Q.F. FIELD EQUIPMENTS ON THE CONTINENT. 14l 
old pattern carriage (model 73-88) this brake is put in action by 
means of a lever by the side of the left axle seat. 
The spade folds up on to the top of the trail (see Fig. 2); to put it 
in action, the trail must be lifted, and the spade can then be folded 
down and fastened by a chain. The drill book lays down “ that the 
spade is only to be used when specially ordered by the battery com¬ 
mander, the section commander, or the gun captain.” It is to be used 
for rapid fire or when on ground which, though slippery, affords a 
good hold to the spade, or when on a reverse slope and when the rope 
brake proves insufficient. The spade, when used, strains the carriage 
much more than the rope brake. When the wheels are not on the 
same level and when the spade is used, the carriage, owing to its 
“lift ” or jump on firing tends to jump towards the side of the lower 
wheel and thus gets off the target* ; the wheels are also unequally 
tried; it is laid down, therefore, that a hole should be dug under the 
higher wheel so as to get both wheels on the same level if possible. 
The elevating gear is of the double screw pattern. The carriage is 
fitted with a top carriage and with traversing gear, which is worked 
by a hand wheel. The strains on the different parts of the carriage 
are considerably affected if the axis of the gun on firing does not 
coincide with the centre line of the trail, especially when the spade is 
in action ; for this reason, it is directed that the traversing gear 
should not, if it can be helped, be used when the spade is down, or, 
at any rate, extreme traverse should not be used.f A good deal of 
stress is laid on not using the traversing gear more than can be 
helped. There is considerable lift of the front part of the carriage 
when the spade is being used, especially if the latter is in good holding 
ground. 
The height of the axis of the gun is 37*4 inches; in the old equip¬ 
ment it was 45*3 inches ; this reduction has been effected by altering 
the diameter of the wheels from 55*1 inches to 47*25 inches. The 
gunners are warned lest the muzzle should strike the ground when 
they are limbering up. Axle-tree seats are provided for Field 
Batteries, but not for Horse Batteries. There is a handle on the cap 
square for the gunner to hold on to. Two drag ropes are attached to 
the front of the carriage brackets for use in running the gun up, when 
necessary ; when not required they are folded up against the brackets. 
There is a trail box for small stores and it also forms a seat for the layer. 
Judging from the figure, the breast of the carriage would be only 
17*7 inches from ground when limbered up. 
The weight of the carriage is said to be 6 cwt. 69 lbs., but this 
sounds too light, especially as it is also said that the gun and carriage 
together weigh 17 cwt. 76 lbs. 
Sights .—The Tangent sight is graduated up to 5,468 yards, and it 
remains in the gun on firing. It has a level or clinometer attached to 
* This, of course, is the case with any gun which has a spade under the point of the trail. 
f When the spade is down, is the time when, it would seem, that the traversing gear was pare 
tioularly wanted, as free movement of the end of the trail is then impossible. 
