112 
COMPOSITION AND STRENGTH OF A SIEGE TRAIN. 
will arise when, as Brialmont puts it,* the problem is completely solved 
and the besieged has “ a carriage, simple, solid, little costly, which 
permits of firing over 2’5m. (8*2ft.) without exposing the piece longer 
to the fire of the enemy than necessary for pointing and firing,” for 
then the besieger must adopt the same appliances in order that he may 
not be at a disadvantage or unable, as easily as heretofore, to assure to 
himself the necessary superiority of fire. 
With regard to the carriages for the heavy guns of the first position 
it remains to say that these being for comparatively deep embrasures 
should be of the “ sliding” type on a low traversing platform-}* or of 
the Ci common standing ” type; of which the former is the preferable on 
account of the facility and accuracy with which the piece mounted upon 
it can be worked. J Like the heavy guns the carriages of the heavy 
howitzers should also be of the sliding type, the platforms being made 
higher to suit the less depth of embrasure. 
Assuming that, in general, a railway will be available for bringing 
up the materiel of the siege train to a point not far distant from the 
park, it is not necessary to provide a transporting carriage for each 
individual piece of the heavy guns and howitzers, one for every two 
pieces would seem sufficient. 
Summing up and adding 20 per cent. If spare we have :— 
The TOTAL NUMBER AND NATURES OF CARRIAGES FOR THE ORDNANCE OF 
THE SIEGE TRAIN,as :- 
Behind bank - - beds 
Deep embrasure, - sliding with 
platform 
■<j Shallow embrasure „ 
,, travelling 
Overbank, ,, 
JFielcl, ,, 
Transporting, 
H.Gun. M.Gun. -F.Gun. H.How. M.How.L.How. 
— — — 79 48 43 
29 
6.7 —• — — ■— 
— 72 — — 
—. — 29 •— 
33 — 
54 
which gives a total of 509. 
To complete the train, to this number, have to be added carriages for 
the transport of ammunition, ground platforms, mounting and other 
stores, with respect to which it is sufficient to say, that, assuming as 
* Traite de Fortification Polygonale. 
f These should be fitted for a transporting arrangement to facilitate bringing them into 
battery (with the carriage mounted) and a transporting arrangement issued with them in 
the proportion of one to two platforms. 
X The weight of the standing carriage for the 64 pr. M.L.R. is l7i cwts, and of a 
common ground platform 36 cwts, or together 53^ cwts ; that of a sliding carriage and 
platform would be about 35 cwts, and its ground platform about 13 cwts, making a total 
of 48 cwts.; the present siege carriage, without limber, is 33 cwts, which, with the 
ground platform of 36 cwts, gives 69 cwts. 
|( Carriages being more vulnerable than ordnance, a greater percentage of spare is 
required. 
