316 
SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1898. 
derived from increased rapidity of fire, but the circumstances under 
which very rapid shooting is likely to prove effective, have so 
far received no consideration ; yet upon this very point the whole 
question of the advantage or otherwise of utilizing Q.F. guns now 
hinges. 
We have therefore the task before us of ascertaining whether the 
occasions of which quick firers are likely to be used for very rapid 
firing, are sufficiently numerous and of sufficient importance to confer 
on the Q.F. gun any advantage over our present armament. 
This point can best be cleared up by following out briefly the normal 
role of Artillery in battle, both when acting on the offensive and de¬ 
fensive, and by noting the instances in which Artillery in the field will 
benefit by being able to fire more rapidly than it at present can. The 
result of this inquiry should enable us to determine where the balance 
of advantage lies. 
II. To take the Attack eirst. —In the initial stages the assailants 
will generally engage the whole of the enemy's front, so that before 
they are committed to any definite plan of attack enough may be dis¬ 
covered of the enemy's dispositions to enable the General to decide 
where it will be most to his advantage to push the attack home. For 
this purpose rapid fire is not necessary. In the earlier phases of a 
battle the Q.F. gun will therefore seldom be used as a quick-firer. It 
would be a mistake at long ranges, where observation at the best is 
difficult, and where careful laying is necessary, not to fire deliberately 
otherwise ammunition is sure to be wasted, and this must be carefully 
guarded against. 
By the time most of the Artillery has arrived the General will 
probably have ascertained enough to enable him to decide upon his 
mode of attack, but whatever decision he takes his first aim will be 
to silence the enemy's Artillery. 
It is now that one of the most important episodes of the battle will 
take place: Artillery, pitted against Artillery, will have to fight out 
the ‘ f Artillery duel." All the enemy's guns will fire at the assailauts' 
Artillery, no assistance from other arms can be given, and the struggle 
must go on until one side or the other by the superiority of its Artillery 
fire gains the ascendency. Will Q.F. guns be of use in this all-impor¬ 
tant struggle for supremacy ? In the first place batteries will have to 
ascertain the range, and as the opposing Artilleries will be a consider¬ 
able distance apart this will need to be carefully done, for accuracy at 
this period is of the very first importance. The target can have but 
little depth and therefore any error in finding the range means of firing 
to no purpose. Moreover any hurry will tend to stand in the way of 
accuracy. While therefore he is ranging it can matter little to the 
Battery Commander whether his battery is armed with Q.F. guns or 
not, but once the range is found the time gained through not having 
to “ run up " might be advantageously utilized to somewhat increase 
the rate of fire. This rate however must be sufficiently deliberate to 
ensure great accuracy, and it seems probable that few opportunities 
will occur during the Artillery duel of effectively employing a more 
rapid rate of fire than our present armament is capable of developing. 
