REQUIRED FOR THE ATTACK OF A MODERN FORTRESS. 
101 
For the demolition of one flank of the battery de reverse , 3 medium 
howitzers are required* * * § and for one flank of the caponier, at least 4 
heavy and 2 medium howitzers. 
For the reduction of the casemated guns flanking the caponier 6 
medium howitzers are necessary, but as these pieces will not be required 
until a late period of the siege they may be provided from those of the 
first position. In like manner it seems unnecessary to provide especially 
for the reduction of the guns flanking the terreplein of the caponier. + 
For breaching the flank of the Eavelin 4 medium howitzers will be 
sufficient, while for the face of the encient 6 heavy howitzers must be 
allowed. J 
For keeping under the infantry fire of the covered ways, &c., 6 light 
howitzers may be added to those of the first position and for effecting 
lodgements on captured works the field guns allowed for emplacements, 
and no longer required for that purpose, will serve. 
Thus, in addition to the ordnance of the first position, there are re¬ 
quired for the second.— 
Guns :— heavy, — medium , 20. field , — 
Howitzers: — heavy , 10. medium , 9. light , 6. 
Therefore. 
The total ordnance required for the attack opposite one front, 
is.— 
Guns : — heavy , 18. medium, 20. field\\ 12. 
Howitzers:—heavy , 30. medium , 30. § light , 18. 
in all 128 pieces, of which 64 may be considered as allotted for subduing 
the fire of the front, the remainder being for bombardment and special 
purposes. 
If now we suppose the attack made on salient III. Plate n., there 
are required opposite the fronts II.-III., III.-IV., double the above 
number and in addition 6 heavy howitzers and 2 heavy guns for the 
battery on the prolongation of the third capital, or :— 
The total ordnance required for the attack opposite two fronts, 
is.— 
Guns :— heavy, 38. medium , 40. field\\ 24. 
Howitzer s :—heavy , 66. medium , 60. light, 36. 
or 264 pieces. 
* These will also complete the dismounting of any guns on the flank of the ravelin, 
unsubdued by the enfilade fire. 
f If the besieger does not enter the fortress by the caponier, the reduction of these is 
not necessary. 
£ As already stated, heavy howitzers are better for breaching 'than medium, but, 
the former being provided for breaching the encient, they can supplement the medium 
allowed for breaching the ravelin, or even, should circumstances permit, take their place 
altogether, thus first breaching the ravelin and then the encient. Again, we may assume 
the revetment of the former work to be of less strength than of the latter. 
At the siege of Strasburg, the Germans employed four short 15 c.m. guns on two 
occasions to form breaches and six on a third. 
|| Field Guns and mitrailleuses. 
§ One added to make the number even. 
