ARMOUR AND ITS ATTACK BY ORDNANCE. 
101 
word was given to halt and come into action with the horses still 
hooked in—action rear. The piece was then fired to one flank, the 
horses being still hooked in. The recoil consisted of a slight shock 
downwards on the end towards the horses, which was met as far as 
necessary by short thick legs which hung on hinges from the mounting. 
In six minutes 13 seconds the first round was fired, two men entering 
the cupola or mounting. The target represented 20 skirmishers, and 
supports in rear of each flank of 10 men each. The range was 1500 ni 
(1640 yards) ; 172 hits were made on the skirmisher targets, 90 of 
them falling inside the bodies of the men traced on the targets. 
Fourteen hits were made on the supports. The detachment, consisting 
of one non-commissioned officer and eight men, were next ordered to 
take up a temporary protected position. Digging began at 11.3, a 
shallow pit was made by 11.12, and the wood for sleepers to carry the 
mounting rails was laid by 11.17, and secured by pickets. The gun 
was in its pit at 11.214, and the first round was fired at 11.234—that 
is 20^ minutes from the time the word was given to entrench. It may 
be seen in Fig. 23 that the pit was a shallow one, only affording partial 
Fia. 23. 
protection; also the ground was sand, and easily worked by spades 
without picks. This, however, is immaterial to the issue. It is 
apparent that this mounting is capable of being easily moved and put 
into a strong position in a very short time ; and this, as noticed above, 
might make this mount very valuable in the general store of reserve 
pieces in a besieged place. The coming into action with the horses 
hooked-in may be regarded more as fun than serious purpose. The 
skirmishers and supports would spread and shoot down the horses and 
men outside the cupola, especially in the case of “ action ” to “ right i} 
or “ lefb.” Moreover, the piece could not advance, retire, or come into 
action at the rate required for a piece to work in the field. 
A 3’7 cm (l.*46-inch) 23-calibre quick-fire gun, in movable shielded 
mounting, was then limbered up and brought into a permanent posi¬ 
tion, consisting of a pit of full depth to cover it, lined with wood, and 
14 
