Chapter XX: Appendix: “A”

GUNNERS’ EXAMINATIONS.

PREPARATION.

In the preparation for the gunners’ examination men should pay particular attention to the following points.

Setting the Panoramic Sight.

Before starting to use the panoramic sight, the peep sight should be turned as far as possible to the right or left. This should be done to make it easier for the gunner to look through the panoramic sight and also to prevent him from looking through the peep sight.

Men should get in the habit of working from the top of the sight down, performing their duties _always in the same order_—this is very important. In other words in indirect laying he sets the deflection, applies the deflection difference, levels the cross level bubble and then lays for direction. In direct laying, he sets the deflection, sets the range, levels the cross level bubble, and lays the piece for direction and range. In setting the range on the sight shank the gunner should place his eye _on a level_ with the index so that the range can be set exactly. If a range of over 500 yards is given, the fast motion of the scroll gear should be used. As soon as he has laid his gun he will call “Ready” and step clear of the piece. After he has called “Ready” _under no circumstances will he attempt to finish any of his duties_. If he does he will lose that trial.

All scales should be set rapidly. In order to do this, men must not try to make any mathematical calculations. The setting of sights should be absolutely mechanical. The gunner should know exactly in what direction to turn the knobs, wheels and cranks in order to increase or decrease the settings and to move the bubbles in any particular direction. A list of reasons for disqualification are given in the Regulations for Gunners’ Examination.

It is most important in indirect laying that the gunner be assisted by TRAINED chiefs of sections and No. 2’s. Men should be picked for this during the earlier part of the course and trained for that work. A great deal depends on the ability of these men.

Setting the Peep Sight.

In using the peep sight in direct laying the panoramic sight head should be turned to either flank so that there will be no chance of the gunners looking through the panoramic sight. The gunner in looking through the peep sight should keep his eye about six inches from it.

Setting the Quadrant.

Candidates should get in the habit of performing the required duties in the following order: (1) Setting the site with his =right= hand. (2) Setting the range with his left hand as prescribed for No. 1 (Instruction Memorandum No. 11—5th hour, 1st week). (3) Centering the cross level bubble with his right hand. (4) Leveling the range bubble with his right hand. The candidate should be sure to look and see where the bubble is before he starts to turn the elevating crank handle. He should turn the handle quickly. After leveling the range bubble he calls “Set” and steps clear of the wheels.

Fuse Setting.

Candidates in setting the bracket fuze setter should stand immediately in rear of it and should crouch down. The corrector should be set first and the range next, both scales being set with the =right= hand. His assistant should stand immediately to the left and should pass the round to the candidate who is being examined, as No. 5 passes the round to No. 4 in percussion fire. The candidate after setting the scales rises up, grasps the projectile and inserts it in the fuze setter. He then sets the fuze and calls “Ready.” The assistant should hold the projectile so that the lug on the time ring is at 10 o’clock (vertical clock face). The candidate when he inserts the round in the fuze setter should place it so that the lug on the time ring falls just to the left of the rotating pin notch. This is done so that the two shall engage as soon as possible.

In setting the fuze with the hand fuze setter, the candidate takes the position prescribed for No. 3 in the service of the piece, his assistant takes the position of No. 5 when the hand fuze setter is used. The candidate must be sure to press down on the hand fuze setter while setting the fuze.

Candidates must be cautioned to remember all necessary data. They cannot ask the examining officer for any. It must be impressed on them also that under no circumstances can they start to set the scales before the instant prescribed by the Regulations for the Gunners’ Examinations.

Drill of the Gun Squad.

Candidates should be familiar with the following paragraphs of the D. and S. R. F. A.: Formation of the gun squads (135, 138); to form the gun squad (170-173); to tell off the gun squad (174); post of the gun squads (175-177); to post the gun squad (178-179); post of the cannoneers, carriages limbered (180-182); to mount the cannoneers (183-185); to dismount the cannoneers (186-187); to change posts (189-190); to move by hand the carriages limbered (191-192); to leave the park (204); action front (199); posts of the cannoneers, carriages unlimbered but not prepared for action (188); limber front and rear (202); action rear (200); limber rear (203); to move by hand the carriages unlimbered (937); prepare for action (938); march order (942); posts of the cannoneers, carriages unlimbered and prepared for action (941); duties in detail of the gunner (845-869); duties in detail No. 1 (807-891); duties in detail of No. 2 (892-901); duties in detail of No. 3 (902-911); duties in detail of No. 4 (913-918); duties in detail of No. 5 (919-924); methods of laying (985-988); and methods of fire (995-1008).

The questions will only cover the important points covered in the paragraphs above.

Materiel.

Candidates should be familiar with the following (Handbook of the 3-inch Materiel): Nomenclature of harness and of the parts and accessories of the wheeled materiel; use of oils; method of cleaning and lubricating parts and mechanisms; method of cleaning cylinder oil and of emptying and filling cylinders; use of tools; the kinds of projectiles, of fuses, and of powder actually issued for use, and their general purpose and effect, omitting questions as to construction, weight, manufacture, and technical description; the care and preservation of saddle and harness equipment in use. Description of: breech mechanism to dismount, to assemble, elevating screws, to dismount; to assemble; hub liner, to remove, to assemble; brakes, piece and caisson, to adjust; wheel, to remove, to replace.

REGULATIONS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF GUNNERS.

A record of marks will be kept during the examination, and at the conclusion thereof it will be submitted directly to the commander ordering the examination. The mark received by each man in each subject will appear opposite the man’s name and the appropriate totals will be carried out. The tabular list, upon approval by the commander ordering the examination, will be published in orders.

Men, to be classified as expert first class gunners, must attain an average of not less than 85% in each of the subjects which follow: to be classed as first class gunners, a general average of not less than 85% with an average in each subject of not less than 75%; to be classed as second class gunners, a general average of not less than 75%, with an average in each subject of not less than 65%.

Examinations will include the following:

Value of Subjects.
Subject. Gun Batteries.
Direct laying 24
Indirect laying 24
Laying for range 18
Fuse setting 18
Drill of the Gun Squad 8
Materiel 8

The following general rules will govern the Examining Officers:

1. The conditions of examination will be made, as nearly as possible, the same for all of the men.

2. Setting of scales will be considered correct if any part of the index is coincident with any part of the line of the graduation of the setting ordered.

3. Settings ordered will always be even divisions of the scale, and not fraction thereof. When a number greater than five is used, it will be a multiple of five, except in settings of the angle of site and corrector scales.

4. The man may select any of the assistants authorized.

5. The man is permitted to traverse the piece to the middle point of traverse before each trial at direct laying.

6. The sight, quadrant, or fuse setter, etc., will be in the position in which it would be in service before the command for trial with it is given; the scales will be set at readings different from those to be given for the trial.

7. The trials for direct laying will be with different deflections and ranges; for indirect laying with different deflections and deflection differences; for laying for range, with different angles of site and ranges. The trail will be shifted in three trials at direct laying.

8. Changes in setting of scales required of men will not exceed the following: Deflection scale of peep sight, 15 mils; of panoramic sight, 200 mils; deflection difference scale, 30 mils; corrector scale, 10 mils; angle of site scale, 10 mils; range scales, 800 yards. At direct laying the deflections announced will be between 6370 and 30. At direct laying the cross level of the tangent sight will be thrown out of level by the examiner for the trials requiring shifting of the trail.

In time trials, time will be taken from the word at which the candidate is instructed by this order to commence his trial to the candidate’s “Ready,” or to the last word of any announcement required. No credits will be allowed if the candidate performs any part of the trial after this interval or if the time taken exceeds the maximum given in the appropriate table of those shown hereinafter.

Should any trial be vitiated through the fault of an examiner, of an assistant, of the sight or other instrument used, that trial will be void and the candidate will be given immediately another trial of the same nature.

Direct Laying.

12 trials: Six with the peep sight and six with the panoramic sight.

The target will represent a shielded gun and caisson and will be placed, as nearly as practicable, at a distance of 1,000 yards from the gun used in the trials.

The candidate being seated on the gunner’s seat, an officer of the battery commands, for example:

1. Target, that gun.

2. Deflection, 10.

3. 2400.

At the indication of the target, the candidate causes an assistant at the trail to point the piece in its general direction; =at the last word of the last command= he sets off the deflection and the range ordered; corrects for difference of level of the wheels; operates the elevating and traversing apparatus so as to bring the line of sight upon the target; calls “Ready,” and steps clear.

No credits will be given in the following cases:

(1) If the sight is incorrectly set for deflection or range.

(2) If, when the bubble of the cross level is accurately centered, the line of sight is found not to be on any portion of the target.

If the piece is found to be correctly laid within the limits prescribed, credits will be given as follows

Time in seconds, exactly,
or less than 16 18 20 21 22 23
————————————————————————————

Credits 2.0 1.9 1.7 1.5 1.4 1.3

Indirect Laying.

12 trials.

Two aiming points will be selected, one toward the front and one toward the rear. They should be of the type used in actual firing and, for the purpose of this examination, should be about 2 mils in width, well defined, of such height as readily to be brought within the field of view, and about 1500 yards distant. They should be clearly pointed out to the candidates.

All of the guns of the battery will be placed in the order in battery and a candidate will be assigned to each.

For all trials the board will assume a situation in the conduct of fire for adjustment by battery, commencing with the first salvo, that will require commands involving a shift of the trail for this first trial, and, for all trials, such deflection and deflection difference settings and changes of settings of scales, not exceeding the limits prescribed in paragraph 5 of this order, as may reasonably be expected in service.

When the aiming point is in rear the candidate will be allowed an assistant who, from a position in front of the axle, signals to a man at the end of the trail to move it, if necessary, so as to bring the aiming point within the field of view of the sight. When the aiming point is in front, an assistant at the end of the trail is allowed.

The candidates being seated on the gunners’ seats, an officer of the battery commands, for example:

1. Aiming point, the chimney on that white house.

2. Deflection, 440.

3. On No. 2 close 10.

At the last word of command for the deflection each man sets off the deflection; applies the correction for deflection difference appropriate for his piece; causes the trail to be shifted until the sight is directed upon the aiming point; corrects for difference of level of the wheels; raises or lowers the panoramic sight until the field of view will include the aiming point; traverses the piece until the vertical hair is on the aiming point; calls “Ready” and steps clear.

The trial being completed and the men again being seated, the officer commands for example, in continuance of the assumed situation:

1. Right, 120.

2. On No. 4, close 5.

At the last word of command for the deflection, each man operates the sight and, if necessary, the trail as before; traverses the piece until the vertical hair is on the aiming point; calls “Ready” and steps clear.

The third and fourth trial is similarly conducted.

No credits will be given in the following cases:

1. If the sight is incorrectly set for the deflection or deflection difference.

2. If, when the bubble of the cross level is accurately centered, the vertical cross hair is found not to be on the aiming point.

3. If, at any time during the trial, the man has operated the elevating device.

If the piece is found to be correctly laid within the limits prescribed, credits will be given as follows:

Time in seconds, exactly,
or less than 18 20 21 22 23 24
————————————————————————————

Credits 2.0 1.9 1.7 1.5 1.4 1.3

Laying for Range.

Six trials, using the range quadrant.

The man being seated on the seat on the right side of the trail, an officer of the battery commands, for example:

1. Site, 280.

2. 3400.

At the last word of the command, the man sets off the angle of site; sets the quadrant for range; corrects for difference of level of wheels; turns the elevating crank so as to center the range bubble; calls “Ready” and steps clear.

No credits will be given in the following cases:

1. If the quadrant is incorrectly set for angle of site or range.

2. If no part of the bubble of the cross level is between the middle two lines on the glass tube.

3. If there be found to be an error of more than 50 yards in laying for any range less than 1,500 yards or more than 25 yards for any equal range to or exceeding 1,500 yards.

If the piece is found to be correctly laid within the limits prescribed, credits will be given as follows:

Time in seconds, exactly,
or less than 14 16 18 19 20 21
———————————————————————————

Credits 3.0 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.2 2

Fuse Setting.

12 Trials: 6 with the bracket fuse setter, 6 with the hand fuse setter.

Drill cartridges with fuses in good order set at safety are placed as in service. An officer of the battery commands, for example:

1. Corrector, 24.

2. 2700.

At the last word of the command for the corrector, in trials with the bracket fuse setter, the man sets the fuse setter at the corrector, and, as the data are received, at the range ordered, receives the cartridge from an assistant, inserts its head in the instrument, sets the fuse and calls “Ready.”

At the =last word of the command for the corrector=, in trials with the hand fuse setter, the candidate sets the fuse setter at the corrector, and, as the data are received at the range, ordered; with the aid of an assistant, sets the fuse, and calls “Ready.”

No credits are given in the following cases:

1. If the fuse setter is incorrectly set for corrector or range.

2. If the candidate fails to obtain a correct fuse setting within one-fifth of a second.

If the fuse setter is found to be correctly set and is properly operated, credits are given as follows:

Time in seconds, exactly,
or less than 8 9 10 11 12 13
————————————————————————————

Credits 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0

Drill of the Gun Squad.

The subjects will embrace such parts of the following exercises (D. and S. R. F. A.) as will thoroughly test the candidate’s familiarity with the service of the piece: Formation of the gun squad (135, 138); to form the gun squad (170-173); to tell off the gun squad (174); post of the gun squads (175-177); to post the gun squad (178-179); posts of the cannoneers, carriages limbered (180-182); to mount the cannoneers (183-185); to dismount the cannoneers (186-187); to change posts (189-190); to move by hand the carriages limbered (191-192); to leave the park (204); action front (199); posts of the cannoneers, carriages unlimbered but not prepared for action (188); limber front and rear (202); action rear (200); limber rear (203); to move by hand the carriages unlimbered (937); prepare for action (938); march order (942); posts of the cannoneers, carriages unlimbered and prepared for action (941); duties in detail of the gunner (845-869); duties in detail of No. 1 (870-891); duties in detail of No. 2 (892-901); duties in detail of No. 3 (902-911); duties in detail of No. 4 (913-918); duties in detail of No. 5 (919-924); methods of laying (985-988); and methods of fire (995-1008).

The questions will only cover the important parts covered in the paragraphs above.

Materiel.

The examination of each candidate will be sufficiently extended to test his familiarity with the use and care of the materiel of his organization, and will be theoretical. The examination will be conducted by questions on the following subjects: Nomenclature of harness and of the parts and accessories of the wheeled materiel; use of oils; method of cleaning and lubricating parts and mechanisms; method of cleaning cylinder oil and of emptying and filling cylinders; use of tools; the kinds of projectiles, of fuses, and of powder actually issued for use, and their projectiles, of fuses, and of powder actually issued for use, and their general purpose and effect, omitting questions as to construction, weight, manufacture, and technical description; the care and preservation of saddle and harness equipment in use. Description of: breech mechanism, to mount, to assemble; elevating screws, to dismount, to assemble; hub liner, to remove, to assemble; brakes, piece and caisson, to adjust; wheel, to remove, to replace.

Chevrons will be issued to those candidates who qualify and will be worn as prescribed in orders.

=DON’TS FOR CANNONEERS.=

=Don’ts for All Cannoneers:=

—Sacrifice accuracy for speed.
—Guess at the data.
—Expose yourself.
—Let your attention be distracted.
—Make unnecessary moves.
—Talk.

=Don’ts for Chief of Section:=

—Forget that you are responsible for the work of your squad.

—Fail to assist the gunner in laying on the aiming point.

—Say “Muzzle Right (left),” merely move your hand in the direction you desire the trail shifted.

—Write down the data.

—Forget your proper pose, covering No. 3 opposite the float.

—Forget to extend your arm vertically, fingers joined, after the gunner has announced “Ready.”

—Fail to caution “With the Lanyard” for the first shot.

—Fail to look at both gunner and executive.

—Command “Fire;” merely drop your arm.

—Fail to designate who shall assist No. 2 when he is unable to shift the trail.

—Forget to announce “Volley Complete.”

—Forget to select the individual Aiming Points for the gunner.

—Forget to announce “No. (so & so) on Aiming Point,” in reciprocal laying.

—Ever say “Range 3000,” merely “3000.”

=Dont’s for Gunner:=

—Forget to place the sight bracket cover in the left axle seat.

—Forget to put the sight shank cover in the trail box.

—Forget to close the panoramic sight box, and fasten it with your left hand.

—Forget to clamp the panoramic sight in its seat.

—Forget to close the ports in the shield.

—Forget to put your weight against the shoulder guard while laying.

—Touch any adjustment after calling “Ready.”

—Forget to move your head from the panoramic sight after calling “Ready.”

—Lean against the wheel.

—Fail to take up lost motion in the proper direction.

—Fail to watch the executive after calling “Ready.”

—Signal with your hand for movements of the trail.

—Fail to identify Aiming Points or Targets.

—Fail to secure hood on sight bracket.

—Say “Whoa” to No. 2 while the trail is being shifted. Say “Trail Down.”

—Fail to lower the top shield at once at the command “March Order.”

—Forget to relay vertical hair on A. P. at completion of sweeping volley.

—Forget to set range 1000, deflection zero in “Fire at Will.”

—Forget to say “Ready” just loud enough for the chief of section to hear.

—Forget to chalk up the deflection on the main shield in reciprocal laying.

—Forget to set site and level bubble (British).

—Forget to release the brake in trail shifts (British).

—Forget to count “1001, 1002” to preserve proper firing interval.

=Dont’s for Number 1:=

—Touch the firing handle until you announce “Set.”

—Fire the piece with the right hand.

—Try to throw the drill cartridge over the float by jerking the breech open.

—Slam the breech.

—Fail to level bubbles.

—Fail to set and release brake in trail shifts.

—Fail to look squarely at the scales of the quadrant.

—Fail to take up lost motion properly.

—Forget to close the quadrant box.

—Fire the piece until the command is given.

—Lean against the wheel.

—Forget to keep up with the range in direct laying.

—Forget to lower the top shield immediately at “March Order.”

—Talk.

=Dont’s for Number 2:=

—Throw the breech cover on the ground.

—Fail to engage the handspike.

—Slam the apron.

—Put feet on the float.

—Wait for the command in shifts of 50 mils or more.

—Move the trail in a series of shifts.

—Fail to mark off 11 lines 50 mils apart at once on taking your post.

—Fail to secure the breech cover.

—Fail to secure the handspike in “March Order.”

—Run between carriages.

—Fail to throw empty cartridge cases out of the way of the cannoneers.

—Forget the tow and waste.

—Talk.

=Dont’s for Number 3:=

—Run between the carriages.

—Throw the muzzle cover on the ground.

—Throw the front sight cover on the ground.

—Slam the apron.

—Fail to see that fuze is set at safety at “March Order.”

—Fail to look directly down at the fuze setter while adjusting scales.

—Take right hand from the corrector worm knob and left from the range worm crank, during drill.

—Forget to set range zero in “Fire at Will.”

—Cross your legs.

—Forget to set each announced range regardless of the kind of fire being used.

—Talk.

=Dont’s for Number 4:=

—Throw the fuze setter cover on the ground.

—Slam the apron.

—Forget to set the fuze at “Safety” in “March Order.”

—Fail to glance into the bore to get the alignment.

—Touch a round after inserting it in the breech.

—Fail to completely set each fuze.

—Forget to take the round from No. 5 from beneath in percussion fire and from the top when the hand fuze setter is used.

—Forget to say, “3200, 2, last round,” only loud enough to reach the chief of section.

—Forget to secure the cover on the fuze setter.

—Attempt to move the caisson with the door open.

—Forget to set and release the caisson brake (Model 1902).

—Turn the round to the left after setting.

—Talk.

=Dont’s for Number 5:=

—Slam the apron.

—Attempt to move the caisson with the door open.

—Forget to put your left elbow on the outside of your left knee in using the hand fuze setter.

—Forget to set the brake on the 1916 caisson.

—Throw the waterproof caps under your feet.

—Talk.

TRAINING GUN CREWS.

This article is not intended to cover all of the work of the gun crew, it is intended merely to cover certain points sometimes lost sight of. References are to the 3” gun, but any crew efficient in serving that excellent weapon will have little trouble in mastering any other.

All refinements taught have but one prime object, that is accuracy of fire. It is of no value to make atmospheric and velocity corrections if still greater variations are constantly introduced by poor service of the piece. The foundation of battery efficiency is well-trained gun crews. Officers may be able to lay out orienting lines with the greatest facility, may know the range tables in the dark, but it will avail little if they cannot train men to apply properly and accurately the data determined.

The safety of our own infantry and the effectiveness of our fire are absolutely dependent on the continuous training of gun crews, and the resultant precision and sureness with which they perform their work. This can only be obtained by constant drill from the day the recruit joins until the day of his discharge; not by long drills in which he grows tired and loses interest, but by short periods broken by instruction in other subjects; not by many hours one week and none the next, but by a short period every day of the week. The best gunners grow rusty in a very few days; constant short drills will give results and are the secret of success. Every man must get instructions every day, be he raw recruit or expert gunner.

Cannoneers should be taught that the greatest crime that can be committed in laying the piece is to make an error—the only crime for which there is no punishment. An error or mistake in the correct service of the piece should not be punished, but it should be carefully explained how the efficiency of the battery depends on each member, and to insure that crime is not committed again, additional hours of instruction beyond that required for the rest of the crew will be necessary.

Every man must be on his toes from the time he comes in sight of his gun, every movement at the piece must be at a run. Slow and sleepy motions of one man will kill all the snap and energy of every other member of the crew. Do not, however, confuse speed of performing any given motion with hurry in execution of detail. For example, the gunner must move with snap and energy in getting his eye back to the sight and his hand on the traversing handwheel after the piece is fired, but he must never be hurried in getting the vertical wire exactly on the aiming point, or in making the ordered changes in the deflection setting. Stop watches should not be used. They are a fruitful cause of errors. Speed comes from continual practice and it cannot be artificially attained by stop-watch timing. Do not understand that speed is not desirable, it is highly desirable, but practice alone will give it and it will nearly always be found that the best-trained crew is the fastest crew. Competitions between crews must be for accuracy, not speed. If every motion is made with a snap and at a run the results as regards speed will be satisfactory.

The accuracy of fire is affected by brakes not being adjusted for equal tension, by direction of recoil not being in line with the trail, by No. 2 sitting on the handspike and shifting his weight after the gunner has called “Ready;” by No. 1 jerking the firing handle; by the gunner not keeping his shoulder against the guard; by elevating cranks not being properly assembled; by sights and quadrants not being properly adjusted or locked with means provided (this subject deserves several pages); by variations in the amount of oil in the cylinder; by improper adjustment of the gland; by the gunner coming on to the aiming point sometimes from the right, sometimes from the left; by the No. 1 centering the bubble sometimes from front to rear, sometimes from rear to front.

You may have stood behind a battery firing and noticed how one or two guns jump violently in recoil, while others would hardly disturb the proverbial glass of water on top of the wheel, although all guns of equal service. This was due almost entirely to the lack of proper adjustment of some of the parts mentioned above.

Every member of the crew must know his duties so well as to make his motion automatic; the direction to turn the various handwheels, milled heads, and gears to obtain the desired result, and he must always do these things in the same way. The effect of small differences in laying may be graphically shown the gun crew by firing sub-caliber ammunition at a small arms steel target which rings a bell when a bull’s-eye is made. Erratic shots means poor adjustments of equipment or poor training of the gun crew. Pleas that worn material or lost motion, or defective ammunition are the causes of erratic shooting are largely excuses for ignorance, laziness, and lack of proper instruction. Worn materiel requires more makeshifts, takes longer to lay and more careful watching, so that fire cannot be so rapid, but except for wear in the bore of the gun it is possible to do almost as accurate shooting with worn materiel, especially if the new materiel has not been thoroughly worked in.

Among the more important duties of the men may be mentioned in the following:

=Chief of Section.=—Must teach his men to have pride in the gun they serve, and the reputation of the section. He shows each member how the accuracy of firing is dependent on him, and that one man may ruin the best efforts of all the others. He must keep his materiel as clean as when it left the makers hand, every part functioning properly, every screw and nut tightened, no burred nuts or bolts, or missing split pins. He helps each member to take a pride in keeping the part for which he is responsible as clean as a new pin and in perfect condition. He sees that the various canvas covers and sponge and rammer never touch the ground where they will gather dirt. He knows the proper use of his tools, and the correct adjustment of the firing mechanism. He must be able to assemble and disassemble blindfolded the firing lock and breech mechanism. In firing he knows the settings of all scales without reference to a data book.

=The Gunner.=—Knows that turning the levelling screw clockwise moves cross bubble to the right; that turning scroll gear clockwise increases the range; that turning the peep sight screw clockwise increases deflection, and so on with all handwheels, etc., that he operates and must know these things so well that he operates them in the proper direction automatically. Must always bring vertical wire on aiming point from the left to take up any play in traversing mechanism. He verifies that he is on the aiming point after the breech is closed and if there is any delay, again immediately before firing. He gets his eye back to the sight and relays _immediately_ the gun returns to battery. He knows his scale readings at all times. He keeps his sight scrupulously clean, never permits his finger to touch the objective prism when turning the rotating head, nor wipes off eye piece with hand. He keeps his shoulder against the guard at all times.

=The Number 1.=—He knows his site and range scale readings without having to look at them. In centering the bubble he brings it always from front to rear to take up play in the elevating mechanism. He centers the bubble so accurately that it is not the thickness of a sheet of tissue paper nearer one graduation than the other, and what is most important he sees that it stays there until he fires the pieces, when he promptly recentres it. (The latitude allowed in centring the bubble by our gunners’ examination is responsible for 20 per cent. of our field probable error.) He must not fire the piece with a jerk but with a constant even pressure, else he may destroy all his accuracy of levelling. The same principle applies if he uses the lanyard. He keeps his quadrant free from any sign of dirt and assures himself that it is in perfect condition. If the gunner fails to keep his shoulder against the guard when the piece is fired he reminds him of it. In centring the bubble or setting the scales he gets his eye squarely opposite the scale or bubble.

=The Number 2.=—He knows the width of the spade, float, etc., in mils, and is able to make any shift under two hundred mils, within 5 mils. He shifts the trail so as to bring the direction of recoil in line with it (except for moving targets). In receiving empty cases he should not permit them to strike the trail or throw them against each other, as they must then be resized before they can be again used. If he sits on the handspike he must not shift his weight after the piece is laid.

=The Number 3.=—He knows that turning the corrector worm knob clockwise decreases the setting; turning the range worm crank clockwise increases the range. In making these settings he keeps his eye squarely over the scales. He knows his scale settings at all times. He is taught to keep his fuze setter and its cover clean, and is shown how a small pile of dirt or wax behind the stop pin or in the rotating pin notch can throw out his settings and ruin the reputation of his section. Gum from the fuze often collects in these places. The surest way is to keep a match stick handy and clean out these places whenever there is a lull in the firing.

=The Number 4.=—If necessary to reset the fuze he must turn the projectile until it brings up against the stop pin, then cease all turning movement and draw the projectile straight out of the fuze setter. If he continues the turning motion unconsciously he can easily alter the setting by a fifth of a second. In loading he is careful not to strike the fuze against the breech and so alter the fuze setting.

=The Number 5.=—He knows where the rotating pin notch is in the fuze setter, and where the corresponding pin is on the fuze. He places the fuze so that the pin is seated in the notch with little or no turning movement and turns rapidly but with no more force than required. He is careful to set all fuzes with the same force, that is, not turn one with a violent twist and the next barely up to the stop.