106 
SPEED IN FIRING WITH GARRISON GUNS. 
(2) Wherever high ground is available, with only a moderate loss of 
range, Garrison guns should be sited high. Guns on an elevation, even 
though slightly retired, can be made to be more certain and quicker 
hitters than is possible to those on a low site. They need little or no 
protection from ship fire ; and up to considerable ranges, proportional 
to their height, can dispense with the slow processes of P.F. and D.R.F. 
work by means of comparatively simple automatic sights. Such guns 
can be made to predict for themselves sufficiently well to indicate the 
cause and speed of a ship. By an “ automatic ” sight, is meant a sight, 
telescopic or otherwise, which, without calculation or assistance from 
the layer, sets itself in such a fashion, that after once having a part of 
the sight raised or lowered to correct for the error of the day, as found 
by ranging shots, for tide, and to bring the point of impact to the 
required height above the water-line of the ship, it is only necessary as 
far as elevation is concerned to lay on the water-line of the target vessel 
to strike it; and this without reference to the range in yards or elevation 
in degrees, or any calculation except for deflection, and the correction 
for this may be made approximately automatic also. There is no great 
difficulty in obtaining such a sight if the foresight is made the regulating 
movable sight, corrections being put on the hind. As regards deflection, 
if the gun is fitted to predict while the sights follow the ship, the course 
and speed of the vessel can always be obtained, while the deflection 
leaf if made to pivot can be worked without calculation by placing its 
bar roughly parallel to the course and placing the speed on it. 
Low sited guns always present difficulties as far as our present know¬ 
ledge extends, they may be made quick firers but can never be quick 
hitters except at very close ranges ; trust in flat trajectories is delusive 
and has led to many a badly-cliosen gun-site. Low-sited guns are 
probably best worked by some of the existing slow methods ; range by- 
P.F. or D.R.F., line over sights, and quadrant elevation ; but still there 
are several points in the best found guns on low sites which are capable 
of improvement with a view to greater speed in hitting. In all mount¬ 
ings, whether guns are well or badly sited, the layer should be enabled 
to see easily over his sights at the time of firing, and he should himself 
fire without having to take his eye off the sights. The means of know¬ 
ing what quadrant elevation to give and of giving it quickly require 
alteration, while at present deflection is given almost by guess work or 
by calculation, causing long and unnecessary pauses for a sort of 
prediction by the G.G.O. or by the P.F. operator. The former should 
be kept fully informed of the course and speed of the vessel. There 
ought in fact to be no uncertainty or guess work in the matter so long 
as the vessel’s course approaches an even line. Speed deflection leaves 
are much wanted. Though the sights used by the Navy are unsuited 
to more accurate Garrison Artillery requirements, yet what is good in 
them could be adapted to shore wants. 
The discouragement of science and invention among Garrison 
Artillery Officers of late years has been a misfortune to the country. 
A “ Shrapnel ” or a “ Boxer ” would have no place now. It has tended 
to prevent simple adaptations of gear to fighting requirements. Manu¬ 
facturers, unchecked by actual practical experience, produce most 
ingenious but complicated appliances that are often not really wanted, 
though their very cleverness frequently charms the Garrison Gunner 
into receiving them with open arms. He should refer all novelties 
sprung upon him to the practical tests of speed in working and accuracy, 
