In the closer attack upon the work, batteries for the smaller siege and field mortars may be readily constructed in front or rear of the parallels, or in the parallels or approaches themselves; splinter-proofs and temporary magazines being constructed by methods previously indicated. In many cases, however, the lighter mortars, field and Coehorn, which do not require fixed platforms, may be placed behind any part of the trenches affording cover, and fire be opened and continued until the fire of the enemy becomes too annoying, when the mortars may be removed to some other locality. MAGAZINES. =60.= =Magazines= should be provided, at least two to each battery, not only to localize the injury due to an explosion, but also to prevent the battery being disabled by the explosion of a single one. As previously stated (par. 43), they should contain 24 hours' supply (from 150 to 200 rounds) for each gun which they are designed to serve,[3] which may require a capacity in a single magazine of as much as 6,000 lbs. of powder. This amount should be reduced when possible by increasing the number of magazines. The cartridges should be made up and packed in boxes at the depots or parks, and the powder chambers in the magazines should be of such size as to store these boxes with only such vacant space as is necessary for ease in handling them.[4] =61.= =Cover.=--The chamber should be covered with strong balks or rails and enough earth to form a sloping roof; over this raw hides or tarpaulin should be spread, and the remainder of the earth filling be spread upon this and rammed solidly. The amount of earth cover required for security must be determined from the principles given in par. 21. The English engineers recommend as sufficient protection against ordinary fire for a magazine 5 feet wide, two layers of 9" × 9" fir laid crossing each other, or one layer of 12" × 12" oak, covered with 5 feet of earth. In experiments at Lydd in 1883, however, an 8-inch howitzer shell falling at an angle of about 30° penetrated through a covering of 7 feet of soft clay and burst upon the timber roof of a magazine, cutting it through. This shows that complete protection is not always possible, and that the chances of hitting must be reduced by making the horizontal area of the magazine chamber as small as possible, and placing its smaller dimension in the line of the hostile fire. The clear height of the magazine should be 4' 6" to 5' minimum, when practicable, and the top of the covering balks should be at or below the level of the ground.