SIEGE TRAINS, 
155 
There is no novelty in such an arrangement. The late Ordnance 
Select Committee in 1868, in view to the introduction of the 
7-inch B.L. gun of 72 cwt. into the siege-train, carried out a 
series of experiments for working this gun on a wooden garrison 
carriage and naval slide, with special ground platform, as shown in 
Diagram II., and travelling it with its appliances, as in Diagrams 
III. and IV.* 
The introduction of this system of mounting siege guns con¬ 
templated at that time their use behind embrasures, but it is 
evident that any advantage as to cover attainable with a gun on a 
travelling-carriage is to be gained by a simple adaptation of the 
ground in rear of the parapet, as shown in Diagram II. 
Looking, therefore, to the circumstance that travelling carriages 
are not used for the transport of such heavy guns as the 64-pr., 
that when mounted on wrought-iron garrison carriages and slides 
they can'be kept by compressors within perfect control, with any 
charge that the gun will burn, and, further, that nothing is gained 
as regards height above plane by mounting them on wheels, it is 
proposed, in laying down a siege equipment, that the system of 
mounting and travelling the 7-inch B.L. gun adopted by the O. S. 
Committee be taken as a guide for designing the carriages and 
platforms of all siege guns and howitzers exceeding the 40-pr. in 
weight,f with the following modifications :—- 
1st. The garrison carriage or bed to be of single-plate wrought- 
iron, instead of wood. 
2nd. The slide of wrought-iron, with compressor or hydraulic 
buffer, as found best. 
3rd. The platform to be of the type used with the 7-inch, but 
decked over to give greater facility for working, and a 
more extended traverse to the gun. 
The following comparison shows approximately the saving to be 
effected in the weight of equipments for 64-pr. guns, and 8-inch 
howitzers, by mounting and travelling them as proposed. 
THE 64-Pit. E.M.L. GUN. 
AT PRESENT. 
Cwt. Cwt. 
64-pr. Gun.64) 
Platform Wagon.22) 
Wrought-iron Travelling Carriage 32) , K 
„ Limber, Siege ... 13 J 
Ordinary Ground Platform, largej 35 1 r _ 
Platform Wagon.22 j b 
AS PROPOSED. 
Cwt. Cwt. 
64-pr. Gun. 64) 
Platform Wagon.22) 00 
Wrought-iron Garrison Carriage 12 \ 
,, Slide, with Compressor 18 ( R0 
Special Ground Platform .17 t - 
Travelling arrangement, with Dilly 17 J 
Total ... 188 
Total ... 150 
Difference in favour of the proposed plan—2 Tons =: at ^ a ton per horse, to a 
saving of 4 horses per piece, or the power of 32 horses for 8 64-prs. in each unit. 
* The ‘ Royal Carriage Department Notes’ of 31st July, 1869, show that the plan was 
accepted, and 25 sets are in reserve. 
t Any 64 or 8-inch howitzer travelling carriages already made being kept for 
special service. 
t For the weight of these platforms, v. page 37, ‘R, C. D. Notes,’ of 31sfc July, 1869. 
The 7-in. B.L. 
gun on gar¬ 
rison carriage 
and slide with 
compressor. 
The low car¬ 
riage adapted 
for firing over 
a high parapet. 
Advantage of 
garrison over 
wheeled car¬ 
riages for 
heavy batter¬ 
ing guns. 
Proposed mo¬ 
dification in 
the B.L. 7-in. 
equipment to 
adapt it for 
7-in.M.L., and 
64-pr. guns, 
and 8-in 
Howitzer. 
Great waste 
of horse power 
by the existing 
arrangements. 
