NOTES ON ARTILLERY. 
581 
abolished the 12-in. and adopted the 10-in., because be thought that 
the calibre of 8 or 9 inches was the best for long ranges. The mortars 
which were cast at Cadiz had less than 9 inches. 
More experiments are still required, and if they confirm the old 
ones, to the effect that the longest ranges are obtainable between 8 
and 9 inches, we should then abolish the 8-in. and substitute for them 
the new calibre. Of course the mortar should have a cylindrical Gomer 
chamber and the lightest possible for short ranges and beds for long 
ones. 
WVshould have thus 3 mortars : the 5J-in., the new model between 
8-in. and 9-in., and the 12-in. 
A mortar shell of the new model would not weigh more than 60 lbs. 
That is not a sufficient weight and would cause one to feel the want of 
the effect of a 12-in. shell. 
Long-ranging mortars are only useful at particular points of the 
coast or in placesMestined to defend a particular point, for the fire is 
so uncertain, long and difficult that it can be of no use at ordinary 
times. It was on the occasion of the bombardment of Cadiz that 
mortars were cast at Seville with a range of 3000 fathoms. The 
coasts of Flushing, lie d’Aix and Hyeres were armed with these. 
These mortars, joined to the special carriages which were given to the 
coast guns to enable them to fire at 45°, were a sufficient defence to 
drive off the English whenever they attempted to cast anchor in 
Hyeres roads. 
***** 
Field batteries comprise 2 howitzers per battery, which makes one 
fourth for them and one third for horse artillery. An equipment of 
40 batteries gives 80 howitzers. This has been blamed, but wrongly 
so. The 54-m. howitzer is not more expensive than an 8 pr. and this 
large number of howitzers is necessary to dislodge the enemy from 
villages, to shatter redoubts, &c. Frederick the Great (called Frederic 
II. by Napoleon) was the first to augment the number of howitzers. 
If a calculation be made of the equipment of field artillery, according 
to the proportions which have been adopted in the late wars of 6 and 
12 prs. and 5J-in. howitzers, a great economy will be found when 
comparing it with an equipment of an equal number of pieces on 
GribeanvaTs system. 
* * * * * 
A battery with six 6 prs. and two 5|-in. howitzers would have in 
carriages: 8 gun carriages, 2 spare ones, 1 forge, 1 proloug, 1 6 
waggons with 6 and 12 mules, 4 waggons with shell and 4 mules; 
total: 23 carriages, 121 horses, 1541 rounds and the mules (see note 
D). 
We should have a waggon and a half per 6 pr., which would make : 
26 carriages, 130 horses, 1576 rounds. 
There are thus 3 carriages, 9 horses and 102 6pr. rounds more, but 
66 fewer howitzer rounds. 
1 See note lower down. 
