THE EQUIPMENT OP FIELD ARTILLERY, 
563 
Experiments have been carried out to see if the use of gas-checks 
would increase its effective range,, but the results so far have not been 
very definite. The Austrians consider that their 9 cm gun can fire case 
with good effect up to 700 yds. The Italian limit is about the same, 
while that of Germany is 470 yds. The weight of the bullets may 
have something to do with this ; thus, the weight of the bullet in our 
present case shot is under an ounce (that for the new 13-pr. is under 
half-an-ounce), while in Austria this bullet weighs 1*6 oz., and in Ger¬ 
many, for the field battery gun, 2J oz. There is also a peculiarity 
about the form of the case used in those countries (see Plate IY.) It 
therefore appears that, by increasing the weight of the bullets and 
somewhat altering its form, we can render case shot efficient up to, 
say, 500 yds. Prom 500 yds. to 800 yds. shrapnel, with the time fuze 
set to zero, can be employed. The days of case shot have by no means 
gone by : from Zululand and Afghanistan we have heard many favour¬ 
able reports of its use,* and in European warfare it has not been 
discarded. In the Russo-Turkish War, on one occasion, it saved the 
guns,f and the number of rounds expended during that campaign (585) 
might possibly point to the desirability of carrying more than four case 
shot per gun; our own experience in Afghanistan and the Cape points 
to the same conclusion, and, no doubt, in such wars as those above re¬ 
ferred to, a greater number might be carried; but for our ordinary equip¬ 
ment, based, as it should be, on the experience of European warfare, 
it would be well to abide by the teaching of the Franco-German war, 
bearing in mind that the Germans had few shrapnel and no machine 
guns. Thus we read that at Mars la Tour “ swarms of skirmishers 
again rushed out from Yionville, and the moment became critical • the 
battery had recourse to case, and succeeded in driving the enemy back 
into the village ; ” J and again, that at Gravelotte: “ In this battle, 
also, we find case shot employed in self-defence.” J Thus there is no 
doubt about the necessity of having case for an emergency; but if we 
refer to the number actually expended, we will find that at Mars la 
Tour it was 19, at Gravelotte, 20. Total 39.{ We therefore think 
that four rounds per gun is ample. 
39. Taking into consideration the results arrived at in the fore* Proportions 
going remarks, we would recommend the following proportions of the meSdto 
various projectiles to be carried by each sub-division of the three the C yI5ous° f 
different batteries referred to 
projectiles. 
Horse Artillery. 
Field Battery. 
Position Artillery. 
Shrapnel 
67 
42 
20 
Annular Segment ... 
67 
42 
15 
Explosive ... 
10 
12 
15 
Case 
4 
4 
2 
Total ... 
.. 148 
100 
52 
N.B .—The case shot would always be carried on the gun, together with two 
rounds of shrapnel, to avoid delay in opening fire. 
* Vide Blue-Book on "War in Afghanistan. Report of O. C. “A” Batt., “B” Bde., R.H.A .3 
also Slade’s Journal in S. Africa, R. A. I. Papers, Vol. XI., No. 4. 
f Vide “ Russian Artillery in War of 1877-8,” R. A. I. Papers, Vol. XI., No. 4. 
J Vide Hoffbauer. 
