![π WWII, Spigot Mortar Pedestal, Jude's Ferry Bridge, Worlington [TL 6770 7479] | by Defend & Attack](http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50601981882_7777923110.jpg)
π WWII, Spigot Mortar Pedestal, Jude's Ferry Bridge, Worlington [TL 6770 7479]
A Spigot Mortar pedestal, positioned on the west side of a Type 22 pillbox, south-west of Jude's Ferry Bridge on the bank of the River Lark. Inscribed into the wet concrete is ''Sgt. Rolfe''. The Spigot Mortar or ''Blacker Bombard'' was invented by Lieutenant-Colonel Blacker with the aim of providing cheap and easily produced weapon, after most of the British Army's heavy equipment had been lost at Dunkirk during the evacuation.
It fired a 20lb Fin-Stabilised High Explosive Mortar Bomb propelled by 'Black Powder' and had an effective range of 100 yards in its anti-tank role and up to 450 yards when firing a lighter anti-personnel bomb. It had one major drawback in that when the warhead hit its target, the fins would often fly backwards endangering the firing crew.
The Spigot Mortar was a weapon shunned by the Regular Army but was issued to the Home Guard in large numbers to protect bridges and other strategic locations. In its static defence role, the mortar was mounted on a stainless steel pin (''Pintle'') set into a substantial base of reinforced concrete (''Pedestal'') this was in turn set within a camouflaged weapons pit to offer some protection to the three man gun crew. A portable mount was also available, but weighed around 350lb and took three men to move it.
Eastern Command: Corps and Command Stop Lines β One of three Eastern Command Corps stop lines, this one running from the River Colne in Essex via Wakes Colne and Bures, along the River Stour to Sudbury and Long Melford, and thence to Bury St. Edmunds and the River Lark at Mildenhall. Its final stretch (known now as the Command Line) was via Littleport along the line of the River Great Ouse to King's Lynn.
π WWII, Spigot Mortar Pedestal, Jude's Ferry Bridge, Worlington [TL 6770 7479]
A Spigot Mortar pedestal, positioned on the west side of a Type 22 pillbox, south-west of Jude's Ferry Bridge on the bank of the River Lark. Inscribed into the wet concrete is ''Sgt. Rolfe''. The Spigot Mortar or ''Blacker Bombard'' was invented by Lieutenant-Colonel Blacker with the aim of providing cheap and easily produced weapon, after most of the British Army's heavy equipment had been lost at Dunkirk during the evacuation.
It fired a 20lb Fin-Stabilised High Explosive Mortar Bomb propelled by 'Black Powder' and had an effective range of 100 yards in its anti-tank role and up to 450 yards when firing a lighter anti-personnel bomb. It had one major drawback in that when the warhead hit its target, the fins would often fly backwards endangering the firing crew.
The Spigot Mortar was a weapon shunned by the Regular Army but was issued to the Home Guard in large numbers to protect bridges and other strategic locations. In its static defence role, the mortar was mounted on a stainless steel pin (''Pintle'') set into a substantial base of reinforced concrete (''Pedestal'') this was in turn set within a camouflaged weapons pit to offer some protection to the three man gun crew. A portable mount was also available, but weighed around 350lb and took three men to move it.
Eastern Command: Corps and Command Stop Lines β One of three Eastern Command Corps stop lines, this one running from the River Colne in Essex via Wakes Colne and Bures, along the River Stour to Sudbury and Long Melford, and thence to Bury St. Edmunds and the River Lark at Mildenhall. Its final stretch (known now as the Command Line) was via Littleport along the line of the River Great Ouse to King's Lynn.