an
! il IA understood that the anount Of exp plosiv
g material contained in each shell exceeds twelv
r, pounds; the powder having been CAREFUL
~ granulated expressly for this purpose.
:, OTHER ARMAMENT.
.e In addition 10 the mortar armament, eac
le vessel of the fleet has been provided with tw
as "long thirty.two's," OF the best description
" smooth bore ordnance. Each Of these weigh
III thirty seven hundred weight. and throws roun
or shot and shell. The vessels are also provide
er with swords, pixies and other necessary weI
'e pons. The entire fitting out, with the excel
I'd ton Of the nortars, is quite similar to that
ordinary war vessels.
a.e. FIRING MoRrARs.
The mor,ars are not toys. Professor VIM
- ship will need to practice long while befoI
a he can lift ose. A samson would find the
quite MS heavy, as were the gates OF Gag
h, They weigh seventeen thousand pounds.
an gentleman has Iust asked me to describe OF
,er for his benefit, and as there may be others wi
is. have never seen them. il may not be amiss
r.. ma kettle Iattempt. They are shaPedlike KEITH
nd drums, or more like half globes They