553 
RANGE OFFICER. 
BY 
TOpAE ASHTON ONE Bt br Gs las EY DEIN Yeh Gas. 
Unpzr above heading, “ Garrison Artillery Drill, 1895,” Vol. L., says 
on page 497 :—“ With stationary targets, where it is difficult to know 
with any degree of accuracy the distance of the range-boat, small buoys 
placed at known distances on either side of the target would greatly 
assist the range officer in making reliable estimates of the distance 
— or +.” 
Small buoys, however, are not always available, and where there is 
much tide, they will swing considerably at the turn and are, therefore, 
sometimes misleading. 
A plan I always use, and which answers very well when the range- 
boat and target are both stationary, is one that is, perhaps, known to 
the majority of officers but, as I have never seen it written down, I will 
describe it. 
(1). Find out the height of your target; this could probably be 
done on the range-boat. 
(2). Anchor the range-boat as nearly as possible in line with the 
target and at right angles to the line of fire. 
OZ, Ir age ie ae Oa ee Sepa BATTERY 
RANGE BOAT 
(3). Take a strip of cardboard, about 18 inches long, and hold it 
at arm’s length so that the end of a long edge appears to 
be in line with the top of the target: note where the 
water line of the target appears to cut the edge of the 
cardboard, then this distance will represent the height of 
the target. 
4). Set off this distance along the edge of the cardboard and the 
range officer is provided with a scale. 
11 Yoh xxrtr. 
