142 
OKEHAMPTON EXPERIENCES, 1892 . 
the head when using field glasses. Outside pockets for the serge coat 
would be a welcome addition. Knife, note-book, range card, and 
papers-that will sometimes accumulate, get inconveniently mixed when 
hastily thrust into a small inside pocket. 
Conclusion. 
In reviewing the result of the year’s practice I would say a few words 
in conclusion. The unquestionable zeal and interest shown by all ranks 
are a guarantee that improvement will be each year manifested. When 
the results are deduced from averages, such improvement must be 
gradual. But if a step onward is made each year, there is satisfactory 
proof that the foundation of the system is solid, that its design is good, 
and that the structure will be built of the best materials, put together 
without hurry, and selected by the light of experience and knowledge. 
(Cheers.) 
NOTES ON RECENT EXPERIMENTS. 
I have a few notes on recent experiments which the Ordnance Com¬ 
mittee have kindly allowed me to mention here, because the Officers of 
the Regiment are very often in the dark as to what is going on; and I 
think they are, as a rule, very keen to know what efforts are being 
made to improve our materiel . 
When the 12-pr. equipment was first proposed in 1881 it was in¬ 
tended to be a light equipment for Horse and light Field Batteries. 
On its introdution into the service the weight was found to be more 
than had been anticipated, and it was found to be too heavy for Horse 
Artillery. The only way to reduce the present equipment would be to 
carry less ammunition, which is undesirable. So it has been decided 
that a lighter equipment is to be introduced as soon as possible for 
Horse Artillery. The weight behind the teams to be as near as possi¬ 
ble 30 cwt., the shell power and number of rounds carried in the 
limber being the same as with the present 12-pr. B.L. gun, with this 
object, no gunners will be carried on the limber. 
An equipment has been on trial this summer at Okehampton which 
weighs just 32 cwt. behind the team. The gun fires the service shell 
with a muzzle velocity of 1550 f'.s., the charge being only 12 oz. 
cordite, so that nearly 1 cwt. is saved on the 36 rounds. 
Two kinds of brakes were tried with the carriage, one a ratchet 
round the inner flange of the wheel, acted upon by a pawl on the axle. 
The other being the double drag-shoe brake, which was, I believe, 
suggested ten years ago by the late Captain Frank Goold-Adams. The 
recoil with each kind of brake on ordinary ground was about 3 feet. 
Both of these brakes were also tried by some of the Service Batteries. 
The axle brake did not last out the course of practice, and was not easily 
repairable. The drag-shoe brake was always efficient, and any injury 
to the shoes or guide-chains could be put to rights by battery artificers. 
