THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
321 
chance, but the foregoing experiments are interesting as examples of actual 
practice carefully conducted. One essential point of difference between the 
muzzle and the breech-loading systems, viz. the necessity of employing in the 
latter a time fuze ignited by mechanical action, was not brought under trial, 
because one fuze was used for both the Armstrong guns, and a time fuze also 
on that principle of ignition, (designed by Colonel Boxer) was used for the 
Whitworth gun. The times of burning were tested by firing 20 (in all), at 
3°, 4°, 5°, and 6° elevation, and noting carefully by stop watches the time 
between the discharge of the gun and the explosion of the shell.* The results 
were:— 
B.L. Armstrong; mean difference *36 seconds; 5 blind. 
M.L. n n *10 a 0 « 
Whitworth n *24 u 2 « 
(9) Ease of working.X 
The ease of working the guns was tested by repeated experiments of long 
and rapid firing, the guns being placed in battery side by side, and every 
endeavour being made to put them on a perfect equality in all respects. 
With the breech-loader three vent-pieces were used, each being changed when 
it became hot. Oil and water were applied to the breech screw in two out of 
the three days firing; lubrication for the bore was found to be indispensable 
for any continuous use. The results may be judged by the rates of firing 
attained. 
(10) Rate of Firing.% 
The rate of firing was tried, in all, five times: three times with the 
ordinary ammunition and the ordinary service; once with the omission of 
lubrication, and once with the breech-loader only, to ascertain what rapidity 
was practicable with a carefully selected gun detachment trained to serve it 
in a manner different from that laid down in the drill book. 
By this alteration one gunner worked the vent piece whilst another 
primed and fired, instead of both duties being performed by the same man, 
and an extraordinary increase of rapidity was thereby attained. One set of 
50 rounds was fired in 6 min. 59 secs.; another 50 in 6 min. 39 secs.; 
averaging 1 round in 8T8 secs, or upwards of 7 rounds per minute. 
With the usual drill and the proper ammunition both guns were practically 
equal, the results of the first three days firing were as follow, but the muzzle- 
loader had been under a disadvantage from the cartridges being above the 
right gauge on the first day, and by the platform shifting on the last day. 
The Whitworth was fully as rapid as the breech-loader. 
1st day 
200 rounds. 
B.L. 80 m. 
M.L. 81 „ 
Whitworth ... 72 « 
2nd day 
99 rounds. 
51 m. 21 sec. 
57 a 39 a 
59 n 0 n 
3rd day 
98 rounds. 
35 m. 34 sec. 
37 // 14 „ 
33 n 24 a 
Average time 
per round. 
25*22 sec. 
26-6 „ 
24*84 „ 
4th day: lubrication omitted. 
B.L. 20 rounds in about 11 min. 33 seconds per round. 
M.L. 86 „ in 28| min. 19-5 sec. per round. 
Whitworth. 86 „ in 34| min. 24*1 sec. per round. 
* Report, p. 40. 
f Ibid. p. 25. 
% Ibid. p. 27, 
