482 
ARTILLERY IN COAST DEFENCE. 
ing will cause an error in range at 2000 yards of 
29 yards with 64-pr. R.M.L. (converted) gun. 
42 ,, „ 10-inch R.M.L. 
100 „ ,, 10-inch B.L. 
These considerations make it evident that, the better the weapon, 
the greater is the necessity for a high standard of training, intelligence, 
and care, on the part of those who have to use it. 
Bad shooting is sometimes caused by the racers being out of level; 
this when quadrant elevation is given by index plate, multipliers, or in 
fact by any means except some form of clinometer, will cause errors 
in range as well as direction. These errors should be ascertained and 
allowance made at the gun for them under the direction of the Group 
Officer. If the errors are not great an average can be struck and 
applied as a permanent correction; but if they are large and vary 
much, it would be better to always lay by clinometer or by tangent 
sights; of course, guns in a group must not be laid, some with tangent 
and some with quadrant elevation, owing to the different corrections 
required to be made in each case by the Fire Commander. 
A couple of illustrations from actual practice may serve to emphasize 
the above remarks on the necessity of thorough fire discipline. In 
the first case a standing target was being fired at, a depression range¬ 
finder being used to find the range; the first shot as observed by 
depression range-finder fell 100 yards short, a correction of this 
amount was made by the Fire Commander; the second shot fell 
about 100 yards over ; 50 yards was taken off by the Fire Commander, 
and the third shot fell 50 yards over; for the fourth shot the original 
range was reverted to and a hit obtained. On returning stores a 
wedge-wad too many was found ; this was evidently omitted the first 
round, causing the shot to start forward in running’ up, and thus giving 
too short a range. Now in this case not only was that round wasted 
in which the fault of fire discipline occurred, but the next two as well. 
In the second case a moving target was the object, good practice was 
being made, at it, when a temporary cessation of fire was ordered the 
guns being loaded and run up at the time; on resuming practice in a 
few minutes time, the next salvo was very short, correction was made 
and the next was equally over; taking off this correction again 
resulted in as good practice as before it was put on. The cause of 
this was traced to the use of too much water in the sponge tanks ; for 
all the rounds, except that in which the pause occurred, probably an 
equal time elapsed, or nearly so, between the loading and firing; so 
that an equal powder error in each case was caused; in the round 
where the delay took place the water in the bore had more time to act 
on the powder and thus caused an increased error; and resulted in the 
throwing away of two salvos. 
To sum up the responsibilities of various officers in action as regards 
the points mentioned j the Section Commander, at the commencement 
of an action will indicate to the Fire Commanders the objectives he 
wishes them to attack; pointing out the probable nature of the 
enemy’s tactics and the general idea of the defence; informing them 
