This limber is designed to relieve the pack-animals where possible. It carries four of the mountain ammunition-chests, which may at once be removed and carried on the pack when necessary, the limber-body being temporarily abandoned. Two of the pack-animals will be found sufficient for draught, leaving three as a relief or for the transport of forage.
The Limber consists of a frame of angle-steel, which is provided with beds to receive the axle. The body is formed of steel plate, with compartments for the reception of four ammunition-chests. The outer chests are raised slightly above those in the middle, and may be opened without removing them from the limber. On the limber are carried a paulin, a combined prolonge and picket-rope, a felling-axe, a shovel and a pickaxe.
The Ammunition-chests are made of wood, covered with waterproof canvas, and are strongly ironed. They provide for carrying eight rounds of ammunition, and have a compartment wherein may be placed a package of friction-primers and the fuze-case. The latter is a metallic box having compartments for five combination fuzes in their sealed packages.
The Ammunition.
| Weight of cartridge-case | 1.25 pounds |
| Weight of charge | 14 ounces |
| Weight of projectile | 12 pounds |
| Total weight of complete cartridge | 14 " |
| Total length of complete cartridge | 14.1 inches |
| Bursting-charge, common shell | 6.3 ounces |
| Bursting-charge, shrapnel | 1¾ " |
| Number of balls in shrapnel | 160 |
| Effective fragments, shrapnel | 180 |
| Number of balls in canister | 125 |
Fig. 16.
The Ammunition consists of a cartridge-case containing the powder-charge, and the projectile. The drawn metal cartridge-case ([Fig. 16]) is of brass, and is drawn from the solid metal to shape. It is reinforced at the base by inside and outside cups of the same metal. The head is fastened to the base by brass rivets, which clamp the case, cups, and head solidly together. A vent is pierced through the head of the cartridge, and five eccentric-fire holes through the reinforcing-cups. Between the reinforcing-cups is held an iron obturator. The jet of flame from the primer, entering the vent, lifts the obturator and forces its way through the fire-holes to the charge. The charge being ignited, the pressure of the gas immediately forces back the obturator and seals the vent.
The Charge consists of 14 oz. I. K. granular powder. In order to vary the charge the ammunition is made in two parts, viz., projectile and cartridge-case. The cartridge is put into the metallic case in two half-charges, in bags, so that one may be removed if desired.