615 
SOME XOTES 
ON 
NAVAL GUN-DRILL AND PRACTICE. 
BY 
CAPTAIN P. E. GRAY, R.A. 
Through the courtesy of the officers of the Cambridge , Naval Gunnery 
Ship, I was allowed to witness drill and practice, on two days, off Ply¬ 
mouth, and by their kindness I was enabled to gather a certain amount 
of information as to the principles and science of gunnery as taught 
in the Navy. 
The following notes are compiled in the hope that, as similar oppor¬ 
tunities do not often occur, they may prove of some value to officers of 
the Regiment who are interested in Coast Defence. 
Accustomed in the Garrison Artillery to crowded sea-ranges, and to 
constant and harrassing interruptions from fishing boats and shipping, 
the Royal Navy carry on their practice under, what are to us ideal service 
conditions. They steam to sea, drop their target and commence. If 
the range is. foul they alter course until it is clear. An open horizon 
is all they ask for. 
Their drill is expeditious to a very high degree, but it is loose, and 
to our ideas of rigid drill, rather too much in go-as-you-please style. 
The practice which I saw carried on was quick and good, but the 
ranges were short, all under 2000 yards; the sea was calm, and the 
circumstances favourable to good shooting. The firing was from 6" 
and 5" B.L. and from Nordenfeldt machine guns on H.M.S. Curlew , 
and from 10" R.M.L._, 3-pr. Q.F., and machine guns on H.M.S. Hecate 
turret-ship. Half charges were used, which is, I believe, the rule for 
most naval practice. 
The ranges were estimated and verified by trial shots from the Q.F. 
and machine guns. 
The Navy invariably judge their own ranges, and verify by a gun of 
light calibre. Judging distance is a point in the instruction of their 
seamen-gunners on which they lay particular stress. 
On the Hecate there is a 7-pr. R.M.L. gun mounted on the fore 
turret to act as a range-finder for the 10" guns. 
Range-finding instruments have been tried, but are found too slow, 
and inaccurate over 2000 yards, owing to the short base they are 
obliged to use. In the Austrian and American, but in no other foreign 
navies, range-finders are used. 
12 . YOB. XX. 
