GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1879. 
529 
a 32-lb. shell. It would probably be necessary to use three charges— 
one for bombarding purposes, one for breaching by curved fire, and 
one for direct fire. The lowest or bombarding charge should give an 
angle of descent of 35° at 1200 yds. This charge is fixed on the 
assumption that the howitzer should not be brought nearer than 
1200 yds. to a work defended by rifles. 
The highest charge in general would only be used with shrapnel, and 
should be such as to give about 950 f.s. at 2000 yds., beyond which the 
howitzer should not, as a rule, fire this projectile. A muzzle velocity 
of 1300 f.s. is requisite, if the calibre is 4*1 ins. 
This charge would only be used with common shell when firing at 
troops in houses, or thick woods, or to destroy abattis, stockades, &c. 
The projectiles would be common shell, shrapnel, and case. The Projectiles, 
common shell would, of course, be the chief weapon, and filled with 
gun-cotton it would be most formidable, and quite a match for the 
majority of field splinter-proofs or blindages. We should recommend 
a proportion of about of the whole equipment to be of this nature. 
A very good shrapnel might be made, combining all improvements, 
and with the above M.V. of 1300 f.s. would have a. fair trajectory up 
to 2000 yds., where its final velocity of 950 f.s. would make it still 
efficient. It might be carried in the proportion of 
Case would very rarely be required, and would meet our require¬ 
ments. 
The gun might take into action with it about 20 rounds, or 13 common 
shell, 6 shrapnel, and 1 case. 
If the ammunition were supplied on the limber system, we should not 
require any more to accompany a gun of this nature, as the great 
mobility of the limbers would enable them to follow anywhere and at 
good speed. These limbers, to replace the ordinary wagon, should not 
weigh more than 10 cwt. empty, and should carry 35 rounds. These 
might be 23 common shell and 12 shrapnel, or a total of 11 \ cwt. of 
ammunition. The total weight, with J cwt. of stores = 22 cwt., and 
would be drawn by 4 horses. 
Thus we should have 20 rounds with the gun and 70 in two limbers. 
Total, 90 rounds. 
The weight of the. equipment would be made up thus :— Detail of 
equip- 
cwt. ment * 
Gun . 12 
Carriage ... 12 
Limber .. 9 
Stores . 1 
Ammunition. 6J 
401 
Each round is assumed to weigh 37 lbs. 
As to the place to be assigned to these weapons, we should not think Place as- 
of reverting to the old plan of mixing guns and howitzers in one howitze?! 
battery. The defects of that system are too well known to need 
repetition here. They should be formed into separate batteries, and 
naturally would belong to the corps, not the divisional artillery. They 
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