The disposition, and duties of the detachments are the same as detailed for guns on standing carriages; with the exception of the application of the handspikes.
In addition to the stores, and side arms for the service of the gun, a heavy gun in the field requires men’s harness, and dragropes, a lifting jack, a set of intrenching tools, and three planks of a foot wide, and ten or twelve feet long. There should be a lever, and fulcrums, and prop, for every two guns; besides a gyn, rollers, tackles, and ropes for every four guns. The side arms, handspikes, and planks are strapped on the cheek; the gyn, rollers, tackles, &c., are carried on a platform waggon.
Planks for temporary platform. When the ground is not very hard, it will be found very necessary to lay planks under the wheels and trail for the carriage to recoil on.
Article 5.
EXERCISE OF GUNS ON DWARF, AND CASEMATE TRAVERSING PLATFORMS.
The disposition, and duties of the detachments are the same as at [page 174], with the following additions, viz., No. 1 guides the levers whilst the gun is running back; Nos. 1, and 7 hold on the preventer rope, and 4, and 5 guide the levers, whilst it is running up; Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5 manage the truck levers, reeve the tackles, hook, and unhook them.
[26]Prepare for action. Reeve the tackle, and fix the preventer rope. Hook the tackles. Load. Run the gun up. Ease off. Halt. After Pointing, Laying, Priming, and Firing——Run the gun back. Heave. Halt. Unreeve the tackle, and take off the preventer rope.