Chapter IV: Part I: Section II

ON GUNS.

1. What are _Guns_?

Long cannon without chambers.

2. How are guns denominated?

By the weight of their respective shot.

3. What are the principal parts of a gun?

The cascable, breech, reinforce, chase, and muzzle.

4. What proportion usually exists between the length and calibre of a gun?

It varies from 15 to 23 calibres.

5. What proportion does the dispart of a gun bear generally to its length?

About a sixtieth part in field guns, about a thirtieth part in sea-coast, and about a thirty-eighth part in siege and garrison guns.

6. What is the natural angle of sight in siege and garrison guns?

One degree and thirty minutes.

7. What is it in field guns?

One degree.

8. Why have sea-coast guns no natural line of sight?

Because the swell of the muzzle is not visible when the eye is on a level with the base ring.

9. Upon what are guns mounted?

On field, siege, barbette or casemate carriages.

[Sidenote: 27]]

10. What projectiles are used with guns?

Solid shot, spherical case, grape, and canister.

11. About what are the weights of the different guns?

6-pdr., 884 lbs.; brass 12-pdr., 1,757 lbs.; iron 12-pdr., 3,590 lbs.; 18-pdr., 4,913 lbs.; 24-pdr., 5,790 lbs.; 32-pdr., 7,200 lbs.; 42-pdr., 8,465 lbs.

12. Give the entire length of the several guns?

6-pdr. field-gun, 65.6 inches; 12-pdr. field-gun, 85 inches; 12-pdr. iron gun, 116 inches; 18-pdr., 123.25 inches; 24-pdr., 124 inches; 32-pdr., 125.2 inches; 42-pdr., 129 inches.

[Sidenote: 28]]