Why were mortars useful during siege warfare?

Mortars were highly effective in siege warfare primarily due to their high, arcing trajectories. Unlike traditional artillery pieces that fired at low, direct trajectories, mortars could lob explosive projectiles over defensive obstacles, such as high walls or fortifications, to strike targets that were otherwise protected from direct fire.12

During early modern European warfare, these weapons were used to attack enemy strongholds from a distance. By dropping projectiles into areas like trench lines or behind defensive ramparts, mortars allowed besiegers to reach locations that lacked overhead cover. While early siege mortars were often heavy and inaccurate, their ability to deliver fire into "dead space"—areas hidden from direct-fire weapons—made them a critical tool for dislodging defenders who were otherwise shielded by traditional masonry or earthen fortifications.13