376 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
the adherent powder slime is washed out with water and the gun sponged 
out with oakum. 
Practice, (a) Species of fire. 
'Nomenclature of the various natures of fire of mountain guns. 
22. The various natures of fire of mountain guns are named according 
to the form of trajectory, the projectile fired, the charge of powder, the 
manner of laying, the incidence of the projectile, or the effect intended 
to be produced. 
The various natures offire according to the form of trajectory. 
23. In firing at low angles the normal charge of powder is used; a 
distinction is made between the two halves of the extreme range; the fire 
for ranges included in the first half is termed “flat fire;” that for ranges 
in the other half is called “ curved fire.”* 
In firing at high angles the smaller cartridge is used, and the elevation is 
always considerable.*}* 
Eicochet fire, in which the projectile rises after grazing and bounds 
forwards, is not intentional with rifled guns: usually it occurs with case 
shot and with common and shrapnel shells only when blind. 
The various natures of fire according to the projectile and charge used , 
and the method of laying. 
24. According to the nature of projectile, the fire is variously termed 
common shell fire, shrapnel fire, and case shot fire. The trajectories of 
those projectiles are similarly entitled. 
According to the charge of powder used we have full charge fire or 
reduced charge fire. 
Taking the denomination from the manner of laying, the fire is called 
line-of-metal fire and tangent scale fire. The former is in use up to 166 
yards, the latter at ail longer ranges. 
The various natures of fire according to the direction in which the 
projectile strikes the object. 
25. Under this method of distinction we have perpendicular, oblique, 
direct, and indirect fire. 
In perpendicular fire the longer axis of the projectile forms equal angles, 
to the right and left, with the front surface of the object; in oblique fire 
these angles are unequal. 
* This distinction is unknown in the British service. 
f In the original, the above two paragraphs contain definitions of two terms unknown in the 
British service. The style of fire in the first paragraph is termed “ Shooting,” in contradistinction 
to that in the second, which is termed “ Throwing,” 
