The bombardier, and pocket gunnerAdye, Ralph Willett
History
The bombardier, and pocket gunner
Adye, Ralph Willett
Artillery -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.; Artillery drill and tactics
_MAGAZINES._—The present practice is not to make large powder magazines
for batteries, but to disperse the barrels of powder, or cartridges
_here_ and _there_ in small magazines, about 6 or 7 fathoms, in the
rear of the battery; as it appears better to loose a small quantity
from time to time, than to run the risk of the whole being destroyed,
by a single shell falling into the magazine. These small magazines or
entrenchments, will hold about one or two tons of powder; and are about
8 or 9 feet square. They ought to be well covered from the fire of the
place, and always in the rear of one of the merlons. When they cannot
be sunk in the ground, they should be secured by sand bags or gabions.
They should be made with attention, as should the communication from
them to the battery. Two magazines of this kind will be required for a
battery of six pieces.
_Permanent Powder Magazines._—According to Vauban’s plan, powder
magazines are commonly made 10 fathoms long, and 25 feet wide, in the
clear. The foundation of the longest sides, is 9 or 10 feet thick, and
6 feet or more deep, according to the nature of the ground. The side
walls raised upon these are 8 or nine feet thick; and if there is
not to be an upper story, 8 feet will be sufficient height above the
foundation. By this means the flooring maybe raised above the ground,
free from damp, and there will remain 6 feet from the floor to the
spring of the arch. The arch is formed of layers of bricks, arched one
over the other, and ought to be 3 feet thick at the top. The exterior
surface of the arch terminates with, an angle at top, like a roof;
which angle must be of such magnitude as to make a thickness of 8 feet
over the key stone of the arch. The foundation at the gable ends is 5
feet thick, and the same depth as the sides; these ends are built up 4
feet thick, from the foundation to the top of the roof. The long sides
are supported by counterforts, 6 feet thick and 4 feet long; and placed
12 feet asunder. The ventilators are placed, one in the centre of each
space between the counterforts, and are made with a die across them of
1½ feet. These ventilators are also closed with plates of iron. The
magazine is lighted by a window in each end, high up, which are opened
and shut by means of a ladder. These windows are secured, each by two
shutters, made of plank 2 or 3 inches thick; and the outer one covered
with sheet iron, and both fastened with strong bolts. The entrance to
the is closed by two doors, one of which opens inwards, and the other
outwards; the outward one is covered with sheet iron. The entrance of
the magazine should, if possible, be placed towards the south. A wall
of 1½ feet thick, and 10 feet high, is built round the magazine, at 12
feet distance. A magazine of the above dimensions will contain about
94,800 lbs. of powder, in piles of 3 barrels each; for a greater number
piled above each other destroys the barrels, damages the powder, and
occasions accidents.
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