152 
The new 
system ofsiege- 
train units. 
Advantage of 
treating each 
gun as the 
unit. 
Adoption of 
7-io. B.L. guns 
of 72 cwt. for 
the siege train. 
7-in. M.C. of 
90 cwt. 
64-prs. 
40 and 25-prs. 
8-in. and 6-3 
Howitzers. 
SIEGE TRAINS. 
and 7-inch guns should always be kept ready, with all needful 
stores, for siege purposes.” 
The regulations of the service* provide that, u whenever the 
formation of a Siege Train may be necessary, the number and 
description of guns will be fixed by the Secretary of State for 
War in communication with the Commander-in-Chief, according to 
the nature of the service or description of fortress likely to be 
attacked.” 
Notwithstanding the above excellent arrangements, by which 
the nature and proportion of ordnance to be taken to a siege is 
left to be determined at the time by the circumstances of the case 
and the service to be expected, another system has lately crept in 
of laying down “ Heavy and Light Siege Train Units” of 30 
guns each; but it is manifest that under this plan any change 
found desirable or necessary in the armaments might at the last 
moment disarrange the whole train, whereas, by treating each gun 
as a unit, and keeping a proportion of each nature in reserve, 
complete in every respect, a siege train of any size and form re¬ 
quired could, by a mere multiplication of units, be prepared in a 
few days, its establishment of men, horses, artificers, and stores 
calculated, and the weight of every load composing it accurately 
determined. 
Description and Weight of Ordnance to be employed. 
In 1864, the Field-Marshal Commander-in-Chief called for 
information as to the greatest weight of gun that could be con¬ 
veniently used with siege trains; and recorded his opinion, that, 
“ provided the 7-inch B.L. gun could be so used, guns of that 
nature should form a considerable part of the future equipments 
for siege purposes.” 
After a series of trials for travelling the gun on a naval slide, 
fitted with transporting axle, 25 of these guns of 72 cwt. were 
added to the breech-loading siege train, of 105 pieces. 
There appears to be no reason why this weight should not be 
slightly exceeded; and accordingly a 7-inch gun of 90 cwt., to 
carry a projectile of about 115 lbs., is to form part of the muzzle- 
loading siege train. 
These guns, with the 64-prs. of 64 cwt., should be employed 
for breaching by direct fire, and be mounted, as hereafter 
described, for close attack. 
The lighter muzzle-loading guns, introduced for siege purposes, 
are the 40-pr. of 35 cwt. and the 25-pr. of 18 cwt. on travelling 
carriages. 
The muzzle-loading rifled howitzers hitherto manufactured, 
viz., the 8-inch of 46 cwt. (length 5ft. Ijim), and 6*3 inch of 
18 cwt. (length 4Jft.), have proved too lively for travelling 
* Paragraph 51, page 21, ‘Regulations for the Supply of Military Stores to an Army 
in the Field,’ 
