TltEj KOYAL AIITILLEEY INSTITUTION, 
175 
conviction is that the extremes taken are the best positions; but I may 
be unable to convince others of this, particularly as I feel that I am 
alone in my opinion, many most distinguished officers having suggested 
the armament of the Queen's Road. 
Gun to. The gun o> (in the low line) would have the following :— 
1. a. A very horizontal line of fire, causing its pro- 
overgim™ jectile to have a fair chance of hitting a ship in spite of its 
distance being but roughly determined. 
2. b. It would be nearer the ship. 
3. c. It would fire horizontally, or at only a slight 
elevation, obtaining the advantages mentioned in (A) and ( C.) 
4. d. It is placed in the best situation for penetrating 
the side of an armour-plated ship, the shot striking direct (/.) 
5. e. It could be cheaper worked, less transport being 
required for projectiles, stores, &c. 
6. f. In firing at night, its low horizontal fire gives it a 
great chance of striking a ship, firing at random in its sup¬ 
posed direction. 
Disadvantages 
of gun <d com¬ 
pared with 
gun a. 
1. g. It is exposed to more accurate fire from a ship 
of war (/.) 
2. Ji. In consequence of this, it requires strong pro- 
tection. 
3. i. The constantly changing distance of a ship is 
harder to determine (K.) 
4. j. With the march of science, this gun is more apt 
to lose its relative power, for the reasons given in (F); while 
gun a retains its superiority (F } 6r, 77.) 
5. 7c. Owing to its being mounted in some sort of 
cover (unless mounted on some system similar to that of 
Moncrieff, which is not in use in Gibraltar), the gun has 
less lateral range. 
6. 1. Its detachment of gunners is exposed to fire, 
and will not perhaps work as coolly and accurately as at 
ordinary practice. (Our men get so little practice at rapid 
firing, or in firing at moving objects, that I have always 
found them get much flurried and their pointing very in¬ 
accurate, when attempting to fire quickly. This fault would 
increase, I imagine, under fire). 
Gun a. 
The gun a (on the high line) would have the following 
Advantages 
over gun w. 
1. m. Range accurately and quickly ascertained (see K.) 
(A “ Malta instrument 99 should be near each gun, properly 
sighted and marked). 
2. n. From its great height the decks of vessels are visible, 
enabling plates to be struck in reverse (see 7), F, G, 77), 
23 
