Monster Mortar
| Monster mortar | |
|---|---|
Monster mortar employed during the siege of Antwerp Citadel in 1832 | |
| Type | Heavy mortar |
| Place of origin | Belgium |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1832 |
| Used by | Belgium |
| Wars | Siege of Antwerp (1832) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Henri-Joseph Paixhans |
| Designed | 1832 |
| Manufacturer | Royal cannon foundry of Liège |
| No. built | 2 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 7,750 kg (17,090 lb) (without carriage) |
| Shell | 500kg bomb |
| Caliber | 24 inches (610 mm) |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Feed system | Muzzle loading |
| Filling | powder |
| Filling weight | Max. 14 kg (31 lb) |
The Monster Mortar (French: Mortier Monstre) was one of the largest mortars ever developed. Also called Leopold or the Liège mortar, the 24 inches (610 mm) caliber mortar was conceived by the French artillery officer Henri-Joseph Paixhans. The mortar was manufactured under the direction of the Belgian Minister of War Baron Louis Evain and cast at the Royal Canon Foundry (Fonderie royale de canons) in Liège, Belgium in 1832. It saw action at the Battle of Antwerp in December 1832.