288 
SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1898. 
SECTION II. 
The LEADING CHARACTERISTICS OF EXISTING QUICK-FlRING GUNS 
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE SUITABILITY OR OTHERWISE OF 
each for Artillery in the field. 
Quick-Firing Guns already exist, of all sizes, from tlie little 3-pounder 
and 6-pounder, to the great 6-inch firing a 100-lb. projectile, and even an 
8-incli. Not only are there varieties in size, but, there are varieties 
of pattern among guns of the same size made by different makers, each 
having his own patents. Nevertheless all possess in some form or other 
the following characteristics. 
1. A rapid breech action—all the minor operations of ejection of 
empty cartridge case, cocking the lock, &c., being automatically 
performed by the mere action of the breech lever in opening and 
closing the breech. 
2. A greatly simplified ammunition (in the smaller natures made into 
a single cartridge like a large rifle cartridge). 
3. The recoil of the gun is entirely absorbed by the mounting, and 
the gun itself automatically and instantly replaced in the firing position, 
after discharge. 
4. The sights are arranged for continuous laying, i.e., the layer can 
continually look over them, undisturbed by the service, or even the 
recoil, of the gun. They are generally fixed to the mounting and not 
to the gun itself, and in all cases can be manipulated without removal. 
5. The gun is entirely under the control of the layer, who is indepen¬ 
dent of any other man for training or elevating. 
6. The firing, is invariably done by the layer by means of a trigger 
or very short lanyard. 
7. And, when great rapidity of fire is essential, only percussion fuses 
are used. 
Running through these details seriatim , as to their applicability to 
field guns we find :— 
1. Breech Action. —With our present mechanical knowledge, and 
numerous existing designs, there should be no difficulty in designing a 
pattern of gun to fulfil all requirements. 
2. Simplified Ammunition generally takes the form of a metal 
cartridge case containing the charge, and percussion cap or other means 
of ignition, and, in the sizes below 12-pounder, holding the projectile 
in its mouth. With such ammunition, and with a suitably mounted 
gun, an extraordinarily rapid fire can be delivered—more than 30 
rounds have been fired in one minute from a 3-pounder when the gun 
has not been laid. 
But such ammunition possesses grave disadvantages for Field 
Artillery—the weight of the metal cases is considerable (that of even 
a 6-pounder weighs 2J- lbs.), and this weight as well as the space taken 
up by the cases in the limbers reduces the number of rounds which 
can be transported in the carriages (aluminium cases have been tried but 
without success). Moreover this kind of ammunition is very liable 
to injury. 
But is there any necessity for metal cases ? Field Guns do not 
require such a tremendous rate of fire as is necessary for the Navy, 
where antagonists may often approach at the rate of 1,000 yards a 
