| KIND OF PIECE. | Powder. | Ball. | Elevation | Range | Remarks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lbs. | deg. min | yds. | |||
| 13-in. Sea-Coast Mortar. | 20. | 200-lb. Shell.. | 45 | 4325 | Time 40 sec’s. |
| 10-in. Sea-Coast Mortar. | 10. | 98-lb. Shell. | 45 | 4250 | Time 35 sec’s. |
| 10-in. Siege Mortar. | 1. | 90-lb. Shell. | 45 | 300 | Time 6.5 sec’s. |
| 1.5 | “ | “ | 700 | “ 12. “ | |
| 2. | “ | “ | 1000 | “ 14. “ | |
| 2.5 | “ | “ | 1300 | “ 16. “ | |
| 3. | “ | “ | 1600 | “ 18. “ | |
| 3.5 | “ | “ | 1800 | “ 19. “ | |
| 4. | “ | “ | 2100 | “ 21. “ | |
| lbs oz | |||||
| 8-in. Siege Mortar. | 0 8 | 45-lb. Shell. | 45 | 209 | Time 6.75 sec’s. |
| 1 12 | “ | “ | 376 | Time 9. sec’s. | |
| 1 0 | “ | “ | 650 | Time 11.5 sec’s. | |
| 1 4 | “ | “ | 943 | Time 14. sec’s. | |
| 1 8 | “ | “ | 1318 | Time 16.5 sec’s. | |
| 1 12 | “ | “ | 1522 | Time 18.5 sec’s. | |
| 2 0 | “ | “ | 1837 | Time 20.5 sec’s. | |
| 24-Pounder Coehorn | oz | ||||
| Mortar. | 0.5 | 17-lb. Shell. | 45 | 25 | |
| 1. | “ | “ | 68 | ||
| 1.5 | “ | “ | 104 | ||
| 1.75 | “ | “ | 143 | ||
| 2. | “ | “ | 165 | ||
| 2.75 | “ | “ | 260 | ||
| 4. | “ | “ | 422 | ||
| 6. | “ | “ | 900 | ||
| 8. | “ | “ | 1200 | ||
| lbs | Stones. | ||||
| Stone Mortar. | 1.5 | 120 lbs. | 60 | 150 | |
| to | |||||
| 250 | |||||
| 1 | 15 6-pdr. | 33 | 50 | Fuze 15 sec’s. | |
| shells. | to 150 |
Note.—Fire-balls, according to their size, are fired from mortars of corresponding calibres. With a charge of ONE TWENTY-FIFTH its weight, the ball is thrown 600 to 700 yards.
73]
PART V.
RICOCHET.
1. What is understood by ricochet firing?
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 upon water at 4° or 5°, will make one or more bounds. In this case the projectile is said to ricochet.
2. What is the object of ricochet firing?
To enfilade a face of the enemy’s work, which is effected by causing a projectile to bound along the terreplein of the face with the view of annoying his cannoneers, and dismounting his pieces. It is employed also in harassing an enemy, when formed or in the act of forming behind a rising ground or other obstacle, taking post in a wood, &c.; and in enfilading a line of troops.
3. What are the peculiar advantages of this fire?
In being able to reach objects which cannot be reached by direct fire, on account of intervening obstacles.