FOR
HORSE, FIELD, HEAVY AND MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY.
- In every battery of horse, field, heavy, and mountain artillery, there should be at least three qualified layers per sub-section, exclusive of sergeants and corporals. A list of these layers will be kept by the Battery Commander. All qualified layers, and also all sergeants and corporals, should be tested periodically.
- All section commanders and Nos. 1 must be thoroughly conversant with: –
- The tests for sighting gear and sights;
- The method of obtaining a line of fire parallel to that of a named gun;
- The care of the telescope and dial sight.
- Layers will be tested by means of two tests, “A” and “B”. Test “A” will consist of four lays “direct”; Test “B” of three lays “indirect”. An example of the two tests is given in Appendix I.
- A maximum of 10 marks will be given for each lay. In order to qualify, a layer must obtain a total of 56 marks for seven lays.
- Each layer should be tested with his own No 1. If for any reason the No 1 is not available, his place will be taken by the non-commissioned officer of the same sub-section who would normally replace the casualty.
- The order in which the tests are laid down below is not to be adhered to rigidly, but should be changed when each new layer takes his place at the gun. The layer to be tested should be given no indication as to what sight or method of laying is to be used until he takes his place at the gun and receives the actual order.
- The examiner should be assisted by an officer or senior non-commissioned officer with a stop watch and record book, and by a penciller who will take down all orders given, for reference when checking the lay.
- Before beginning the tests at least five targets will be selected in the foreground at varying ranges and angles of sight, and covering a front of about 25 degrees. Except in the case of gun targets these should as far as possible be natural features of the ground. If it be necessary to utilise dummies, they should be placed in positions such as the troops which they represent would naturally occupy on service. A reference point, approximately in the centre of the target zone, will be pointed out to the No. 1 and to the layer. Throughout the tests targets will be pointed out with reference to this point by means of the clock code.
- When laying direct on any target (other than a gun target) which extends over a fairly wide frontage, great exactitude in direction will not be required as regards the point originally selected to lay upon, which may be anywhere in that portion of the target opposite to the gun being laid. Any subsequent lays on the same target must, however, be on the same point as the first.
- When the layer has taken his place at the gun, the caution “Represent No…. gun in action” will be given, followed when necessary by the caution “Open sight,” “Telescope sight,” or “Direct laying, Dial sight.” The orders for the lay must then be given out by the examiner clearly and distinctly, a short pause being made after each separate order, thus: – “Aiming point, Church spire, 20o right” – pause – “Concentrate 20’ on No. 1,” – pause – “Angle of sight 1o 20’ elevation,” – pause – “4,200.” All orders will be acknowledged by the No. 1 as laid down in Field Artillery Training. Should the layer at any time be in doubt as to a particular order he will refer to the No. 1 who may repeat to him any part of the orders received.
- After checking a lay the examiner will elevate the gun about 15 minutes in order to represent the movement of the gun after firing.
- In the case of a switch the brake must be taken off and put on again using the quick release lever (if provided).
- In equipments which require two men to manipulate the gears, layers will be examined in pairs and for any incorrect part of a lay marks will be deducted only from the individual making the error.
- The times allowed for each lay with the various equipments are given in Appendix II. The layer will call out “Ready” as soon as he has finished laying the gun. The time will be taken from the commencement of the orders for the lay until the word “Ready” from the layer.
- One mark will be deducted:-
- For every five seconds or fraction of five seconds beyond the time laid down in Appendix II for the particular lay;
- If the traversing gear is not within thirty minutes of zero (in cases where this applies);
- For each mistake in the manipulation of the sighting gear or in the drill of the layer as laid down in the “Section Gun Drill.”
- No marks will be given for the lay:-
- If the sight is incorrectly set;
- If the gun is not correctly laid for elevation and within five minutes for direction;
- If the clinometer bubble * is not in the centre of its run;!
- If, by pressing on the breech of the gun, it is found that the last motion of the elevating gear has not been one of depression;
- If the bubble of the cross level is not wholly visible in its run (except when laying with sights which are nor reciprocating). #
* The bubble of the longitudinal level in the case of 15-pr. Q.F. and 15-pr. B.L.C.
! The bubble of the sight clinometer (or longitudinal level in the case of the 15-pr. Q.F. or 15-pr. B.L.C. gun) will be levelled as soon as the gun is laid:-
- When laying direct in the case of:-
15-pr. Q.F. gun,
15-pr. B.L.C. gun,
13-pr. Q.F.gun,
18-pr. Q.F. gun,
2.75-inch B.L. gun.
- When laying direct with the dial sight, but not with the open sight, in the case of:-
4.5-inch Q.F. howitzer.
- When laying direct with the dial sight or by the telescope, but not with the open sight, in the case of:-
60-pr. B.L. gun
It is never to be done in the case of:-
4.7-inch Q.F. gun,
2.95-inch B.L. gun,
10-pr. B.L. gun,
5-inch B.L. howitzer.
Reciprocating sights correct automatically for difference in level of wheels.
APPENDIX I
EXAMPLE OF TESTS
TEST A. DIRECT
Examples of Cautions and Orders Lays.
Cautions.
“Represent No. … gun in action” 1 The sights are set as ordered, and the target is picked up by the layer, assisted by
“Open sight” the No. 1 at the traversing lever. The pointer of the traversing gear should not be more than 30’ from zero when the lay is completed.
Orders
“Infantry lining hedgerows” The bubble of the clinometer or longitudinal
“4 o’clock, 3o to 5o” level must be levelled after the gun is laid and before reporting “Ready.” With heavy
(Elevation) “……” guns No. 1 directs the gun to be traversed by handspikes or by dragropes.
As soon as the lay has been checked by the examiner, he should set the deflection
scale to some graduation and note the reading. In the next lay the layer must set
sight “more right” or “more left” from this graduation.
Orders.
“1o 15” more left.” 2. The sight is re-set as ordered and the gun relaid on the same part of the target as
(Elevation) “…..” in 1, the clinometer bubble being again levelled if necessary. The traversing gear is to be used if provided.
Cautions
“Telescope Sight,” 3. The target is to be picked up, laid on, &c.
or as in 1, but the opposite gun must be laid
“Direct laying, Dial Sight.” on. The bubble of the clinometer must be levelled as in 1.
Orders
“6-gun battery”
“8 o’clock 4o”
(Elevation) “………”
4. The laying is tp be carried out on the
“2o 20” more left” same principle as in 2.
(Elevation) “……….”
TEST B. INDIRECT.
An aiming point is pointed out to the No. 1 and an aiming post number is to stand
ready at the gun with the aiming posts.
Examples of Cautions and Orders Lays.
Orders
- The line of fire is laid out as laid down in
“Aiming point …..” “Section Gun Drill.” The gun is laid for elevation.
“Lines of fire 20o right.” The pointer of the traversing gear (if provided) is not to be more than 30’ from
“Angle of sight 1o 30’ elevation.2 zero when lay is completed.
(Elevation) “…..” The signal for the aiming post number to come in should be given by No. 1 on the layer reporting that the posts are correctly planted.
Orders
“All guns 10o more right” 2. The sight is re-set as ordered and the
“Raise angle of sight 20’” gun re-laid on the aiming posts by moving
(Elevation) “……” the trail. The pointer of the traversing gear should not be more than 30’ from zero.
Cautions.
“Represent No. …. Gun in action2 3. The dial; sight is set as ordered and the gun laid as in “Section Gun Drill.” The layer
Orders. will then pick up a suitable auxiliary aiming
“Aiming point …….” point to lay on for subsequent rounds.
“50o right”
“Concentrate (or distribute) 20’ on
(or from) ……..
“Angle of sight 1o elevation.”
(Elevation) “……. “
APPENDIX II
TIMES.
| Nature of gun. | Test “A” Lay | Test “B” Lay | |||||
| 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 1. | 2. | 3. | |
| 13-pr. Q.F. 18-pr. Q.F. 4.5-inch Q.F. How. 15-pr. Q.F. 15-pr. B.L.C. 5-inch B.L. How. 60-pr. B.L. 4.7-inch Q.F. 10-pr. B.L. 2.75-inch B.L. 2.95- inch Q.F. | 35” 35” 35” 35” 35” 35” 45” 50” 25” 30” 25” | 25” 25” 30” 30” 30” 30” 25” 35” 20” 25” 20” | 35” 35” 35” 35” 35” 35” 45” 50” 35” 30” 25” | 25” 25” 30” 30” 30” 30” 25” 35” 20” 25” 20” | 1’ 20” 1’ 20” 1’ 30” 1’ 30” 1’ 30” 1’ 30” 1’ 20” 1’ 40” 1’ 30” 1’ 20” 1’ 30” | 35” 35” 45” 45” 45” 45” 1’ 10” 1’ 40” 45” 35” 45” | 35” 35” 45” 45” 45” 45” 1’ 10” 1’ 40” 45” 35” 45” |
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