FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   >>  
e prevented the use of the field gun. MEDIUM GUNS.--Medium guns, firing a 60-pound shell, are principally employed in counter-battery work and in fulfilling the functions of 18-pound field guns at a greater range and with greater force. _Medium Howitzers_ occupy the same relative position, their offensive power being greater than that of the Field Howitzer. {172} HEAVY GUNS.--Heavy guns of 6-inch calibre, firing a shell of 100 pounds, are used against targets beyond the range of light and medium guns, and with greater effect. _Heavy Howitzers_, of 8-inch or 9.2-inch calibre, are principally employed against covered batteries and strong defences, or for destroying wire entanglements with instantaneous fuses. SUPER-HEAVY GUNS.--Super-heavy guns of a calibre of 9.2 inches and upwards are usually carried on railway mountings, and while they possess a high muzzle velocity, considerable shell-power, and a high degree of mobility (which enables them to come into action in any part of the battlefield where suitable rails have been laid), their arc of fire is very restricted and their "life" is short. _Super-Heavy Howitzers_, of 12-inch or 18-inch calibre, possess similar advantages and disadvantages to super-heavy guns. Their normal use is the destruction of permanent defences, the breaking down of bridges, etc. The 12-inch weapon is also used on tractor-drawn mountings and is highly effective in counter-battery work. The table on p. 173 is based upon particulars given on p. 26 of "Field Service Regulations," vol. ii. (1921). ROYAL ENGINEERS "All arms are responsible for the construction of their own works of defence. It is the duty of the Royal Engineers to assist them by engineer reconnaissances, plans, advice, technical supervision, provision of materials and the construction of works requiring special technical skill. . . . Although trained as fighting troops, engineers should be regarded as reserves to be used only as a last resource; casualties in their ranks are not easy to replace, and they may become needlessly involved in the fighting and lost for work which may have an important bearing on the operations" ("Field Service Regulations," vol. ii. (1921)). {173} TABLE OF ARTILLERY RANGES Weapon Effective Range (Yds.) _Light Artillery_ H.E. Shell Shrapnel Pack Guns (2.75 in.) 5,800 4,000 Pack Howi
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   >>  



Top keywords:

greater

 
calibre
 

Howitzers

 
mountings
 

Regulations

 

Service

 

construction

 

fighting

 

possess

 

technical


defences

 

Medium

 
firing
 

employed

 

battery

 

principally

 
counter
 

Engineers

 
assist
 

engineer


advice
 

materials

 

requiring

 

provision

 

supervision

 

reconnaissances

 

defence

 

particulars

 

special

 

responsible


ENGINEERS

 

Although

 

Effective

 
needlessly
 
replace
 

Weapon

 

RANGES

 
operations
 

ARTILLERY

 

bearing


important

 

involved

 

casualties

 

engineers

 

Shrapnel

 
troops
 

trained

 
resource
 

reserves

 

Artillery