Fragment from a HUGE French Rev War 200 pound mortar shell!

[Bill D. (VA)]

No, I didn't find this amazing relic myself, but it was very generously given to me by a friend recently. This is from a 13", 200 lb French mortar shell with the telltale raised flange lip, and these were the largest size projectiles in use at the time. This small piece, which also reveals the fuse location, weighs in at a whopping 14 lbs. It was found near a sunken British warship in the river just off Yorktown, and was either fired from a French land-based siege gun, or from a French navy vessel in the river that was blocking the escape route of the British and firing upon their ships during the last days of the Rev War in Oct 1781. In addition to the pics of the actual fragment, I'm including a couple images I found on the web showing what a complete example would look like. My fragment would have come from a mortar shell identical to the large flanged one on the far right in the pic. Not sure if I'm going to use electrolysis on it since its survived quite well out of the water for many years, but hope to make that decision soon. Anyway, wanted to share this cool piece of history with everyone.

 

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[Trezurehunter]

That is awesome Bill, & I really like that display around your fireplace.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

That is awesome Bill, & I really like that display around your fireplace.

I wish those were mine, but they came from cyberspace ....

 

[Scrappy]

Great ID and eye as usual Bill. How long were you sitting there scratching your head before you knew? Phenomenal piece and thanks for that Rev. history anecdote!

Happy New year bud

Steve

 

[Devonrex]

Nice frag off a lip[ ball Bill!

Bill that's not just a frag off a 13 inch mortar ball .. that's a frag off what is known as a lip ball. I have a perfect specimen on my hearth as well as several other 13 inch mortar balls and some smaller ones. It is the most rare mortar ball one could hope to dig. Mine is roughly 10 inches and from looking at yours I think yours is too. (I think they only came in this size at Yorktown although I may be wrong). A complete lip ball is worth 2500!!! Most mortar balls did not have that protrusion at the top. That was placed there in an attempt to to keep the wooden fuse from blowing out once fired but they quickly figured out it really didn't help with any better ratio. It actually looks like lips on an intact mortar ball, hence the name .What an awesome gift your friend gave you!!

 

[patiodadio]

Wow ! That is truly awesome ! Thanks for sharing !

 

[UnderMiner]

Very nice! That piece of metal literally helped forge this nation, so cool! Awesome friend to have given you that

 

[ironhorse]

Pretty cool!
They remind me of all those mortar frags that Romeo-1 has collected over the past few years in his area, although his aren't a connection to the Revolutionary War, they are basically the same technology

 

[Steve in PA]

That's a neat piece of history Bill and one can only imagine the role it played at Yorktown.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Awesome mortar fragment Bill! I can imagine that tearing apart a ships hull... but I cant imagine how loud that thing must have been when it went off. ha

 

[metalev4]

A very generous gift with immense historical significance. Great post Bill, always nice to learn something new.

 

[Gaspipe]

One of the best "relics" I remember seeing since I've been visiting this site.

 

[Gaspipe]

PS don't touch that thing please it is way too awesome. Leave it just like it is . It is perfect.