75
CHAPTER
THE
Q.F.
FIELD
X.
HO\VITZER.
Dofinition.
A field howitzer is a gun capable of throwing a heavy shell at angles of elevation up to 45%, and capable of being drawn at a trot by a six-horse team. ,In practice these requirements, as worked out by the leading gunmakers, are satisfied by the following conditions:Weight of howitzer and limber, without gunners ... 35 to 40 cwt. Weight of shrapnel or H.E. shell 35 to 45 lbs. Maximum muzzle velocity... 1000 fs. Calibre... 4" to 4.7" Rate of fire... 4 rounds per minute. Recoil of howitzer on carriage 3 to 4 feet. Length of howitzer, about... ... ... 4 feet. Besides the field howitzer proper, there is also in existence a type known as the heavy field howitzer, with a calibre of about 6 inches, weighing some 60 cwt. behind the team. This type (which is said to be favoured by the German Military authorities) is not a true field gu.n, but rather a siege gun or gun of position. A good specimen of thIs type is the Schneider-Canet howitzer described below .. Tactical
Employme1tt
oj the Field Howitzer.
f The special features of the field howitzer, which differentiate it .r~m the field gun, have been developed to suit the purpose which it IS Intended to fulfil. A field howitzer serves two purposes1. To convey a heavy shell, charged with high explosive, to a given distant point. 2. To deliver a shower of effective shrapnel bullets, striking .... downwards at a steep angle of descent over an enemy's entrenchments or behind his gun-shields. As regards the first point, the striking velocity of the H.E. shell is a. matter of minor importance. The great thing is to get the" shell to t~e desired point with as little effort as possible. And this is effected w Ith a short gun and a small charge by using angles of elevation up ot 45째. As regards the second point, the question is more complicated. The striking energy of the bullets must not be below the 60 footpou~ds limit fixed in Chapter XVIII. Yet the muzzle velocity o~taIned from a short howitzer is low, and the striking velocity lower bh1I. The difficulty is met by artificially increasing the bullet velocity y t~e use of a heavy driving charge in the shrapnel, and by using heav!er bullets than are employed in field guns. This will be further consIdered under the heading of Howitzer Shrapnel Fire.