468 
ARTILLERY IN COAST DEFENCE. 
proportion is already wrong, and the verifying series should be con¬ 
tinued at the increased range; if the first three are over, at a low 
target, the proportion is already wrong, and the series should be 
continued at the reduced range. Deflection, in addition to that 
required to counteract wind, must be given for the ranging shots, to 
carry the shot to the windward of the object and facilitate observation, 
unless the object has considerable breadth; this additional deflection 
should be taken off when the verifying series is arrived at. 
When time shrapnel is to be employed, the fuzes will have to be 
verified after the range is found; the mean height of burst of two 
fuzes, bored to the same length, being taken as the datum from which 
to correct the length. The rule for height of burst is that the 
apparent height in feet above the point aimed at must not exceed the 
number of hundreds of yards in the range ; this is for R.M.L. or 
R.B.L. guns; for B.L. guns the number of feet must not exceed two- 
thirds of the number of hundreds of yards. 
In all ranging it is most important that all the guns should invariably 
be laid on the same spot; in coast gunnery this spot is defined to be 
the water-line at the stem of the ship ; or when the ship is in such a 
course that the stem is not visible, on the water-line at the stern; if 
it is wished to shift the trajectory to any other part of the object, this 
must be done by corrections on the scales .and not by laying on a 
different part of the object. When time shrapnel is used at the decks 
of ships at anchor, the elevation must be corrected to shift the trajec¬ 
tory on to the deck, and the height of burst judged from the level of 
the deck. 
The following notes as to ranging at a standing object may be found 
useful. First, it is better to get the first shot short rather than over, 
as giving a more easily observed result; especially on service, where 
the object would be, probably, obscured at intervals by its own smoke; 
but as our endeavour should always be to hit the enemy if possible, 
the first shot must not be fired at a range which is known to be less 
than that of the object. 
Secondly, do not be afraid of a bold alteration in elevation for the 
second shot; 10 per cent, of the range would be the usual correction, 
but if the range is quite unknown and a long one, 20 per cent, would 
not be too much ; (C creeping 99 up to the target by small alterations is 
very slow, and wasteful of ammunition; and, further, it is much more 
likely to have a disturbing effect on the accuracy of the enemy's fire, 
if he finds shots falling on both sides of him. 
Thirdly, no notice should be taken of the result of a round which 
was unsteady in flight, or the result of which was not properly 
observed, or appeared doubtful ; always repeat a shot at the same 
elevation in such cases. 
Fourthly, if a hit is obtained before the verifying series is reached, 
at once commence such a series at the elevation which gave the hit. 
Fifthly, having obtained the correct trajectory with percussion shell, 
do not alter the elevation when firing time shrapnel; should anything 
seem to indicate that a change of elevation is required, return to per¬ 
cussion shell and verify afresh. An exception.to this rule is when, in 
