THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
247 
THE CALIBRE OE FIELD GUNS. 
BY 
W. H. NOBLE, M.A., 
CAPTAIN E.A. 
“As to the general question of large bore and small bore, light guns or heavier guns, he 
supposed it was a point upon which they must agree to differ .”* 
In common, doubtless, with many of my brother officers, I have read 
with much interest a paper in the present volume,t in which the 
author has given a very lucid explanation of the technical term 
“ flat trajectory.” 
It is not my intention in the present paper to enter into any dis¬ 
cussion on theoretical points that are beyond dispute; but as the 
author appears to have—doubtless inadvertently—fallen into several 
practical errors, which hitherto have remained unquestioned or un¬ 
noticed, it seems desirable that some one—even at this late period— 
should draw attention to the defects in an otherwise able paper. 
In the discussion which followed the reading of the paper, it is 
perhaps unfortunate that no one seemed willing to take up the other 
side of the question* or competent to give information which probably 
would have considerably changed the aspect in which the subject, 
from first to last* appears to have been viewed. 
It is now, perhaps, too late to enter upon a discussion in a contro¬ 
versial sense; I shall therefore merely take exception, in a spirit of 
fair criticism, to various statements which the author has made in the 
paper under consideration, and which it is desirable should not remain 
uncontradicted in the pages of the Royal Artillery Institution's 
“ Proceedings.” 
From the general tone of “ Flat Trajectories,” it may be gathered 
that the author is not satisfied with the method pursued in carrying 
out certain experiments with two 12-cwt. field guns, of the respective 
calibres of 3*6 in. and 3*3 in. 
* Extract from remarks made by Major-G*en. Lefroy, C.B., daring a discussion in tbe Theatre 
of the Roj^al Artillery Institution.—“ Proceedings R.A. Institution,” Vol. VII., p. 292. 
f “Elat Trajectories; what are they?”—“Proceedings R.A. Institution,” Vol. VIII., pi 74 
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