442 
ORGANISATION AND EMPLOYMENT OE SIEGE ARTILLERY, 
Ammuni¬ 
tion: cir¬ 
cumstances 
which 
regulate 
amount. 
Rate ot 
artillery fire 
in sieges. 
Very oblique fire* with a high-angle of descent* is tbe least favourable 
for penetration. 
When employing curved or high-angle fire to breach or bombard* 
the largest admissible charge should be used in order that the striking 
velocity may be high* the penetration considerable* and the bursting 
effect consequently great. Therefore* for a certain angle of descent* 
provided that accuracy be not unduly sacrificed* a long range is of 
advantage* as enabling a heavier charge to be employed. 
Night firing will be more accurate if the detachment who have served 
the gun by day also used it by night* firing at the same object with 
the same range. The accurate knowledge of the object's appearance* 
which the day's practice has given* may* in some cases* enable the men 
to recognize the spot on which the shell struck by its flash on bursting; 
and by day* trial shots can be made* using that method of laying about 
to be employed during the night. If intended to prevent repairs being 
executed, night firing should take place at irregular intervals, 
Ammunition. 
The total ammunition necessary for a siege train* must evidently 
depend on the duration of the siege; the principle of supply being* that 
there should be sufficient ammunition for each piece to provide against 
any cessation of fire through the lack of it* until the fortress is taken. 
A certain amount of ammunition must* therefore* be provided before 
firing commences* and then reserves must be at hand to replace daily 
expenditure. 
Prince Hohenlohe says :—“ In order to avoid any cessation of fire* 
twice the daily consumption is stored in the battery in magazines; 
the men forming the new relief bring with them* from the intermediate 
depot* the prescribed daily allowance to replace the expenditure. If 
the consumption has varied* the commander of the battery who is 
relieved* reports to that effect* and the next relief brings up a greater 
■ or less number of rounds." 
Some pieces are required to continue firing throughout the whole 
period of the siege—such as those for bombarding purposes* and for 
clearing the parapets of men; were such to cease firing* the enemy 
might construct other cover or execute repairs; further* there is the 
object of giving the enemy no rest and making him feel continually 
unsafe. 
Other ordnance—such as those for breaching* enfilading* and fight¬ 
ing the artillery of the besieged—are required to fire rapidly and 
continuously for days together until they have attained their special 
object; afterwards* only occasional rounds are needed by day and night 
to prevent repairs being carried out. 
The expenditure by field and very light ordnance must vary according 
to the activity of the garrison. 
Rapidity of fire should always be sacrificed to accuracy and steadiness; 
moreover* as far as possible* the firing should be regulated by observation 
either from the battery* or some post which can communicate with the 
battery by signal. 
