153 
SUPPLY OF AMMUNITION IN THE FIELD. 
BY 
MAJOR E. 0. HAWKS HAW, R.A. 
The R.A.I. e( Proceedings ” for November, 1893,, contains a most 
interesting paper, by Major Wynyard, R.A., on tbe subject of “ Supply 
of Ammunition in the Field/’ a subject which, under present circum¬ 
stances, cannot be considered as satisfactory. 
Having devoted some months past to this very subject I am now in 
a position to give all detail in connection with a scheme which, in some 
points, will coincide with Major Wynyard’s ideas. The busy time of 
year prevented my sending it before. 
I have, in my possession now, a portable magazine made to hold 
four complete rounds of ammunition, i.e., shells, cartridges, tubes and 
fuzes. In designing it I kept the following points in view :•— 
(1.) The rounds are to travel altogether in this magazine. Fittings 
are therefore in it to hold everything steady. Except for use they will 
not be removed. 
(2.) I chose the number of four rounds because a gunner of below 
average strength can easily pick the magazine up and run with it. 
(3.) It can easily be slung on a horse’s or mule’s back. 
(4.) It takes up little room, put it where you like. 
(5.) It has straps for slinging as on those at present in use. 
Each cartridge must have its own water-proof cover. 
The exact size of this magazine in outside measurement is 15J" X 8f" x 
m". 
Now, the present two boxes of ammunition on a 12-pr. wagon-body 
or limber hold 18 rounds each—total 36 rounds. 
I propose to substitute for these one large box, like that on the lim¬ 
ber of a store wagon, and have simply oblong divisions in it, each 
made to admit one of the above portable magazines. 
The total size of this box to fit where the two boxes on limbers and 
wagons now are will be, in outside measurement, 4’ 2" long x V 10" 
broad. It will admit very nearly 8£ of these magazines and, if made 
slightly larger, which can be effected with little difficulty, will admit 9, 
i.e. } 36 rounds. Shells must travel upright. If they are laid horizon¬ 
tally such very strong fittings are required to keep them apart that 
room is taken up and weight added to the carriages. I propose to have 
these boxes opening to the front on the limbers, and to the rear on 
4. VOL. XXI, 
