CO129-291 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [5-6] — Page 610

(3) That the ammunition be as simple as possible, fixed ammunition if possible.

(4) That the gun be somewhat of the nature of a Q.F. gun; on this island an enemy coming under fire from a battery would very quickly obtain cover, and it is therefore essential to be able to pour in a heavy fire when an opportunity occurs.

(5) That the gun shall not have a violent recoil; the hillsides are very steep and the ground is usually very hard and rocky; the gun detachments would therefore have very hard work with a violently recoiling gun.

(6) That the gun should throw a shell of from 10 to 12 lbs in weight; this would ensure good shrapnel fire provided the remaining velocity proves sufficient.

(7) That the muzzle velocity be as great as can be expected from the foregoing conditions, and that the gun be capable of good shrapnel fire effect up to 2500 yards.

(8) That the track or the wheels be as small as possible, 3 ft. if possible; the height of the axis of the gun need not be more than 3 feet, I think, but that of course would depend on the shape of the carriage.

(9) That the gun be constructed with a view to man draught, and also for carriage by coolies; no weight when the gun is dismounted should therefore exceed 200 lbs.

(10) That the ammunition be carried either by coolies in boxes, or on a limber if condition (1) be not exceeded.

The 7.5 cm Maxim Nordenfeldt 12-pr Q.F. mountain gun would appear to fulfil most of these conditions, but it might be improved by a higher velocity; it has an effective shrapnel range...