APPENDIX B.—No. X.
It being of great importance to know the endurance of guns in service, Commanding Officers are directed to fill up the blanks of the annexed Circular issued by the Bureau of Ordnance, November 5, 1863, as far as in their power, and forward it to the Bureau at the expiration of every quarter.
When the "total number of fires to date" cannot be ascertained, the number since the vessel has been in commission is to be stated.
| NAME OF VESSEL. | STATION. | ||||||||||
| ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Class of Gun | Register No. | Foundry | Date of Fabrication | Charge of Powder | Shot | Shell | Shrapnel | Grape | Canister | No. of Fires During Quarter | Total No. of Fires to Date |
| | |||||||||||
| , Commander. | |||||||||||
| , 186 . | |||||||||||
The object of this circular is to enable the Bureau to know, at all times, how many rounds have been fired from every gun in the service; and the following directions are to be observed in making the quarterly return of firing:
"Class of Gun."—Under this head give the kind of gun; if rifled, state it; and if a 32-pounder or 8-inch, give the weight. It is not necessary to give the position of the gun in the vessel.
"Register No."—Be careful to give the register number correctly, as this is most important.
"Foundry,"—Under this head give the initials on the base-ring.
"Date of fabrication" will be found on the right trunnion.
"Charge of powder" in pounds.
"Projectiles" to be entered under their appropriate heads in the blank.
"Kind of fuze" to be stated.
"Number of fires during quarter," must be given for each gun separately.
"Total number of fires to date," must include all rounds fired from each gun separately; and each succeeding quarterly report must have the "total number of fires to date" from the report next preceding (a copy of which is always to be kept on board the vessel) brought forward, added to the total for the quarter, and the aggregate placed in the last column.
The Bureau often receives reports with the last column left blank, or with "not known" written therein. Reports sent in this way are of no value whatever to the Bureau.
If a record of the total number of fires of any gun has not been kept, or if it cannot be ascertained from the Log, then vent-impressions of such gun are to be taken; and the Commanding Officer must determine, as nearly as possible, judging from these impressions, the total number of fires, and enter the same on his return. (See Ordnance Instructions, Part III.)
The Bureau expects that all Commanding Officers will, in future, have this return carefully made out; and that they will not sign or forward one of them without first being satisfied of its correctness.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] By Lieutenant W.P. Buckner, U.S.N. See a pamphlet "On the Determination of Distances at Sea," by Captain A.P. Ryder, R.N., for more extended tables of this and other methods.