The Indian Army establishment included Heavy Batteries where elephants were used for the towing of guns. 

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The elephants proved to be a sure footed method of transporting guns over difficult terrain, however they were not reliable under fire. After one or two unfortunate incidents when elephants galloped off with the limbers, immediately after the guns they had drawn had been brought into action, the Indian Armies abandoned their use in the forefront of the battle.

 

The last recorded action involving an Elephant Battery was the Battle of Kandahar in 1880.

 

 The elephants were primarily used for the draught of the heavy siege guns / howitzers on the line of march. The elephants were used in tandem, with the lead elephant ready to be unhooked to go around to push with their forehead against the gun muzzle if the gun was stuck.

 

When the Battery was firing, regulations stipulated that the elephants should have their  forelegs, hobbled to to prevent them bolting. In addition a long chain with drag ropes was attached to their hind legs with which the gun detachment could control the animal.

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With the introduction of breech loading guns for the heavy batteries at the begining of the twentieth centuary, the elephants and bullocks were replaced with teams of 8 horses 

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The Elephant Batteries were also known as Bail Batteries*, Bail being the Hindustani for oxen.

 

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* Royal Artillery Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations

   Phil Jobson (The History Press)