OKEHAMPTON EXPERIMENTS. 
553 
Number of 
rounds fired. 
Number of rounds fired before 
ascertaining the range. 
Battery. 
12 
4 
“E” Battery, “E” Brigade, R.H.A. 
12 
3 
n n n 
12 
3 
n n ii 
12 
1 
CC C” Battery, 25th Brigade, R.A. 
12 
5 
n a a 
12 
6 
ii n n 
12 
3 
n a ii 
12 
7 
CC E” Battery, “E ” Brigade, R.H.A. 
Total... 9 6 
32 
The officers and men had never been systematically practised in judging 
distances on land ranges by trial shots. 
47. On the 25th August, an experiment was tried with the view of com¬ 
paring the results of practice without a range-finder, and with a -range-finder, 
both on tripods and on the guns. The battery was kept constantly moving : 
the targets were composed each of a section of 12 files at open order, one 
pace interval between the files ; and the projectile was shrapnel with percus¬ 
sion fuze—a projectile for which both ground and target were unfavourable. 
The following was the result, as to range and effect:— 
9 -pr. R.M.L. Gun, 6 cwt., R.H.A ., August %Mh, 1875. 
Nature of practice. 
Number of 
rounds 
fired. 
Number of 
rounds before 
getting range. 
Number of 
dummies 
disabled. 
Without range-finder. 
12 
8 
3 
ii n .... 
12 
6 
7 
n n .. 
12 
0 
19 
Ii n .. 
12 
0 
24 
With range-finder on gun. 
12 
0 
18 
n n n . 
12 
3 
8 
n a on tripods... 
12 
1 
7 
n ■ a n 
12 
3 
15 
II n n ... 
12 
1 
12 
n /; /; 
12 
0 
22 
Note.—W ith so small a target the range in the above table has been considered as ascertained 
when the projectile grazed within 10 yards of it. 
(Class Y.) Conclusions. 
48. The Committee propose to associate the question of range-finders 
with other points which are of no less importance, and on which the value 
of rifled artillery materially depends. 
In equipment the Royal Artillery may fairly claim to be equal to that of 
any other nation; but, judging from their knowledge of the regiment and 
experiments at Okehampton, it is evident to the Committee that there is 
very great room for improvement in systematic and accurate shooting and in 
judging distance. 
The introduction of Nolands range-finder will certainly supply a great 
want. It is especially valuable at ranges exceeding 2000 yds., as without 
7 ! 
