QUICK-FIRING GUNS IN HARBOUR DEFENCE. 
301 
bis tangent-scale elevation at once when a change in it is passed to 
him by his dial number. 
If it is important for any gunners to fire as many practice rounds as Absolute 
possible from their guns, it is doubly sQ for the No. 1 and detachment jgSSS 
of a quick-firing gun (as also for their “ Group Commander”), whose of t f o “™ 0 u r lli ' 
efficiency depends on their being completely accustomed to the working Annual 
of their weapon in rapid fire at practice; the more rounds they are Practlce * 
allowed to fire, under such control that the shots are not wasted, the 
more likely they are to become efficient. The most important point, 
however, to be instilled into the No. 1 is that he must never fire his 
gun until he is satisfied that it is correctly laid—a gain in rapidity at 
the cost of accuracy would be worse than useless, for without accuracy 
the much greater rapidity of fire gained wfith these guns would only 
mean a much greater waste of ammunition. 
It would also be important that each No. 1 should be told off to a 
particular gun, and work only with it, so that he might acquire 
sufficient manual dexterity in the laying. 
If qualified as a layer he should be entitled to some extra pay as a Qualification 
specialist without regard to the number of these already in the com- ; 
pany ; but such qualification w 7 ould only be attained by passing a much 
severer test, both as regards time and accuracy, than that at present 
laid! down with ordinary guns. He would, however, be tested at his 
own gun. 
There should also be selected from the detachment an intelligent spare No. i. 
man to act as the No. Hs cc understudy,” trained in the laying; so 
that should anything* happen to the No. 1 this man could take his 
place. The No. 1 and his understudy should be the only numbers 
allowed to lay and fire the gun, and should have permanent charge 
of it. 
Strong active men would be selected as loading numbers, and they Loading 
must have enough practice to attain the greatest dexterity and smart- Numbers - 
ness. The changing of the loading reliefs must also be practised 
frequently, that no time may be lost in so doing. 
It will have been observed in the foregoing remarks that no attempt conclusion, 
is made to describe “ manufacturing ” details, if it may be so expressed, 
of any scheme ; all such would suggest themselves, and would, of 
course, be worked out on the spot. Only the probable dispositions 
and general methods of working have been attempted. The subject 
is comparatively a new one, on which opinions have not yet been 
expressed in writing; some of this paper may be contrary to the 
ideas of those who have given thought to the matter, but, as an 
attempt to bring the subject forward, it may at least be useful in lead¬ 
ing to a further elucidation, by others, of this important and complicated 
question. It is hoped that these suggestions do not look too far ahead, 
and may be of some use to the Service. 
Woolwich, 
January, 1892. 
