THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
348 
ON THE 
INFLUENCE OF THE WIND ON THE FLIGHT 
OF PROJECTILES. 
BY 
MAJOR E. MAITLAND, R.A. 
Since tlie introduction of rifled guns has enabled us to shoot with 
considerable accuracy, it has become a matter of importance to eli¬ 
minate, as far as possible, the causes of incorrectness of either range or 
line in artillery practice. One of the chief of these causes is the force 
of the wind ; and an endeavour is made in this paper to supply the 
means of making the requisite corrections, so that we may be able to 
foretell how much our range will be increased or diminished by the 
wind, and what allowance to the right or left 'should be made in the 
direction of the projectile. 
The correction for range was a very difficult matter to deal with 
before the publication of Professor Bashfortffis valuable tables; and, 
owing to the varying ratio of resistance to velocity, when the latter 
was high, could not be made with the desired accuracy. The lateral 
correction appears to be & simple mathematical problem, and may, 
perhaps, be already worked out elsewhere; though I am not aware 
that it is so. 
For practical purposes, it may be considered that wind is simply air 
moving horizontally with a measurable velocity, which we will call W. 
It is assumed to move uniformly in a straight line ; that is, to retain 
its direction and velocity during the flight of the projectile. We may 
correct the practice for range and accuracy, even if the wind be gusty, 
provided that the force, direction, and duration of the gusts be 
observed. 
Assuming, then, that the wind is blowing with a uniform horizontal 
velocity in a direction making an angle I) with the direction of the 
line of sight of the gun, we have to determine its effect on— 
(1) The range. 
(2) The line. 
