Rapid System of Ranging for Royal Horse Artillery. 
A rapid system of ranging* being necessary for Royal Horse Artillery acting with 
cavalry, when the time allowed for action will frequently be restricted to four or 
five minutes, the following plan is to be practised : — 
Case I. —The Battery gallops into action with a flank section loaded with 
percussion shrapnel : the first gun is fired at the estimated range, 
and the second with about 150 yards more or less elevation, to form 
a bracket. The other two sections have meantime prepared for 
shrapnel with time fuze, and, a bracket being obtained, the centre 
section is fired at the mean , the third section corrects fuze if neces¬ 
sary. Range and fuze being now assumed to be found with fair 
accuracy (both should be taken rather short as the target is probably 
advancing), rapid fire from a flank is ordered. 
If a very rapid fire effect is required, an alternative plan may be adopted in 
Case II. —The Battery gallops into action with all guns loaded with percus¬ 
sion shrapnel, and the flank (or first) section opens at the estimated 
range. The second section stand ready with 150 yards difference, as 
ordered, to obtain a bracket : the third section fires at the mean to 
verify. Each section prepares for time shrapnel as soon as fired, 
and the Battery Commander will be almost sure to have got the 
range sufficiently accurately to be able to order range and fuze. 
The service of ammunition must be from limbers and magazines : 
the wagons would accompany the squadron carts, and be ready to fill 
up after every engagement. 
Notes on points observed during the Practice of 1892-93. 
(i.) Slow and irregular laying, with too much attention to direction on a broad 
target ; and want of care in selecting layers. The remedy is only to be found by 
constant and almost daily practice, and frequent examinations such as are held at 
practice camps. 
(ii.) Irregular fuze setting. The only remedy is in constant practice as for (i). 
(iii.) Indecision in applying corrections of elevation and fuze, and bad manage¬ 
ment of fuzes. 
On these points constant practice at drill on the part of the Battery Com¬ 
mander in making the necessary corrections is essential, as also a strict adherence 
to the rules laid down for management of fuzes. 
(iv.) Delay caused by excessive use of signals. 
The signals to be used are laid down in Appendix C, and others are not to be 
introduced , or confusion is likely to ensue. Greater quietness is induced if all 
information be given to the Section Officers when they are first called up and by 
them communicated to gun layers ; the first round may then be got off with 
hardly a word being heard. 
(v.) The use of the whistle is recommended, never as a substitute for verbal 
orders , but to call attention to them. It should be sparingly used, so that when 
it is heard, the men may know that some important order is about to be issued. 
A short chirrup is followed by “ Keep to-yards,” or “ Keep to-fuze.” 
A. long blast is followed by an order such as a sudden change of target. 
(vi.) Auxiliary marks were not used as often as they might have been with 
advantage. Maintenance of fire in action must often depend on the employment 
of auxiliary aiming points either in front or rear of the Battery. At practice, 
therefore, whenever from distance, state of the atmosphere, smoke, &c , the target 
is indistinct and difficult to lay on, the guns should, as a rule, only be laid on it 
once, auxiliary marks being selected for future use. This more especially when 
Batteries are not provided w r itli the telescopic sight, 
