4. NOTES ON GERMAN SIEGE ARTILLERY, ETC. - 
siege it is used to oppose the enemy’s guns by. shrapnel fire at long 
ranges, and, later, at ranges below 1650 yards, to dismount guns 
and destroy light parapets or walls of ordinary thickness, or for bom- 
bardment. It may be substituted forthe belted 15 gunif difficulties 
of transport prevent the latter from being used. 
Short 15°" gun ( see foot note to table A)—Principally used for in- 
direct fire to destroy earth or stone obstacles. It gives good results 
against detached walls with angles of descent of 24°, and remaining 
velocity of 1080f.s. It is used also for enfilade fire at 2000 yards 
range and over, and against non-blinded gun emplacements at 1650 to 
2200 yards. Up to 1200 yards it is used for dismounting guns, and 
gives good results with shrapnel against men behind cover, although 
the angles of descent are great. It is employed also for bombardments, 
and generally speaking in the Ist and 2nd Artillery Positions. 
Belted 15 gun.—Its principal uses are for breaching at long 
ranges, dismounting guns up to 1650 yards, bombardment, and 
shrapnel fire, which latter is very efficacious at long ranges. It fires 
also armour-piercing projectiles, and is generally used in the lst 
Artillery Position. 
Short 21 gun.—This gun is principally used for breaching at short 
ranges when the 15 projectiles are not sufficiently powerful, 2.e. 
against strong masonry with large angles of descent, and at ranges up 
to 2300 yards. It is used in the 2nd Artillery Position. magi 
9 mortar.—Used against personnel and matériel at ranges from. 
500 to 1500 yards. The greatest effect is obtained with powder 
charges of from 44 to 54 0z., with angles of elevation from 15° to 25° 
corresponding to ranges of from 660 to 1820 yards. Specially used 
for enfilade fire, and of greatest effect when the shells are exploded 
against resisting objects. Principally used in the 2nd Artillery 
Position, and in Siege Batteries where a massed fire can be delivered. 
Platforms are not necessary but the carriage must be as nearly 
horizontal as possible. 
_ 15 mortar (see foot note to table A).—This piece is principally em- 
ployed for long range high angle fire up to ranges of 2250. It can 
search the interior of works at medium and long ranges, fire against 
blinded guns, destroy platforms and render communications in general 
impossible. It is principally used in the 2nd Artillery Position. 
' 21 mortar.—Used for destroying casemates, escarps, traverses, 
ramps, &c., and for general purposes of bombardment. It is principally 
employed in the 1st Artillery Position, and its most effective range is 
about 2200 yards. 
Carriages.—The carriages at present in the service for the 
9, 12, 15° short and belted, and 21°™ guns are some of wood and 
some of iron. A certain proportion are fitted with arrangements for 
overbank fire. Thecarriages for the 9 and 15™ mortars are similar to 
our mortar carriages, although the pieces themselves are of course 
B.L. Those for the 21 ™ mortars are of iron, and similar to our 8-in. 
howitzer carriages. 
As already stated ina translation published inthe “Proceedings” last 
April, a somewhat comprehensive employment of Heavy Batteries with: 
an army in the field, on a similar principle to our Heavy Batteries in 
