| Weight of the sea-mortars and shells, as also of their full charges. | |||||||||
| Nature of the mortar. | Powder contained in the chamber when full. | Weight of the mortar. | Weight of the shell when fixed. | Weight of powder contained in the shell. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lb. | oz. | pl. | Cwt. | qu. | lb. | lb. | lb. | oz. | |
| 10 inch howitzer | 12 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 2 | 26 | |||
| 13 inch mortar | 30 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 2 | 1 | 198 | 7 | 0 |
| 10 inch mortar | 12 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 11 | 93 | ||
The howitzer, fig. 18. is a sort of mortar, which is to be fixed horizontally like a cannon; and has, like the cannon, a wheel-carriage. These pieces, however, are very rarely used in the sea-service.
For an account of the elevation of the mortar, and flight of bombs according to the different charges of powder, the reader is referred to the article Range.
MOULD, devers, a thin flexible piece of timber, used by shipwrights, as a pattern whereby to form the different curves of the timbers, and other compassing pieces, in a ship’s frame. There are two sorts of these, namely, the bend-mould and hollow-mould: the former of these determines the convexity of the timbers, and the latter, their concavity on the outside, where they approach the keel, particularly towards the extremities of the vessel. The figure, given to the timbers by this pattern, is called their bevelling. See that article.
MOUNTED, monté, the state of being armed or equipped with a certain number of cannon; expressed of a vessel of war.
MOUSE, fusée, a sort of knob, usually in the shape of a pear, wrought on the outside of a rope, by means of spun-yarn, parsling, &c. as described in the article puddening. It is used to confine some other securely to the former, and prevent it from sliding along its surface.
These mouses are particularly used on the stays of the lower-mast, to prevent the eye from slipping up to the mast; a circumstance which would render it extremely difficult to remove the stay from the mast-head, when necessary.
MOUSING a hook, the operation of fastening a small cord, or line, across the upper-part, from the point to the back thereof, in order to prevent it from unhooking by the motion of the vessel, or otherwise.
MUSTERING, (mousteren, Dutch) the act of calling over a list of the whole ship’s company, or any particular detachment thereof, who are accordingly summoned to answer by their names on the occasion.