This view shows the mortar in its lowered position. The mortar was loaded when in this position.

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A view of the mortar from the breach. The breach block, which was a threaded mechanism which provided a tight closure of the breach of the weapon, has been removed from this weapon (and all others at Fort De Soto), probably by the military to assure the weapons were deactivated. The recoil cylinders, which provided hydraulic buffering for the weapons recoil, have also been removed from the weapons.

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