REPORTS ON MOUNTING OF HEAVY ORDNANCE AT MALTA. 
611 
Fort Ricasoli, Malta, 
February 28th, 1878. 
From Lieut . I). Radcliffe, R.A., to Officer Commanding Cottonera Division, 
Royal Artillery, Malta . 
Sir, 
I have the honour to send in, for the information of the Colonel Com¬ 
manding Royal Artillery, Malta, the following report of the operation of 
moving the third (No. 15) 38-ton gun from Calcarra Creek to Fort 
San Rocco, and mounting it in its emplacement. 
Wednesday, Feb. 16th. —Stores were brought from Fort Ricasoli to 
Calcarra Creek, including two anchors (13 cwt. and 9 cwt.) lent to us by the 
Royal Dockyard. 
At 9 a.m. the gun arrived on two Dockyard lighters; the gun being 
mounted on a sleigh, across the lighters, which were lashed together. The 
lighters were brought close up to the wharf, and the gun, on the sleigh, was 
moved on rollers to the shore, muzzle to the front. The gun was then 
slewed on short rollers to the right, about a right angle, into the proper 
direction; the landing skids were sent back to Fort Ricasoli, and a guard 
placed on the gun and stores. 
Sixty-three men were employed this morning, and were marched home 
about noon. The landing of the gun occupied about half-an-hour. 
This work was performed under Captain Wickham, R.A. 
In the afternoon 22 men were employed in bringing oak planks from 
St. Clement's Retrenchment to the gun, and in removing the small 3-ft. 
rollers used in slewing it. 
Thursday, Jan . 17th.— Additional stores were brought up this morning 
from Ricasoli. The gun was moved 78 yds. to the front by a crab capstan 
and tackle, over level ground. 
An anchor (13 cwt.) was used as a holdfast, but owing to recent rains it 
would not hold in the loose soil of the road. After several attempts at 
making an efficient holdfast, work was discontinued. 
Forty-eight men were employed this morning, and worked for about four 
hours. After this date I was ordered to take charge of the operations. 
Friday, Jan. 18th .— -In the morning 32 men were employed in bringing 
additional stores to the gun. 
In the afternoon I made a holdfast by placing an 18-ft. skid across the 
gateway of the gas works, having obtained the owner's permission. The gun 
was advanced by a winch up to this holdfast; total distance 34yds., 15 of 
which were up an incline of 6°. 
Great inconvenience was felt all through the operations on account of the 
shortness of the old pattern winch handles, as only two men could work on 
each handle. 
Drag-ropes were fastened to the handles for other men to heave upon, but 
a great deal of labour would have been saved if the handles had been a foot 
longer. 
Fifty-three men worked for four hours this afternoon in moving the gun. 
