MORRIS’ TUBE PRACTICE- 
507 
The layer stands on the end of the trail and leaus on a handspike 
fixed in the trail. 
The target No. towed the target by means of a long string, taking 
if necessary a lead round a picket or tent peg. In order to interest 
the men, the targets used were paper models (fitted on aflat board), 
usually of torpedo boats, but we also had models of the Terrible , a 
second class Japanese cruiser at present building. 
The torpedo boats were very rough models, about six to ten inches 
long, and were patched up daily with stamp paper. The other models 
were more highly finished and stood punishment remarkably well. 
The Japanese cruiser had some 250 hits or more and was still service¬ 
able as a record target when discarded, although only one gun and 
one mast had survived. 
As to accuracy the following speaks for itself :— 
The target was the Terrible , speed twenty knots per hour, range 
varying from 3,500-1,500 yards, eight rounds and seven hits (main 
length with line of fire 35°), the hits being all within a space of 10" 
along the side of the ship (or 100'). All of them were far aft, and a 
very slight difference in time of firing made a difference of 5" or 6" 
along the side of the ship. The second run on that day was across 
the front from 2,400-2,800 yards, five rounds and four hits, one being 
a ricochet. These were closer together, the first two being 2" and 
3" aft of the forward mast, and the next two hits with altered deflec¬ 
tion being both within 3" of the bow. The third round was short as 
when altering the deflection to bring the shot forward the range was not 
jDcreased proportionately, 
The best practice made was :— 
Range between 2,400 and 2,500 yards. 
Target 70' long (7"). 
„ 10' beam (1"). 
„ 4' height above waterline (4 ). 
Speed about twenty-seven knots. 
Main angle with line of fire about 90°. 
Result seven rounds and five hits. 
The easiest target is one approaching or receding directly to or from 
the gun. The hardest a target with small freeboard and beam, at a 
constant or very slowly varying range. 
A longer range could not be used owing to the smallness of the 
graduations on the range strip The speed is very hard to manage. 
If slower than twenty knots or thereabouts the target sticks and jumps 
forward forty or fifty yards at a time. The targets were all modelled 
to scale (R.F. in paper, as accurately as could be done from pub¬ 
lished dimensions. 
One advantage of these targets is that in place of the laying parade 
being exceedingly uninteresting and tiring it was no uncommon sight 
to see practically the whole battery watching, and the layers them¬ 
selves asked permission to have the gun out to practice by themselves 
at it. 
