i57 
SIEGE TRAINS. 
carriages for 64-pr. of the “travelling” type are being manufac¬ 
tured by Major Moncrieff, and a proposal has likewise been sub¬ 
mitted by the Royal Carriage Department for working a gun 
behind a 7-foot parapet on somewhat the same principle, by arms 
attached to brackets fixed to a wrought-iron platform instead of 
to a carriage, thus gaining greater stability, avoiding the difficulties 
connected with recoil inherent in wheeled carriages, and enabling 
the guns to be used with greatly increased charges. 
If this arrangement could be applied to the slide proposed in these 
papers for the 7-inch and 64-pr., and the elevating apparatus made 
removable, it would only be necessary to provide each battering gun 
with a set, which could be fixed to the slide when required for close 
attack. The apparatus would travel with the garrison carriage and 
ground platform on the slide, and the gun on its platform wagon. 
Proportion of Spare Carriages to accompany a Siege 
Train. 
There should be one spare carriage to every 10 guns, and the 
same proportion of sling wagons when marching, in case of 
accident, to ordinary transport. 
One forge wagon, with a store limber wagon for carrying re¬ 
pairing stores for three months, should be allowed to every ten 
guns, for keeping in order both the fighting and transporting por¬ 
tions of the train, including the shoeing of horses. 
Platforms. 
It has been decided to adopt the ordinary ground platform* * in 
preference to either of the portable platforms, “ Clerk’s” or “Alder- 
son’s ; ” and, further, that all platforms shall be laid as heretofore 
by the Engineers.! Should the suggestion for mounting all heavier 
guns than 40-prs. on garrison carriage slides and special platforms 
be accepted, the ordinary ground platform would only be required 
for 40-pr. guns and 6°3 howitzers. 
Accessories to a Siege Train. 
Two 7-pr. R.M.L. guns on wrought-iron beds should be allotted 
to every 10 siege guns, in lieu of Coehorns. 
One hundred 24-pr. Hale’s rockets are provided for every 10 
guns. When charged with gun-cotton these rockets will become 
a formidable addition to siege-train equipments. Most satisfactory 
experiments have already been carried out with them. 
The means of keeping up telegraphic communication between the 
different batteries of attack should be provided for at future sieges. 
A small-sized Gatling gun mounted on high wheels and axle 
adapted to the width of the advanced trenches, with a long light 
operation, by block and tackle: but the carriages of the 7-inch B.L. and 64-pr. M.L. 
(converted) guns are simple and excellent, and, although unsuitable for a travelling 
siege train, are well adapted for defensive purposes, and would probably be found 
extremely useful in such a position as that proposed to defending Constantinople, or for 
earthworks of any kind. A considerable proportion of these carriages should be kept 
in store in readiness for such service. 
* Some modification of the pattern laid down in *'R. C. D. Notes’ of 1869, page 37, is 
being made, so as to reduce the excessive weights of these platforms, 
f In India they are laid by the Artillery. 
B. C. D. 
adaptation. 
Removable 
arms, &c., for 
converting 
ordinary slides 
into Moncrieff 
carriages. 
Spare car¬ 
riages and 
sling wagons. 
Forge and 
store wagons. 
Platforms for 
siege guns and 
howitzers. 
7-pr. rifled 
guns. 
Gun-cotton 
rockets. 
Telegraph 
stores. 
Gatling gun, 
45-in. 
20 
