SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1892 . 
537 
( e .)—Supply and Replenishment oe Ammunition. 
This is apparently but a side issue to the question of Fire Discipline, 
if we omit the actual service of ammunition to the gun, but, in reality, 
it is an issue of the greatest importance, directly influencing, as it 
does, the possibility of the continuation and the safe rate of fire. 
In adhering, up till lately, to a system of supply from the limbers, 
we have been behind the times, but a system based on modern ex¬ 
perience is already in practice to a certain extent. This latter fulfils 
the necessary conditions, in that ammunition in the gun limbers is 
drawn upon last, that gun and wagon teams are kept out of fire 
directed on the guns, that the position of the ammunition columns 
upon the line of march can now be such that there is every reasonable 
expectation of a fresh supply of ammunition being available about 
two hours after the batteries have come into action, that is, before 
they would have exhausted the ammunition in their own limbers and 
wagons at the rate of ordinary fire. 
It only remains for us then to practise and perfect this scheme, but 
that is precisely what is not done to a sufficient extent. On field days 
the enormous amount of ammunition expended in the artillery duel 
and preparation of the infantry attack is usually represented by a few 
rounds only, fired to “ mark the position.” It is seldom brought home 
to batteries what it is to run short of ammunition. 
The sort of training required for the practice of ammunition supply 
is a long field day ag'ainst a marked enemy, the guns should remain in 
position as long as they would on service and the ammunition ex¬ 
pended should be actually withdrawn from the limbers and wagons 
and, either placed in transport wagons or left upon the ground to be 
recovered afterwards. The wagons representing the ammunition 
columns should be started some 10 or 15 miles from the scene of 
action. The replenishment and packing of ammunition in the field 
would thus be brought before the battery practically, doubtless with 
enduring results. 
In the same way at practice, the daily expenditure per battery is so 
small that practical replenishment, with its too-little-practised repack¬ 
ing, rarely takes place. 
As regards the superintendence of the replenishment of ammunition, 
the Captain, assisted by the Sergeant-Major and the Quarter-Master- 
Sergeant, is best able to take it in hand, and it must be his constant 
care that, not only is the battery kept fully supplied but that it is 
always in a state to move forward with at least the gun limbers full for 
immediate expenditure. 
Duties of the “Personnel” in Respect of Fire Discipline and 
the Training Best Suited for Ensuring the Correct Performance 
of the Same. 
The Officer Commanding the Brigade Division .—-Although the duties of 
this officer are primarily tactical, he has the responsibility of a general 
control and regulation of the fire of his command and the following 
duties are performed by him for the furtherance of Fire Discipline 
among his batteries. 
