618 
SOME NOTES ON NAVAL GUN-DRILL AND PRACTICE. 
In broadside firing there is an Officer of Quarters whose duty is 
almost entirely disciplinary, so far as I could gather. He passes down 
orders received through voice-tubes from the conning tower, orders the 
nature of projectile and fuze, and gives the word to fire when friction 
tubes are used, but leaves all executive duties to the gun-captains. 
In turret-ships there is an officer of each turret, but he does not 
interfere with the service of the guns. He repeats all commands, sees 
that the work goes on without confusion, and reports his turret as ready 
to fire; but the captain of turret, a seaman gunner or petty officer, 
orders the loading, laying and firing, except when the turret guns are 
being fought from the conning tower. In fact, the duties of officers in 
action, so far as working the guns is concerned, appear to be those of 
a Battery Officer on the gun floor, for discipline, but without fire direc¬ 
tion ; while the captains of guns exercise the duties of our Group 
Officer, gun-captain and layer, and also fire. 
In the foregoing notes the terms gun-captain and No. 1 have been 
used as synonymous. The Naval drill-book, apparently, makes no dis¬ 
tinction between them. 
