Effect of the fire of a four guns QF field battery

Frontal fire at 2500 m against infantry deployed on a front 100 m long		Fire at a single range		Fire in depth
				every 100 m
		1 battery salvo	storm of fire of 2 rounds x gun	searching salvo fire	storm of fire of 2 rounds
Standing, front view		25%	43%	30%	50%
Standing, side view		15%	26%	18%	31%
Kneeling and firing		16%	28%	20%	33%
Laying down and firing	in trench	8%	14%	10%	16%
	with knapsack on back	6%	10%	7%	12%
	with knapsack in front of head	3%	5%	4%	6%

Frontal sweeping fire at 2500 m against infantry		Fire at a single range		Fire in depth
		front of 200 m	front of 200 m – 100 m	front of 100 m	front of 200 m – 100 m
Standing, front view		30%	45%	36%	53%
Standing, side view		18%	28%	22%	23%
Kneeling and firing		20%	30%	24%	35%
Laying down and firing	in trench	10%	15%	12%	17%
	with knapsack on back	7%	11%	9%	13%
	with knapsack in front of head	4%	6%	4%	7%

Frontal fire at 2500 m against infantry in various formation		Front	Fire at a single range		Fire in depth
			1 battery salvo	storm of fire of 2 rounds x gun	salvo fire	progressive
Platoon	column by 4	25 m	23%	40%	27%	46%
	line of half platoon by 4	about 50 m	13%	24%	15%	27%
	in line by sections by 2	75 m	10%	19%	12%	22%
	line by squads	100 m	11%	20%	13%	24%
Company	column by 4	25 m	22%	39%	25%	44%
	in platoon column by 4	about 100 m	6%	11%	7	13%
Company in platoon column by 4 with a gap of 50 m between the platoons		150 m	10% - 12% with sweeping fire
Remarks: The losses increased under oblique fire; the column by 2 was the best formation against direct fire, but was very vulnerable to oblique fire. A better way to advance under artillery fire was the column by 1/3 platoon, by detachment by 4 or even by groups in column by 4 with great gaps between the groups.

Frontal fire at 2500 m against cavalry deployed on a front 100 m long	Fire at a single range		Fire in depth
	1 battery salvo	storm of fire of 2 rounds x gun	searching salvo fire	storm of fire of 2 rounds
in depth formation	40%	64%	48%	73%
in double line with a gap of 1 m between the lines	25%	43%	30%	50%
Remarks: The losses of the cavalry in depth formation increased under oblique fire.

Frontal fire at 2500 m against a QF shielded battery deployed on a front 100 m long	Fire at a single range		Fire in depth
	1 battery salvo	storm of fire of 2 rounds x gun	searching salvo fire	storm of fire of 2 rounds
in firing order	6%	11%	7%	13%
in marching order	the battery could not move at all: a battery could move only if it was covered by friend fire, engaging the enemy.
Remarks: 1. In the same condition the losses of a not quick-firing battery were six time greater. 2. The losses of a shielded battery increased under oblique fire, and under flaking fire they were almost the same as a not shielded battery. 3. If the cannoners protected behind shields or earth the losses were insignificant.

Percussion fire
to open a breach 20 m long in a wall 2000 m long and 2 m large	75mm QF battery	58 H.E. shells
	87mm not QF battery	120 common shells
to destroy an uncovered four guns quick-firing shield battery	1’ 30 with regular fire	24-30 common shells
to demolish thin walls (up to 30 cm)		shrapnel

Sources

These datas, reported in NOYKOV – MANOLOV : Книжка за офицера въ полето…, pp. 313-316, came from CAMPANA : L’artillerie de campagne à tir rapide et à boucliers…, pp. 62-91.