423 
THE BATTLE OF THE VELOCITIES. 
BY 
CAPTAIN H. A. BETHELL, 
f 
E.A. 
A r H. 1 ] 
•v 
X 
PATENT 0 
During the discussion which followed Captain White’s recent 
ton lecture at the Institution, the question of high velocities in field 
guns was again brought forward. In view of the opinions then 
expressed, and of the recent proposal to raise the 12-pr. velocity with 
cordite charge to 2000 f.s., a detailed examination of the question may 
be of interest. 
The issue may be stated as follows :— 
Is the present velocity (1710 f.s.) of the 12-pr. gun excessive ? 
Should it be reduced to 1500 f.s. ? 
Should it be increased to 2000 f.s. ? 
The table on page 424 gives the ballistics for the two latter veloci¬ 
ties, for ranges of 1500, 2000, and 2500 yards. I consider these three 
ranges sufficient for purposes of comparison. By taking long*er ranges 
a better case might be made out for the high velocity gun ; but a good 
fighting country offers so few such ranges that I think the comparison 
should be confined to ordinary fighting distances. 
In calculating this table I have throughout neglected the check of 
133 f.s. given by the head burster of the present shrapnel, which, it is 
hoped, will soon disappear from our equipment. I have assumed an 
extra forward impulse of 200 f.s. given by a base burster. This may 
appear excessive, but is moderate compared with the result attained in 
the Italian 9 cm shrapnel, in which the 2\ oz. powder charge gives an 
extra velocity of 150 metres, or 492 feet per second. 
The advantages usually claimed for high velocity are as follows ■ 
1. Elat trajectory, giving deep dangerous zone. 
2. High bullet velocity, giving deep zone of bullet effect and permissible 
latitude of error in elevation and fuze. 
3. Better ricochet effect of bullets. 
4. Better effect with case shot. 
5. Bange and accuracy. 
6. Moral effect due to shell outstripping sound. 
The objections raised to high velocity are as follows ~ 
7. Destructive effect upon the carriage, requiring complicated and heavy 
gear to resist it. 
8. Excessive recoil, requiring complicated and unserviceable brakes. 
9. Inaccuracy due to excessive jump. 
10. Irregularity of burning of fuze. 
11. Want of searching power against entrenchments, due to flat trajectory 
of shrapnel bullets. 
12. Necessity for a tough steel shell, useless as a man-killing projectile. 
13. Waste of bullets due to wide angle of divergence. 
9. VOL. XIX. 
57 
