RICOCHET—Firing is not confined to any particular charge or elevation; each must vary according to the distance and difference of level of the object to be fired at; and particularly of the spot on which it is intended the shot shall make the first bound. The smaller the angle is under which a shot is made to ricochet, the longer it will preserve its force and have effect, as it will sink so much the less in the ground on which it bounds and its tenacity will of course present so much less resistance to the shot’s progress. In the ricochet of a fortification of any kind, the angle of elevation should seldom be more than 10°, to throw the shot over a parapet a little higher than the level of the battery. If the works should be of an extraordinary height, the piece must be removed to such situation, and have such charge, that it can attain its object at this elevation, or at least under that of 13° or 14°, otherwise the shot will not ricochet, and the carriages will suffer very much. The first gun in a ricochet battery should be so placed as to sweep the whole length of the rampart of the enemy’s work, at 3 or 4 feet from the parapet, and the rest should form as small an angle with the parapet as possible. For this purpose the guns should be pointed about 4 fathoms from the face of the work towards the interior. In the ricochet of ordnance in the field, the objects to be fired at being principally infantry and cavalry, the guns should seldom be elevated above 3 degrees; as with greater angles the ball would be apt to bound too high, and defeat the object intended. For ricochet practice see the different pieces of ordnance, as [Gun], [Mortar], and [Howitzer].
Durtubie.
See also the words [Platforms] and [Battery].
ROCKETS.—Composition.
| Old Proportion. | New Proportion. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lbs. | oz. | lbs. | oz. | ||
| Saltpetre | 4 | 0 | — | 4 | 4 |
| Sulphur | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 12 |
| Charcoal | 1 | 8 | — | 2 | 0 |
| Composition for the Stars. | |||||
| Mealed powder | 0 lb. | 8 oz. | Composition for rains | ||
| Saltpetre | 8 | 0 | to head sky rockets | ||
| Sulphur | 2 | 0 | is the same as the | ||
| Antimony | 2 | 0 | above for the rockets. | ||
| Isinglass dissolved | 0 | 3½ | |||
| Spirits of wine | 1 pint. | ||||
| Vinegar | 1 quart. | ||||
General Table of Sky Rockets.
Copper Ladles for filling Sky Rockets.
- Length, 1½ the exterior diameter of the case.
- Diameter, equals the interior diameter of case.
- Circumference, ¾ the interior caliber of the case.
Sky rockets are driven with composition up to 4½ exterior diameters of the case from the choke; and ⅕ of a diameter above the composition with good clay. They are bored and reamed up to 3½ diameters.