See Note E. 
The tactical 
uses of this 
machine 
gun. 
Army Corps 
equipment. 
568 THE EQUIPMENT OF FIELD ARTILLERY. 
into 20 fragments; this fact also admits of tlie men serving tlie gun 
noting whether the proper range is known. As before stated 1200 
fragments per minute can be produced. This machine gun has been 
adopted by Germany, Austria, Denmark, France, Greece, America, 
Brazil, and Russia for naval purposes, and by the last-named five for 
military purposes also. 
51. We consider a weapon of this kind would be a welcome addition 
to our field artillery, and that its use is evident under the following 
contingencies:— 
Preparation of the attach. —The long range of the revolving cannon 
would permit of a continuous stream of projectiles being poured upon 
the points selected for attack; the projectiles acting as percussion 
shells they lose none of their effect from loss of velocity, and are well 
suited to search out cover, such as woods, hollows, &c. 
Support of the attach.—Here, where the target is less covered, its 
effect is manifest, and partakes of the nature of that claimed for the 
ordinary mitrailleur; it is especially suited to repel columns of counter¬ 
attack. 
Preliminary defence.—Its long range permits it to take part in the 
general fire; the nature of its projectile renders it very effective against 
artillery limbers and ammunition wagons. 
Final defence. —Its rapid case-like fire is the very thing for this phase 
of battle. 
Its capability for picking out the range by a series of rapid single 
shots, and then for covering the object with a withering fire when the 
range is found, renders it extremely useful for pursuits , while, in 
covering a retread , it would have an excellent target in the advancing 
columns that would probably have to cross the open. 
It could act as a rough and ready range-finder, and at times could 
perform the duties of an escort, and would be available at all times 
where a fire of “case” was desirable. We are of opinion that two 
guns of this kind per battery* would be a useful addition to its 
war strength. By a more judicious arrangement of the horse-holders 
in the H.A. the necessary horses might be forthcoming for that branch, 
while, if any additional were needed for these or other batteries, the 
extra expense would not be worth considering, the gain would be so 
great, t 
52. We would therefore propose the Army Corps equipment of 
guns should be increased by 30 machine guns, and 16 of heavy calibre, 
such as the 50-pr. These last should be formed in two batteries of 
eight guns each, with an increased proportion of officers. The horse 
and field batteries would consist, as now, of six pieces, which, on mobi¬ 
lization, would be increased to eight by the addition of two machine 
guns : the necessary supply of extra subalterns could easily be obtained 
* Horse and field batteries only. 
f The Light Model, as it is called, would be the H.A. gun, the Heavy Model that for field 
batteries. 
