304 
ARTILLERY IN COAST DEFENCE. 
questions (£) are treated of under the heading “ Fire Tacticsto (<?) 
under “ Fire Control;” and to [d) under “ Fire Discipline.” 
Before proceeding to consider “ Organisation ” a few definitions are, 
perhaps, necessary. A “ Coast Fortress ” is defined as an area of 
land and sea, provided at certain points with an artillery armament, 
partly “ fixed,” partly “movable,” and its area is the extent of land and 
water which can be covered by the fire of its guns; the water area is 
the part with which we are concerned. 
The “fixed armament ” consists of such guns as are mounted on gar¬ 
rison mountings in permanent positions of whatever nature. It is 
divided into two classes, the “ primary ” and the “ secondary ” arma¬ 
ment. 
The “primary armament” consists of B.M.L. guns of seven inches 
and upwards, and of B.L. guns of six inches and upwards (and possibly 
the 6-incli quick-firing gun if introduced for land service). These 
guns fire armour-piercing projectiles, and would be used to attack the 
armoured portion of vessels as well as the unprotected parts. The 
“ secondary armament ” consists of the lighter natures of R.M.L. and 
B.L. guns, of B.B.L. guns, and quick-firing guns on garrison mount¬ 
ings, whose function would be to keep up a rapid shell fire on the 
unarmoured portions or the ports of an enemy's vessels, and to repel 
boat attacks, or attempts to land troops, and in some cases to assist in 
the protection of mine-fields. 
The “ movable armament ” consists of siege guns and howitzers, field, 
machine and quick-firing guns on travelling carriages. They would 
be employed sometimes in prepared emplacements inside the forts to 
intensify the shell fire of the secondary armament and generally to 
assist it in the various tasks mentioned above; more usually they 
would be placed outside the fort iu selected postions. Howitzers 
would be placed in concealed batteries ’where possible for the purpose 
of employing higli-angle fire at ships' decks. This part of the arma¬ 
ment would take part largely in the defence of land fronts. 
A perfect artillery organisation is only attained when the forts can 
be manned and a rapid and effective fire opened at the best objectives 
in the shortest possible time ; and such a fire kept up until the desired 
object has been accomplished. 
In order to attain this end it is in the first place necessary that, as 
far as possible, every man in the garrison should know his station and 
duties in action, and that a proper chain of responsibility should bo 
established. In the next place that the best methods for storing ammu¬ 
nition and supplying it rapidly to the guns, and of replacing without 
delay casualties to men or stores should be devised. Further, that the 
best means available are made use of for communicating orders, for 
indicating objectives, for finding and communicating ranges and deflec¬ 
tions, and for observing the results of fire, and that they are thoroughly 
understood by all concerned. Lastly, that the possible modes of 
attack by an enemy's fleet should have been thought out beforehand 
and schemes of defence drawn out; so that no waste of time and 
ammunition through firing at improper objectives may take place. 
In the first place then the fortress must be split up into tactical 
