PROPOSE!) RUSSIAN FIELD GUN. 
38o 
ON 
THE HEAVY 4-PR. GEN FOR FIELD BATTERIES, 
PROPOSED BY THE RUSSIAN ARTILLERY COMMITTEE. 
BY 
CAPTAIN PASKEYITCH. 
{From the “Russian Artillery Journal” for July 18J5). 
Translated into Italian, and published in the “ Giornale $ Artiglieria e Genio ” 
for October 18J5, and thence translated by 
COLONEL II. H. MAXWELL, R.A. 
The Russian field artillery is armed with guns of fair accuracy and 
remarkable explosive effect. The only desirable improvement in the 
system of field guns is a greater probability of a hit at long ranges and 
a flatter trajectory, so as to reduce to a minimum the effect of an 
incorrect estimate of the distance on the precision of fire. 
In Russia, since 1866, the question of attaining flatter trajectories 
for the field guns has been agitated. Now, an increase of the tension 
of the trajectory can only be obtained by an increase of the initial 
velocity of the projectile. Therewith, the accuracy of fire increases in 
a high ratio, provided that the construction of the piece satisfies essen¬ 
tial conditions. But if we increase the initial velocity of the projectile, 
we are met by the following difficulties—an increase of strain on the 
carriage, of recoil, and of gas-pressure in the bore in firing. It is 
therefore necessary, if the relative charges of the field guns are to be 
increased, either to diminish the calibre or to increase tl^e weight of 
the piece. A diminution of calibre is limited by the necessity of ade¬ 
quate explosive effect in the projectile; besides, if we diminish the 
calibre to any great extent, we lose notably in flatness of trajectory and 
in accuracy of practice at long ranges. An increase in the weight, 
again, is limited by the necessity of keeping the weight of the gun 
riding on its carriage within a moderate figure, and of carrying an 
adequate supply of ammunition with the piece. 
Seeing the advantages obtainable by an increase of initial velocity, 
experiments were made in 1867, after the introduction of the rifled 
B.L. bronze guns by the Russian artillery, with a bronze 4-pr. gun 
(calibre 4*213 ins.), firing lead-coated elongated common shells of 14 lbs. 
weight (12*65 lbs. Eng.) and a charge of one-fourth of the weight of the 
projectile. The weight of the piece was fixed at 38 pud (12^ cwts.)— 
that is, equal in weight to the existing 9-pr. (calibre 4*2 ins.); the 
[vol. ix.l 50 
