104 
COMPOSITION AND STRENGTH OP A SIEGE TRAIN 
proportionately greater number of tbe heaviest guns mounted in it and 
there will be more frequent use of two tiers of fire, this will however 
be balanced in the number of pieces allowed for keeping down the fire 
of collateral works, which, from the greater distance of the works from 
the attack, will be less annoying. In this view, we find for the attack 
of a fortress constructed on a decagon of 1093 yards (1000m.)* * * § side, 
there is required opposite one front 356 pieces, namely :— 
Guns :— heavy, 50. medium, 55. field, 33. 
Howitzers :—heavy, 84. medium , 84. light, 50. 
and for the minimum total train,f without spare :—■ 
Guns :— heavy, 152. medium, 165. field, 66. 
Howitzers : — heavy, 252. medium, 248. light, 100. 
II. AMMUNITION. 
“ In the earlier maxims upon sieges, a certain number of rounds was 
laid down for each gun, which had to suffice for the whole siege. This 
no longer holds good, for if the fortress does not yield after 800 or 1000 
rounds per gun we must go on firing or else we are beaten off.”J But 
though the total amount of ammunition for the reduction of any for¬ 
tress must thus, as it were, be unlimited, it is necessary in peace, 
in order to readiness for war, to have a certain store of ammu¬ 
nition prepared with the ordnance of the siege train. This store should 
be such that, when supplied with the ordnance, for the attack of a for¬ 
tress, there would be no chance of cessation of fire from any deficiency, 
“ because a cessation of fire from want of ammunition enables the enemy 
to repair his damages and acts therefore as a great checkJ its actual 
amount must therefore depend upon the total probable amount required 
for the reduction of the fortress and upon the means and manner of 
renewing and keeping up the supply. § 
Assuming the siege to last 30 days, that is; 3 days to the establish¬ 
ment of the first artillery position, 7 days from that to the establish¬ 
ment of the second and 20 days from the latter to the assault, the total 
amount of ammunition necessary for the train, namely, for 352 pieces, 
(the spare omitted), may be estimated as follows;— 
Bombarding batteries continue open during the whole siege, allowing 
therefore for each of the heavy (66) and medium howitzers (40) of these 
48 roundslf per day (of 24 hours) as an average for 27 days, and 36 
* This is about the length of front of the fortifications of Antwerp. 
f “ Paris would have required at least three entire Prussian siege trains, if we had 
wished to employ the formal attack for its capture.”—Kraft on Sieges. 
I Kraft, on Sieges. 
§ “ Measures must be taken for keeping up the home manufacture of materiel, so that 
there may be a continuous certain supply to replace expenditure.”—Kraft, on Sieges. 
% “A daily allowance of 50 to 60 rounds per gun gives a very brisk fire; more than 
this has generally not seemed desirable.”—Kraft, on Sieges. 
