Chapter 18

(25)          T(V) - T(v) =k∫vVv-mdv,    S(V) - S(v) =k∫vVvm+1dv,    I(V) - I(v) =gk∫vVv-m-1dv,

(25)          T(V) - T(v) =k∫vVv-mdv,    S(V) - S(v) =k∫vVvm+1dv,    I(V) - I(v) =gk∫vVv-m-1dv,

(25)          T(V) - T(v) =k∫vVv-mdv,    S(V) - S(v) =k∫vVvm+1dv,    I(V) - I(v) =gk∫vVv-m-1dv,

and the corresponding integration.

The following exercises will show the application of the ballistic table. A slide rule should be used for the arithmetical operations, as it works to the accuracy obtainable in practice.

Example1.—Determine the timetsec. and distancesft. in which the velocity falls from 2150 to 1600 f/s.

(a) of a 6-in. shot weighing 100lb, takingn= 0.96,(b) of a rifle bullet, 0.303-in. calibre, weighing half an ounce, takingn= 0.8.

(a) of a 6-in. shot weighing 100lb, takingn= 0.96,(b) of a rifle bullet, 0.303-in. calibre, weighing half an ounce, takingn= 0.8.

(a) of a 6-in. shot weighing 100lb, takingn= 0.96,

(b) of a rifle bullet, 0.303-in. calibre, weighing half an ounce, takingn= 0.8.

V.

v.

T(V).

T(v).

t/C.

S(V)

S(v)

s/C.

2150

1600

28.6891

27.5457

1.1434

20700.53

18587.00

2113.53

d.

w.

C.

t/C.

t.

s/C.

s.

(a)

6

100

2.894

1.1434

3.307

2113.53

6114 (2038 yds.)

(b)

0.303

1/32

0.426

1.1434

0.486

2113.53

900 (300 yds.)

Example2.—Determine the remaining velocityvand time of flighttover a range of 1000 yds. of the same two shot, fired with the same muzzle velocity V = 2150 f/s.

S.

s/C.

S(V).

S(v).

v.

T(V).

T(v).

t/C.

t.

(a)

3000

1037

20700.53

19663.53

1861

28.6891

28.1690

0.5201

1.505

(b)

3000

7050

20700.53

13650.53

920*

28.6891

23.0803

5.6088

2.387

* These numbers are taken from a part omitted here of the abridged ballistic table.

In the calculation of range tables fordirect fire, defined officially as "fire from guns with full charge at elevation not exceeding 15°," the vertical component of the resistance of the air may be ignored as insensible, and the actual velocity and its horizontal component, or component parallel to the line of sight, are undistinguishable.

Fig. 1.Fig.1.

The equations of motion are now, the co-ordinatesxandybeing measured in feet,

The first equation leads, as before, to

(28)t= C{T(V) - T(v)},(29)x= C{S(V) - S(v)}.

(28)t= C{T(V) - T(v)},(29)x= C{S(V) - S(v)}.

(28)t= C{T(V) - T(v)},

(29)x= C{S(V) - S(v)}.

The integration of (24) gives

if T denotes the whole time of flight from O to the point B (fig. 1), where the trajectory cuts the line of sight; so that ½T is the time to the vertex A, where the shot is flying parallel to OB.

Integrating (27) again,

(31)y=g(½Tt- ½t2) = ½gt(T -t);

(31)y=g(½Tt- ½t2) = ½gt(T -t);

(31)y=g(½Tt- ½t2) = ½gt(T -t);

and denoting T -tbyt′, and takingg= 32f/s2,

(32)y= 16tt′,

(32)y= 16tt′,

(32)y= 16tt′,

which is Colonel Sladen's formula, employed in plotting ordinates of a trajectory.

At the vertex A, wherey= H, we havet=t′ = ½T, so that

(33)          H = ⅛gT2,

(33)          H = ⅛gT2,

(33)          H = ⅛gT2,

which for practical purposes, takingg= 32, is replaced by

(34)          H = 4T2, or (2T)2.

(34)          H = 4T2, or (2T)2.

(34)          H = 4T2, or (2T)2.

Thus, if the time of flight of a shell is 5 sec., the height of the vertex of the trajectory is about 100 ft.; and if the fuse is set to burst the shell one-tenth of a second short of its impact at B, the height of the burst is 7.84, say 8 ft.

The line of sight Ox, considered horizontal in range table results, may be inclined slightly to the horizon, as in shooting up or down a moderate slope, without appreciable modification of (28) and (29), andyor PM is still drawn vertically to meet OB in M.

Given the ballistic coefficient C, the initial velocity V, and a range of R yds. or X = 3R ft., the final velocityvis first calculated from (29) by

(35)          S(v) = S(V) - X/C,

(35)          S(v) = S(V) - X/C,

(35)          S(v) = S(V) - X/C,

and then the time of flight T by

(36)          T = C{T(V) - T(v)}.

(36)          T = C{T(V) - T(v)}.

(36)          T = C{T(V) - T(v)}.

Denoting the angle of departure and descent, measured in degrees and from the line of sight OB byφandβ, the total deviation in the range OB is (fig. 1)

(37)δ=φ+β= C{D(V) - D(v)}.

(37)δ=φ+β= C{D(V) - D(v)}.

(37)δ=φ+β= C{D(V) - D(v)}.

To share theδbetweenφandβ, the vertex A is taken as the point ofhalf-time(and therefore beyondhalf-range, because of the continual diminution of the velocity), and the velocityv0at A is calculated from the formula

and now the degree table for D(v) gives

(39)φ= C{D(V) - D(v0)},(40)β= C{D(v0) - D(v)}.

(39)φ= C{D(V) - D(v0)},(40)β= C{D(v0) - D(v)}.

(39)φ= C{D(V) - D(v0)},

(40)β= C{D(v0) - D(v)}.

This value ofφis the tangent elevation (T.E.); the quadrant elevation (Q.E.) isφ- S, where S is the angular depression of the line of sight OB; and if O ishft. vertical above B, the angle S at a range of R yds. is given by

(41)          sin S =h/3R,

(41)          sin S =h/3R,

(41)          sin S =h/3R,

or, for a small angle, expressed in minutes, taking the radian as 3438′,

(42)          S = 1146h/R.

(42)          S = 1146h/R.

(42)          S = 1146h/R.

So also the angleβmust be increased by S to obtain the angle at which the shot strikes a horizontal plane—the water, for instance.

A systematic exercise is given here of the compilation of a range table by calculation with the ballistic table; and it is to be compared with the published official range table which follows.

A discrepancy between a calculated and tabulated result will serve to show the influence of a slight change in the coefficient of reductionn, and the muzzle velocity V.

Example3.—Determine by calculation with the abridged ballistic table the remaining velocityv, the time of flightt, angle of elevationφ, and descentβof this 6-in. gun at ranges 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 yds., taking the muzzle velocity V = 2150 f/s, and a coefficient of reductionn= 0.96. [For Table see p. 274.]

An important problem is to determine the alteration of elevation for firing up and down a slope. It is found that the alteration of the tangent elevation is almost insensible, but the quadrant elevation requires the addition or subtraction of the angle of sight.

Example.—Find the alteration of elevation required at a range of 3000 yds. in the exchange of fire between a ship and a fort 1200 ft. high, a 12-in. gun being employed on each side, firing a shot weighing 850 lb with velocity 2150 f/s. The complete ballistic table, and the method of high angle fire (see below) must be employed.

Range.

s.

s/C.

S(v).

v.

T(v).

t/C.

t.

T(v0).

v0.

D(v0).

φ/C.

φ.

β/C.

β.

0

0

0

20700.53

2150

28.6891

0.0000

0.000

28.6891

2150

50.9219

0.0000

0.000

0.0000

0.000

500

1500

518

20182.53

1999

28.4399

0.2492

0.720

28.5645

2071

50.8132

0.1087

0.315

0.1135

0.328

1000

3000

1036

19664.53

1862

28.1711

0.5180

1.497

28.4301

1994

50.6913

0.2306

0.666

0.2486

0.718

1500

4500

1554

19146.53

1732

27.8815

0.8076

2.330

28.2853

1918

50.5542

0.3677

1.062

0.4085

1.181

2000

6000

2072

18628.53

1610

27.5728

1.1163

3.225

28.1310

1843

50.4029

0.5190

1.500

0.5989

1.734

Range Table For 6-inch Gun.

Charge

{

weight, 13 lb 4 oz.

Projectile

{

Palliser shot, Shrapnel shell.

Muzzle velocity, 2154 f/s.

gravimetric density, 55.01/0.504.

Weight, 100lb.

Nature of mounting, pedestal.

nature, cordite, size 30

Jump, nil.

Remaining Velocity.

To strikean object10 ft.highrangemust beknown to

Slope of Descent.

5′ elevation ordepression alterspoint of impact.

Elevation.

Range.

Fusescale forT. and P.middleNo. 54Marks I.,II., or III.

50% of roundsshould fall in:

Time of Flight.

PenetrationintoWroughtIron.

Range.

LaterallyorVertically

Length.

Breadth.

Height.

f/s.

yds.

1 in

yds.

yds.

°     ′

yds.

yds

yds

yds

secs.

in.

2154

..

..

..

0.00

0     0

0

..

..

..

..

0.00

13.6

2122

1145

687

125

0.14

0     4

100

¼

..

0.4

..

0.16

13.4

2091

635

381

125

0.29

0     9

200

¾

..

0.4

..

0.31

13.2

2061

408

245

125

0.43

0   13

300

1

..

0.4

..

0.47

13.0

2032

316

190

125

0.58

0   17

400

..

0.4

..

0.62

12.8

2003

260

156

125

0.72

0   21

500

..

0.5

0.2

0.78

12.6

1974

211

127

125

0.87

0   26

600

2

..

0.5

0.2

0.95

12.4

1946

183

110

125

1.01

0   30

700

..

0.5

0.2

1.11

12.2

1909

163

98

125

1.16

0   34

800

..

0.5

0.2

1.28

12.0

1883

143

85

125

1.31

0   39

900

3

..

0.6

0.3

1.44

11.8

1857

130

78

125

1.45

0   43

1000

..

0.6

0.3

1.61

11.6

1830

118

71

125

1.60

0   47

1100

..

0.6

0.3

1.78

11.4

1803

110

66

125

1.74

0   51

1200

4

..

0.6

0.3

1.95

11.2

1776

101

61

125

1.89

0   55

1300

..

0.7

0.4

2.12

11.0

1749

93

56

125

2.03

0   59

1400

..

0.7

0.4

2.30

10.8

1722

86

52

125

2.18

1     3

1500

5

..

0.7

0.4

2.47

10.6

1695

80

48

125

2.32

1     7

1600

25

0.8

0.5

2.65

10.5

1669

71

43

125

2.47

1   11

1700

25

0.9

0.5

2.84

10.3

1642

67

40

100

2.61

1   16

1800

25

1.0

0.5

3.03

10.1

1616

61

37

100

2.76

1   22

1900

25

1.1

0.6

3.23

9.9

1591

57

34

100

2.91

1   27

2000

7

25

1.2

0.6

3.41

9.7

The last column in the Range Table giving the inches of penetration into wrought iron is calculated from the remaining velocity by an empirical formula, as explained in the article ARMOUR PLATES.

High Angle and Curved Fire.—"High angle fire," as defined officially, "is fire at elevations greater than 15°," and "curved fire is fire from howitzers at all angles of elevation not exceeding 15°." In these cases the curvature of the trajectory becomes considerable, and the formulae employed in direct fire must be modified; the method generally employed is due to Colonel Siacci of the Italian artillery.

Starting with the exact equations of motion in a resisting medium,

and eliminating r,

and this, in conjunction with

reduces to

the equation obtained, as in (18), by resolving normally in the trajectory, butdinow denoting theincrementofiin the increment of timedt.

Denotingdx/dt, the horizontal component of the velocity, byq, so that

(49)vcosi=q,

(49)vcosi=q,

(49)vcosi=q,

equation (43) becomes

(50)dq/dt= -rcosi,

(50)dq/dt= -rcosi,

(50)dq/dt= -rcosi,

and therefore by (48)

It is convenient to expressras a function ofvin the previous notation

(52)          Cr=f(v),

(52)          Cr=f(v),

(52)          Cr=f(v),

and now

an equation connectingqandi.

Now, sincev=gseci

and multiplying bydx/dtorq,

and multiplying bydy/dxor tani,

also

from which the values oft,x,y,i, and taniare given by integration with respect toq, when seciis given as a function ofqby means of (51).

Now these integrations are quite intractable, even for a very simple mathematical assumption of the functionf(v), say the quadratic or cubic law,f(v) =v2/korv3/k.

But, as originally pointed out by Euler, the difficulty can be turned if we notice that in the ordinary trajectory of practice the quantitiesi, cosi, and secivary so slowly that they may be replaced by theirmeanvalues,η, cosη, and secη, especially if the trajectory, when considerable, is divided up in the calculation into arcs of small curvature, the curvature of an arc being defined as the angle between the tangents or normals at the ends of the arc.

Replacing then the angleion the right-hand side of equations (54) - (56) by some mean valueη, we introduce Siacci's pseudo-velocityudefined by


Back to IndexNext