the field artillery journal - Fort Sill - U.S. Army

TRANSPORTATION BY MOTOR TRUCK
them to track poorly. This caused in part the breaking of the
above-mentioned pintle-latch spring.
PINTLE.—The pintles constructed on the rear of the trucks
for the purpose of trailing the pieces were too large; they
should be of strong material, with springs to adjust the jar and
jerking of the piece and caisson trailed behind the truck.
SIGHTS.—The sights were removed from their travelling
cases and carried upon the trucks packed in waste in wooden
boxes. The jar of the travelling cases for panoramic sight and
range quadrant would cause such sights to come unscrewed,
break the lenses and render them useless.
CAISSON-PROP.—The fastening for the caisson-prop is not
strong enough to retain the same in place when the caisson is
travelling at a rate of speed attained during the above trip. The
props became unfastened from the jarring and fell to the ground,
thereby breaking them; two props were broken in this manner.
SPARE POLE.—When the piece is limbered behind its
caisson, the spare pole is so long that it will not permit the free
action of the trail spade and, if the same is not removed from
the caisson, the spade will split and wear the pole.
BATTERY AND STORE WAGONS.—These wagons are so high
that when placed upon the bed of a 2½-ton truck, it is
dangerous to travel at any great speed. The height makes the
truck top-heavy and at speed greater than usual there is liability
of turning the truck over.
AMMUNITION.—The blank ammunition carried in the
caissons was ruined by the jarring of the caissons. The wads in
the same were jarred loose, thus causing the powder to run out.
The drill cartridge will unscrew at the base because of the jar
and constant vibration. All oil-cans were intact and were not
affected by the jar of the caisson. Service ammunition could be
carried with bases down upon the truck.
In the above description I have merely outlined the
breakages and faults discovered upon our return from San Diego.
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