528 
GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1879 . 
equipment does it appear tliat improvements in the material employed 
and method of construction can do so much. While increasing, as we 
must do very largely, the work done both on gun and carriage, it will 
tax our ingenuity to the utmost not to increase the weight. But the 
limber does not suffer from the heavier shock of discharge, and decrease 
in its weight allows of a direct increase in the weight of ammunition 
carried. 2 cwt. taken off the limber would allow us to add 7'51bs. to 
each of 30 rounds, and yet retain the same total weight. 
One cwt. of this has already been gained by reducing the weight of 
the wheels, as in the case of those first used with the 12-pr. experimental 
gun. They apparently answered well. 
steel. Moreover, the substitution of steel for iron in the various parts, also, 
for wood in the case of the boxes, should enable nearly 20 per cent, to be 
taken off the weight and yet retain the same strength. 
Besttypeof The best type of limber seems to be that now very generally adopted 
11X1 er * abroad, of boxes opening to the rear with the shells carried in separate 
loose boxes. This arrangement would certainly facilitate the supply of 
ammunition in action, especially when the gun is some distance from 
the limber, as a whole box full of shells, containing say five, could be 
sent up to the gun together. Our present system of one man running 
off to the limber and bringing up a single round at a time would, in 
most cases, decrease the rate of fire to a fearful extent. It is a remnant 
of the practice of a past age. The powder, too, is packed in separate 
boxes of copper generally. 
9 cwt. is what we allow for the empty limber. The Austrians have 
produced one of this weight. 
Howitzers. 
BAwitzeis, The experience of the late war seems to show us that it will be 
advisable to re-introduce howitzers into the field service. The increased 
attention given to field fortification leads to this result. However 
powerful we make the gun proper, numerous instances will arise where 
troops can only be dislodged, or sufficiently shaken to render an assault 
possible, by an accurate and powerful vertical fire, and for this purpose 
we must employ howitzers. 
The high-angle fire of the present field guns, from its inaccuracy and 
the small bursting charges of the common shells, is practically useless. 
In a good field work, well provided with blindages and splinter- 
proofs, below the level of the ground, we might almost destroy the 
parapets without seriously impairing* the power of the defence against 
assault, or even without causing many casualties. If, however, the 
direct fire of the gun proper be combined with a searching high-angle 
fire of tolerably heavy shells filled with gun-cotton, against which 
ordinary blindages, &c., would yield little or no protection, the morale 
of the garrison will be so shaken that an assault will probably succeed. 
The weapon With regard to the class of weapon to be employed, it would appear 
itself. possible to utilise the present 16-pr., which experience proves to be too 
short as a gun. Bored up to 4T or 4*2 ins., if the steel tube allow, and 
rifled with a polygroove rifling and increasing twist, it might fire 
