The Run

The Field Gun Run is divided into three sections.  The "Run Out", the "Run Back", and the "Run Home".

The Run Out

1. The Start

Each Crew consist of 18 men, each of whom have run a number of corresponding to the drill they carry out during the course of the run.  here, following the start of the Run Out, they "Chomp down the Straight", before all the equipment is man-handled over the wall.

2. Over Home Wall

The gun and limber together with the 18 Men of the crew have to negotiate the "Run", the 5 foot "Home" wall.  This involves the gun, a carriage, the limber, and two pairs of wheels being shoved, heaved and pulled over the wall before the "Rig" can be erected.

3. Up Rig

The "Rig" consists of two 18 foot spars (shear legs), each weighing 170 lbs, a 10 foot spar (65 lbs) which will cross the chasm and support the wire, which weighs 120 lbs, will form a "Necklace" for the shear legs as they are lifted off the ground.  The cruciform supports the 28 foot spar (100 lbs) which allows the "1st Swing" to cross the chasm, closely followed by the "2nd Swing" who carries the wire.  The wire is then coupled at both ends and the "Rig" is "Lifted Back" into two metal shoes (elephant feet) before being tightened by the bottle screw to allow the gun, limber and men to cross the 28 chasm.

4. Chasm Drill

With the "Rig" successfully in place, the first pair of wheels, with the hitchhiker at the back, will be "hauled" across the chasm by the swings.  The carriage with 4 men will follow, then the barrel and the second pair of wheels.  This is quickly followed by the limber with a further 4 men.

5. Through the wall to action line

The last man will sprint to catch up with the crews as they negotiate the "hole" in the "enemy wall", then race to the "Action line" to fire the first 3 rounds against the enemy.

The 3 rounds complete, the Trainer will ask permission to make up the equipment for the "Run Back" which has to be completed with "Full Speed".  Unless there is a delay or an injury, the crew may not move, or they will incur a time penalty which is added to the final time of the overall run.

The Run Back

1. The Barrel Drop

Having negotiated the "enemy wall", the swings propel themselves across holding the 2traveller2, to then haul across the closely following wheels and limber.  The gun is run up the ramp, and the barrel is then hauled right up to the shear leg cruciform.  Hooked to the wire and slipped, the barrel now drops to hand "in the trees" awaiting to be reunited with the carriage.

2. Gun to Action Line

The gun, now ready to move, is "boxed" away to the 2nd action line.  The "rig" will now be collapsed by attaching the traveller "pull lines" to the pin which holds the 10-foot spar, to leave nothing on the enemy side, the "rig" is collapsed.  The wire and lines are pulled from the chasm by the "Traveller Man".  The gun is again fired 3 times, this time in rearguard action.

The Run Home

1. A tight Squeeze

As on the "Run Out", the gun and limber need to be dissembled and together with the 18 men, are squeezed through this small "hole" in the home wall to be reassembled before racing for the finish line; all of which should take less than 30 seconds and is often much faster!