GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1897 . 
338 
such an extensive influence. The strong appreciation of their advan¬ 
tages expressed in the last report of the School of Gunnery* encourages 
the belief that their approval for land service will not long be 
delayed. The Navy has had them for years. 
Practice with aiming rifles (*45 inch calibre) at a small target 
moving over the actual fire area of the guns should be carried out 
by the proper detachments once a week. Ranges up to and not greater 
than about 500 yards will probably be found most suitable, as the arc 
passed through by the target in a given time will then be a fairly 
large one, and if the size of the target is proportionately decreased 
the difficulties of ranging and laying on a quick target of ordinary 
size at longer ranges will be illustrated with some approach to truth¬ 
fulness. Such a target, about four feet by one foot six inches, if 
properly made, can be towed at a sufficient speed by a rowing boat of 
the kind generally held in artillery charge at coast stations. 
The aiming tubes (*23 inch calibre) should be used in connection 
with a miniature range giving facilities for running a small moving 
target. Part of the path of the target could be lit up at night 
by a suitable oil lamp with bulls’ eye lense, in imitation of the 
electric light, and the target, of a size proportionate to the length 
of the range, being passed across the lighted belt, a fair resemblance 
to the service conditions of vision would be obtained. A. range of this 
description is in use at the Royal Naval School' of Gunnery at 
Whale Island. The best length for the range is about twenty-five 
yards. With this length the target should be a broadside model of 
a torpedo boat, on a scale of about Ifc would then appear of 
the same size, when viewed from the gun, as would the real boat 
at a range of 1,500 yards. The range should be accessible to all 
N.C. officers and men during their spare time. They would probably 
need little encouragement to use it, but the offer of small prizes 
periodically, which could be obtained from company or regimental 
funds, would perhaps further conduce to the bringing forward of the 
best layers, who would be available as understudies to the proper gun 
captains, and to replace waste among these due to transfers, discharges, 
etc. Any brick wall of average height forms an efficient butt; both 
traverse and elevation may be limited mechanically so that no shot 
can miss it. The gun used might be .one of those belonging to the 
armament, a 6 pr. for choice on a light temporary cone or pivot. It 
would be better however to use an unserviceable gun or a dummy, 
properly weighted and balanced, and similarly mounted. The arma¬ 
ment guns need not then be interfered with. The expense of such 
a range should be very small. 
If automatic sights are ultimately introduced for quick-firing guns, 
the effect will be to take fire direction to some extent out of the 
hands of the gun group commander. Their application to groups 
of guns is yet untried, and the advantages of it are perhaps open 
to question. If adopted however their use alters none of the 
principles which govern the conduct of practice, though details may 
require slight modification. 
Report of School of Gunnery, Part 1, paragraphs 20, 21, 188. 
44 
