132 
AUTO-SIGHTING. 
shops to an out-station where they were fitted by the local artificers to 
two 4*7 mountings, not of R.C.D. design or manufacture. The roller 
paths were levelled, the sights adjusted, and a few rounds fired. On 
the following day, the trials began. The conditions throughout the 
practice were officially reported to be “ the worst conceivable for 
laying, from bad light, mist and boisterous winds.” At moderate 
ranges the target could not be seen with the unaided eye. The following 
are the results obtained in the rapid fire series using the telescope :— 
A. 
Range 
1167 Yards. 
B. 
Range 1954 
Yards. 
Round. 
+ 
R or L 
Round. 
+ 
R or L 
yards. 
yards. 
yards. 
yards. 
1 
+ 25 
5 L 
1 
+ 
8 
8 L 
2 
+ 30 
)) 
2 
+ 
10 
>> 
3 
+ 25 
yy 
3 
+ 
10 
>> 
4 
+ 25 
9) 
4 
+ 
13 
»» 
5 
+ 30 
yy 
5 
+ 
10 
t* 
Time 37*72 secs. 
Time 41*96 
secs. 
C. 
Range 
3,050 Yards. 
D. 
Range 3775 
Yards. 
1 
+ 5 
1 R 
1 
Range 
Line 
2 
+ 5 
1 L 
2 
+ 
1 
yy 
3 
+ 5 
Line 
3 
+ 
7 
yy 
4 
Range 
*» 
4 
+ 
15 
yy 
5 
+ io 
1 L 
5 
+ 
30 
yy 
6 
+ 2 
2 ,, 
6 
+ 
30 
yy 
7 
+ 2 
1 »> 
7 
+ 
30 
yy 
8 
+ io 
Line 
8 
+ 
80 
yy 
9 
+ 1 
yy 
9 
+ 
80 
yy 
10 
+ 2 
yy 
10 
10 
yy 
Time 1 min. 42’6 secs. Time not taken because layer’s eye was tired. 
During D series the target was scarcely visible with good glasses. 
The ranges of the targets were taken with D.R.F. The fall of the shell 
was noted by range party on board a steamer. 
A practical result of this kind outweighs much theory. 
Coast artillery can now be provided with;— 
9‘2-in guns firing 1 round per minute. 
6-in. ,, „ 5 ,, ,, „ 
4-7-in. „ „ 7 „ „ 
12-pr. „ jy 10 jy yy yy 
If full value is to be obtained from these guns, auto-sighting is 
evidently essential. To apply to them €t the present method of 
laying” is equivalent to putting a 15-stone jockey on a Derby winner. 
Temp or a mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis. The auto-sight has come 
to stay. 
