192 
SHRAPNEL FIRE. 
column will give tlie number covered by the most effective time 
shrapnel at tlie same ranges. 
Range. 
Distance. 
No. of men 
covered. 
No. of men i 
covered by i 
time slirap- j 
nel. 
yds. 
yds. 
_ 
1000 . 
40 
10 
24 J 
1300 . 
25 
7 
20 
1600 . 
20 
5 
20 
2000 . 
12 
4 
20 
2300 . 
10 
3 
15 
2600 . 
9 
3 
15 
3000 .. 
7 
2 
15 
This small spread not only leads, as thus shown, to a very con¬ 
siderable loss of effect, but it enhances the difficulty of making good 
practice, since any errors in a lateral direction become serious. Take, 
for instance, a range of 1600 yds. The best distance for a percussion 
shrapnel is 20 yds. short, and the diameter of the cone is 8*4 ft .; if 
the shell is 4 ft. right or left, one-half, and if 8*5 ft., the whole of the 
effect is lost. With a time shrapnel burst at its best distance neither 
of these errors would seriously matter, since the cone is 33*5 ft. in 
diameter. 
The following tables will show how much more difficult is the use of 
percussion than time shrapnel, as far as mere accuracy of shooting is 
concerned. They give the limits within which either nature is 
effective. 
Percussion shrapnel. 
Time shrapnel. 
Ranges. 
Burst short. 
Ranges. 
Burst short. 
Effective. 
Good. 
Bad. 
Effective. 
Good. 
Bad. 
yds. 
1000 
from 20 to 100 
40 
over 170 
yds. 
1000 
from 10 to 150 
100 
over 250 
1300 
n 20 to 70 
25 
■»’ 145 
1300 
,/ 10 to 120 
80 
/, 220 
1600 
„ 15 to 50 
20 
,i 100 
1600 
/, 10 to 110 
80 
I, 190 
2000 
« 10 to 25 
12 
„ 50 
2000 
,/ 10 to 100 
80 
„ 170 
2300 
a 5 to 15 
10 
„ 30 
2300 
„ 10 to 90 
60 
150 
2600 
a 5 to 12 
9 
,i 20 
2600 
a 10 to 85 
60 
// 135 
3000 
it 5 to 10 
7 
„ 15 
3000 
ii 10 to 80 
60 
„ 120 
