236 
LIMB EES AND WAGONS. 
of the proposed limbers could have fonr horses/ while the other had 
only two horses, making together the six horses allowed for the wagon. 
With four horses in the writer's limber the load per horse would be 
504 lbs., while with only two horses it would be 1008 lbs. (9 cwt.) 
This latter load, however, would be none too great for the second line 
of limbers, which need only move at a walk. The first line of limbers 
with four horses each could always keep up with the guns, even on 
service. 
The number of carriages of a battery turned out on the proposed 
plan, with the same number of guns and carrying the same total 
number of rounds (888) as now, would be increased by four only; 
counting each separate limber as a carriage. 
But such battery, on a peace footing, would require 12 less horses 
than are at present allotted to a battery in India. There would be 
one more spare wheel with each battery. The equipment itself would 
require exactly the same number of wheels to travel as at the present 
moment, and yet the extent of depth of the battery in column of route 
would be diminished by 2 yds. 
It follows from the foregoing that, over and above any of the special 
advantages claimed by the writer for his plan, there would be a pos¬ 
sibility of placing in the field without any extra expense in either 
horses, drivers, or harness, nine batteries for every eight batteries on 
the present system; or we may say 540 guns instead of 480 on a peace 
footing. 
The special advantages claimed for this system are as follows:— 
Greatly increased mobility; eighteen more rounds with every gun 
limber than at present, and thorough interchangeability and uniformity 
of every part of the equipment; a more rapid and easy supply of 
ammunition in the field; much less weight on the shaft horse under 
the same conditions. 
The alterations could be carried out quickly and at small cost, and 
the eventual economy would be very great. 
The advantages possessed by a system of comparatively light limbers 
over a system of heavy ammunition wagons when marching over 
difficult country, and more especially in going down steep hills and 
in making sharp turns, are too obvious to require further comment. 
