THE EQUIPMENT OE FIELD ARTILLERY. 
573 
NOTES. 
A. A screw is cut on each axletree-arm at (A), this screw carries a nut (B), forming a conical See pi. III., 
cap (C) capable of fitting over the inner part of the nave (D), which is likewise conical, to 
inside the cap. The nut has a crank (E) by which it can be revolved on the axletree. When the 
nut is tightly screwed up the wheel is fixed; the screws on the axletree-arms have right and left- 
handed threads, so that the caps become tightened by the act of recoil, and can at once be 
loosened by running the gun forward. The advantage of this brake is that it can be set so that 
its action will commence after the gun has recoiled a foot or any given number of feet, the strain 
on the carriage being thus reduced to a minimum. Once set, the brakes require no attention, and 
will act for any number of rounds. They also can be used instead of the drag-shoe,* and can be 
applied and withdrawn when the carriage is proceeding at speed. It is easy to imagine circum¬ 
stances where this facility would be of importance, especially in rapid movements under fire. 
J3. Thus we read in the account of the battles round Metz, (by Hoffbauer) “ The deficiency of 
the ammunition had its influence in checking the detaching of the batteries in this way,—the 
slowness of the fire and the silence of some of the batteries encouraged the enemy to make more 
frequent and vigorous attacks. The 5th Division was prevented from taking part in the last attack 
on the enemy by the want of ammunition.” Nor can we hold the Artillery at large responsible 
for this by their want of mobility, for in the same work we read “ in spite of the great distance 
it had to march, the divisional artillery came up to assist in the attack made by the Cavalry,” 
and again, “ we see the batteries of the 1st Army Corps in action a considerable time before the 1st 
and 4th Brigades came into line.” 
C. We find the following results recorded in the tables of “ Practice under Service Conditions ’ 
in Dr. Beckerheim’s “ Field Artillery.” 
Country. Bange. Target. Hits per round. 
Austria 
Germany 
Russia 
2000-2500 
2406 
Company in line. ... 
Company forming } 
line from column. ) 
Infantry column 
875 
2216 
20 Time shell. 
18 Percussion shell, 
C 38-5 Time shell. 
( 18‘3 Percussion shell. 
C 18 Time shell. 
( 8 Percussion shell. 
C 220 Time shell. 
£ 17 Percussion shell. 
C 151 Time shell. 
\ 22 Percussion shell. 
N.B.— The Time shell means a shrapnel with time faze, the Percussion shell, a ring or double- 
wall shell and percussion fuze. This, however, is but the result against targets more or less in 
the open, and the fact is recognised that on the field of battle cover will always exist, more or less, 
and that no matter how good a shell may be in the open, it is advisable to provide for other 
contingencies. 
D. This fuze is shown in Plate IV., Figs 2 and 3, and it is claimed for it that it is “absolutely 
effective, completely safe during the transport of the projectiles, to which the fuzes can be attached. 
No manipulation is required to arm the fuze before the discharge of the projectile.” The fuze con¬ 
sists of two main parts, the case and th q plunger. The plunger is composed of three parts, (1) the 
lead body, (2) a brass case which envelopes this body, and (3) a central pin which is roughened in 
such a way that the surrounding lead has sufficient hold on it to prevent displacement except by 
great force. The detonating patch is carried in the case. Fig. 2 shows the fuze before the gun is 
fired, and it is evident that the pin and detonating composition cannot come into contact on 
account of the hard brass case (2) that forms part of the plunger. But after the shock of discharge 
the fuze assumes the appearance shown in Fig. 3; that is to say, the heavy pellet of lead sets back 
on the firing pin, but after the shock is passed the lead again closes round and grips it firmly; on 
impact, pellet and pin move again forward, the latter comes in contact with the detonating com¬ 
position and fires the fuze. 
JE. There are two patterns for field purposes of the following weights : 
Weight of gun ... ... 
ii projectile. 
n bursting-charge 
w powder charge... 
Initial velocity . 
Total weight behind splinter-bar 
including four (10 st.) gunners > 
and 300 rounds. J 
The ammunition consists of a metal cartridge, including powder-charge, shell, and percussion fuze* 
Heavy. 
Light. 
950 lbs. 
450 lbs. 
1 lb. 4 oz. 
1-05 lb. 
8’4 oz. 
•8 oz. 
3’6 oz. 
2-9 oz. 
1500 f.s. 
1330 f.s. 
4660 lbs. 
3360 lbs. 
*The drag-shoes are reported to have been constantly broken in S. Africa. It is not meant that 
the gun-brake should supersede them, for ordinary purposes on the march, but it is available in case 
of emergency. 
71 
