SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1898. 
315 
have seen may be looked for from Q.F. guns. Now we have proved 
that the best field gun which experts hope to get has an advantage 
over the 12-pr. Q.F., so far as power of shell goes, of three to two, 
while the advantage in rapidity in favour of the quick firer is at least 
two to one. Taking therefore the shell power and rapidity together 
the problem works out to the advantage of the quick firer, and this 
advantage is considerably increased if we compare the quick firer, not 
with the best field gun it may be possible to produce, but with our 
existing armament. 
At present it is computed that a battery of six 15-pr. B.L. guns is 
capable of pouring upon its adversary, a hail of bullets greater than 
could be produced by the fire of six Maxim guns, each of which can 
fire 600 rounds a minute.* Double that, and we have a measure of 
the intensity of fire that it might be possible to obtain from six Q.F. 
field guns. What therefore must be the effect of the fire of a large 
number of such guns in a big battle? May we not justly claim that 
Artillery so armed, will more than ever, play a decisive part in the 
battles of the future. 
In comparing the two systems, the quick-firing and the one 
at present in the service, we have so far confined our remarks to 
occasions on which it is assumed, the maximum amount of fire can be 
developed. To judge however by this alone, would be to place far too 
high a value upon the results that may at other times be looked for. 
It must frequently happen that the rate of fire will be no greater than 
can be obtained from our present armament, where the average rate is 
somewhat below a round per gun per minute.t When this is the case 
the Q.F. gun loses its chief advantage, while against its adoption is the 
drawback of the more complicated equipment, and perhaps also the 
less powerful shell, to which may be added the possible difficulty of 
rapidly changing the direction of fire. 
Because a gun is capable of being fired rapidly, that is no reason 
why it should always be so fired. One of the dangers of being able to 
develop great rapidity of fire is that there will always be a tendency to 
do so. We must look to careful fire discipline to remedy this fault. 
The Q.F. gun, in the hands of the Battery Commander, should be 
treated very much as the magazine rifle is by the Infantry-man who is 
taught to economise his ammunition, to keep up, as a rule a steady rate 
of fire, and to reserve very rapid shooting for emergencies, when 
a decisive effect can be produced in a short space of time.J Hence it 
follows, that there are occasions when, thanks to its power of firing 
more rapidly, the Q.F. gun may be expected to prove a valuable 
substitute to our present Artillery, while on the other hand, there 
must be many instances, when the circumstances of the fight will not 
admit of the employment of a rate of fire, greater than can now be 
developed. 
We have endeavoured to show the gain due to the employment of a 
somewhat heavier shell, and also the extent of the advantage to be 
* “ Report on practice carried out by R.A in India.” 1897, page 7. 
f “ Report on practice carried out by R.A. in India,” 1897, pages 7 and 14. 
X ‘'Manual of Rifle and Carbine Exercises, ’ 1898, page 30. 
