Category: History - American
The hand-book of artillery
“ “ 2. On Guns, 26 “ “ 3. On Howitzers, 28 “ “ 4. On Columbiads, 30 “ “ 5. On Mortars, 31 “ “ 6. On Sea-coast Artillery, 35 “ “ 7. Siege Artillery, 36 “ “ 8. Field Guns and Field Batteries, 40
Chapters
1. Part I., Section 1. On Artillery in General, 9
“ “ 2. On Guns, 26 “ “ 3. On Howitzers, 28 “ “ 4. On Columbiads, 30 “ “ 5. On Mortars, 31 “ “ 6. On Sea-coast Artillery, 35 “ “ 7. Siege Artillery, 36 “ “ 8. Field Guns and Fiel...
2. Part III. Charges, 60IV. Ranges, 63 V. Ricochet, 73 VI. Recoil, 77 VII. Windage, 80 VIII. Gunpowder, 83 IX. Projectiles, 90 X. Laboratory Stores, 109 XI. Platforms, 118 XII. Artillery Carriages and...
3. PART I. SECTION I.Iron is less expensive than bronze, and is more capable of sustaining long-continued firing with larger charges; such pieces are, therefore, better calculated for the constant h...
4. PART I. SECTION II.5. PART I. SECTION III.By a conical surface, except in the 8-inch siege howitzer, where it is united with the cylinder of the bore by a _spherical_ surface, in order that the shell may—when necessary—...
6. PART I. SECTION IV.7. PART I. SECTION V.The shortest piece in service; the trunnions are placed in rear of the vent at the breech; the bore is very large in proportion to the length, and is provided with a chamber.
8. PART I. SECTION VI.On barbette, casemate, flank-casemate, and columbiad carriages; and the carriage upon which the mortar is mounted—called its _bed_. These carriages do not subserve the purpose o...
9. PART I. SECTION VII.This must altogether depend on circumstances; but the following general principles may be observed in assigning the proportion of different kinds and calibres, and the relative...
10. PART I. SECTION VIII.The proportion of artillery to other troops varies generally between the limits of one and three pieces to 1,000 men, according to the strength of the army, the character of the...
11. PART II. SECTION I.To point a piece, is to give it such a direction and elevation, or depression, that the shot may strike the object; and the rule (except in case of mortars) is: First give the _...
12. PART II. SECTION II.To determining practically two fixed points, which shall be in line with the piece and the object, and sufficiently near to be readily distinguished by the eye. These points bei...
13. PART III.Because balls fired with small velocities split the wood in a manner which is favorable to its burning; with a great velocity the hole closes, the ball sinks deep, and, deprived...
14. PART IV.6. Explain by a figure, the position of, and relations existing between the line of sight, the line of fire or axis of the piece, and the trajectory, and also what the point-bla...
15. PART V.That obtained by firing a piece at very small angles of elevation, by which means the projectile which falls on ground of ordinary firmness at an angle not greater than 10°, or...
16. PART VI.The gas produced by the ignition of the charge in the bore, expanding with equal force in every direction, finds only two ways of escape (the muzzle and vent); the pressure upon...
17. PART VII.Yes, in order to make an allowance for a piece becoming foul, the expansion of shot by heat, the incrustation of rust, and for the tin straps of fixed ammunition.
18. PART VIII.The charcoal in small pieces is first placed in the mortars, with a quantity of water, and pounded for half an hour; after which the saltpetre and then the sulphur, previously p...
19. PART IX.A hollow sphere of cast-iron, containing powder, which is ignited by means of a fuze; when fired at troops, it should be prepared to burst over their heads, or, if the ground be...
20. PART X.It consists of a conical plug of wood, of the proper size for the fuze-hole of the shell with which it is to be fired. The axis of this plug is bored out cylindrically, from the...
21. PART XI.Fixed platforms for casemate and barbette batteries in fortifications, which are constructed with the works; the siege-platform for guns and howitzers; and the siege-platform fo...
22. PART XII.Into two general divisions; first, those carriages on which artillery are mounted, either for firing or travelling; and secondly, such as are especially used for the transportat...
23. PART XIII.Only up to a certain point; in a proportion which is nearly the mean ratio between the square and cube roots of the length of the bore. It is found that the velocity given by lo...
24. PART XIV.At the temperature of 33° the mean velocity of sound is 1100 feet in a second. It is increased or diminished _half a foot_ for each degree of temperature above or below 33°.