THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
153 
on top is intended to blow off the head, and also ignite the contents of the 
cylinder. The third round ranged nearly up to the target battery, and was 
the only one which burnt as intended, the others breaking up. 
An examination of the tables will show a good deal of uncertainty in the 
practice made with the 8-in. R. howitzer during this week, even when fired 
at the same elevation and under precisely similar conditions. Striking 
examples are afforded by comparing rounds 140 and 141, 149 and 150, 
170 and 172, &c. Every round was laid with the utmost care by Captain 
Fairfax Ellis, R.A., Asst.-Supt, of Experiments at Shoeburyness. and it is 
difficult to .account for the variations alluded to. However, as about two-thirds 
of the ammunition granted for these trials had now been expended with com¬ 
paratively indecisive results, and the object being (to quote the programme) 
“ to ascertain the effects of live shells on earthworks, &c., and to obtain the best 
results from the amount of ammunition expended,” the Committee determined 
to_decrease the range, so as to ensure a larger proportion of the shells striking 
the battery. A fourth firing battery was therefore established at 1000 yds. 
range, consisting simply of platforms laid upon the shingle, upon which were 
mounted two 8-in. R. howitzers, and one 64-pr. R.M.L. gun; the latter 
was mounted on a Clerk’s platform, and the howitzers upon ground plat¬ 
forms laid perfectly level , German wood wedges being employed, as before, 
to check the recoil. 
Eighth Day's Firing. 
(Tuesday, 24th Nov., 1874.) 
Direct shell fire at 1000 yds. range ; sensitive fuze with 8-in. R. howitzer, 
and R.L. percussion with 64-pr. R.M.L. gun. 
Points aimed at. 
Rounds 186 to 195, No. 3 gun-portion. 
„ 196 n 204, h 4 h 
„ 205 „ 209, right hand corner of No. 2 gun-portion. 
« ' 210 ,,'212, magazine in traverse. 
Gen. No. 
of 
round. 
Nature of 
ordnance. 
Charge. 
Weight 
of shell. 
Eleva¬ 
tion. 
Effects on target battery (shell burst, &c ) 
lbs. 
lbs. 
O 
/ 
186 
8-in.R.howtz. 
qi 
02 
180 
17 
0 
In screen; crater 12' x 13' x 3J' deep; 
closed continuation of embrasure • (in 
screen). 
187 
// 
„ 
„ 
17 
20 
25 yds. over. 
188 
it 
ii 
ii 
17 
10 
Foot of splinter-proof. 
189 
it 
n 
a 
n 
Between battery and splinter-proof. 
190 
n 
n 
17 
0 
Just cleared crest of parapet on left of gun- 
portion, and burst on railway, displacing 
four sleepers and destroying two rails; 
crater 10' x 7' x 1-|' deep. 
191 
n 
a 
it 
n 
Just cleared parapet, passed through target, 
and burst on shingle behind. 
192 
it 
ii 
ii 
16 
55 
Noisy; just over splinter-proof. 
193 
n 
" 
- 
" 
16 
50 
In screen; enlarged crater made by round 
186 to 18' x 14 x 3|' deep, extending it to 
foot of screen. 
194 
ii 
ii. 
ii 
Cleared interior crest of parapet, and struck 
the gun just behind trunnions; made only 
a dent, and burst, killing No. 1 of gun; 
numerous splinters on targets in rear. 
