800 
QUICK-FIRING GUNS IN HARBOUR DEFENCE. 
Distributed 
fire in Rang¬ 
ing. 
U se of this 
Method. 
Reliefs and 
General 
Discipline. 
Night work. 
Training of 
the 
personnel .— 
“ Group 
Com¬ 
mander.” 
No. 1. 
then lay on the nearest well-marked aiming-point on the ship, the 
the No. 1 of the centre gun on a point somewhat further away, and so 
on. These points would be selected, in each class of ship, according 
as they will best correct the difference in the guns' ranges, at the same 
time giving the best results on the ship by bringing under fire the 
portions it is most desirable to attack. If possible, the “ Group 
Commander," having so studied the “ identifying officer's " diagrams 
of the enemy's ships as to have made himself acquainted with the 
most advantageous aiming-points, selected as above, or being himself 
supplied with such diagrams, would indicate these points severally to 
his Nos. 1 as soon as he had been given his objective. 
As the position of the guns when ranging (if all the guns be used 
for that purpose), and when pouring in their rapid fire is the same, the 
fire would in both cases be thus distributed ; unless it be desired to 
concentrate the fire as the vessel comes more to the front of the 
group. It does not seem that the observation of the distributed fire 
in this ranging would be any more difficult than in the case of a'FieM 
Battery ranging on a line of troops parallel to its front. 
This complicated method would, however, only be used where it vas 
considered necessary to try to correct for the distance cf the guns 
apart, and this would only be in extreme cases. 
With regard to the reliefs of working numbers, and general dis¬ 
cipline, a Sub-Commander would be detailed, whose post wen..I be at 
the guns, moving from one to another by the covered con-munic hon. 
If no officer could be spared there seems no way except to dele, A 
these duties to the Nos. 1 of guns : unless a N.-C.O. could L e tru a 
to act as a Sub-Commander. 
For operations at night, when authorities state that no large vessel^ 
need be expected as antagonists, the importance of quick-firing gnus 
will be even greater, and consequently their efficient working th 
becomes all the more a necessity. As with the present armameiit, tl 
same schemes would be available as are used in daylight, but ui course 
a special point must be made of practising them in darkness, as all 
difficulties then increase in magnitude tenfold, and can only be avoided 
by frequent rehearsals. 
The efficient working of quick-firing guns in Harbour Defence must 
necessarily entail a very high standard of training in the personnel. 
The “ Group Commander's " duties much resemble those of a Fort 
Commander. He must be thoroughly practised in observation of fire, 
and in deducing from it his corrections ; he must be well-informed 
with regard to all details of attacking ships, and must be able to 
exercise complete control over his guns without delaying or hustling 
their fire. 
The No. 1 of a quick-firing guns would have to be most carefully 
selected, as a good and quick layer, and as likely to possess the 
greatest coolness under the most disturbing conditions. He should, 
after special instruction, be conversant with the mechanism of his gun 
and its mounting, and be able quickly to replace a damaged part, if 
that can be done under the circumstances. He must be thoroughly 
practised in laying his own gun quickly at a moving object, altering 
