360 
COMMENDED ESSAY, 1897 . 
having to be towed it cannot approach at a less angle than 45° to the line 
of fire, only a limited number of guns can fire at it at the same time, 
and cross fire from several groups is generally impossible ; when firing 
at it the tendency is to sacrifice everything to extreme accuracy, at the 
expense of rapidity, which, at all events in the case of ships trying to 
pass the works, would not be the case, as in the few minutes during 
which the enemy would be under fire we should have to get in as many 
rounds as possible. 
With our present slow-moving towed targets, the variations of range 
are usually so slight that predicting becomes rather a farce, as even after 
making a prediction of only twenty-five yards the G.G.C. often finds 
that his range does not alter, and after some delay he receives “ Range 
stationary,” when he probably alters his elevation and in this manner a 
lot of time is wasted. 
What more often happens is that the B.C. gets a range put on the dial 
and signals “ Range stationary,” lets the G.G.C. fire off his gun, and if 
the range has altered he orders the dial reading to be changed, again 
signals “ Range stationary,” and so on. In this manner it is possible 
to get the guns fired without delay and with fair accuracy, but it 
virtually becomes firing at a stationary target, in a manner which, for 
the purpose of training the G.G.C. and detachments for the requirements 
of active service, is as good as useless. 
This slight change of range is bound to occur, if the target is towed 
over such a course as that described in ‘‘ Instructions for Practice,” as 
it then practically during the greater part of its travel moves round the 
arc of a circle of which the battery is the centre ; it would be far better 
to give it a straight run at 45° to the line of fire, turn as short as possible 
away from the battery, and run back across the front, describing a figure 
8 course. 
Besides the disadvantages already mentioned, the use of towed targets 
limits our range to 3,000 yards, except in special cases when guns are 
mounted 400 feet above the sea ; the length of the run being conse¬ 
quently short we get no practice in ranging under true service con¬ 
ditions, when fire would probably open at 5,000 yards or more. 
What we really require is a light fast-moving target, capable of motion 
towards or from the guns direct or at any angle, with screens at right 
angles to each other, so that the target may be visible in any position, 
and a framework of light steel or other metal offering little surface to 
damage by projectiles. 
Such an ideal target, would of course have to be self propelled, or 
connected by a wire to a drum on shore or on a tug. 
The nearest approach we have as yet got to this is the “ Osborne,” but 
the present pattern, capable of moving eighteen to twenty knots, is too 
small to be suitable for practice except from Q.F. guns. There is no 
reason however why a larger one should not be made for ordinary 
practice. Motion being imparted by winding in a wire on a drum, any 
speed necessary could be given, and by using a lead block attached to a 
buoy, the target could be made to travel at any angle to the line of fire. 
A self propelled target, which in these days of automotors is sure to 
make its appearance before long, could be set to represent any form of 
attack, but at present the cost would probably be considered too great, 
although the outlay would be amply repaid by the increased efficiency 
of all concerned, by saving the value of a large number of record targets 
which get destroyed annually, by the rounds fired being really instruc¬ 
tive, and by the nearer approach to service conditions of the practice. 
