The Washington times., 1901-09-04
NAVAL TARGET PRACTICE.

The question of good shooting is now re-
garded of paramount Importance b,
every nation which possesses warships
Naval battles are decided by the aceurac,
and rapidity of firing more than by any
| thing else. The accounts of the battle OF
Santiago and of that of the Yaiu show tn,
terrible effect of modern ordnance wher
the deadly shell finds its mark. Fires ar,
started wherever shells strike the wood
work and men are driven from their bat
teries by the hail of projectiles from th'
guns of the secondary armament.
The leading navies of the world ar
paying great attention to the subject o
target firing, and various plans anC
schemes are evolved to better the result:
and also to make conditions conform tC
those of actual combat on the sea: actua
hits only count. and rapidity of fire figures
largely in the result.
In the French navy long-range target
practice has been the rule for some time
French officers long ago realized that bat
ties in the future viii not be fought mere
ly at 1000 yards-the favorite practic,
range-but at the very utmost limit.
Their idea, according to the technical
papers, seems to be that !: is doubtful
whether ships in the future will ever gel
inside 2.0o0 yards, save by accident, that
being the torpedo zone, and also the zone
at which armor is likely to fail; that at
5000 or S,G00 yards the heavily armored
ship will feel the advantage of her arm
or and the fast, lightly protected craft
get most benefit out of her speed: and
that it is at long range that the lucky
shot will be made. and the lucky shot is
not the product of chance so much as of
skill TO acquire that skill practice is
necessary
The navy of Great Britain has held an
elaborate series OF prize target firings.
and the results are said to show a steady
improvement over those of previous
years. Telescope sights have recently
been introduced in the British Navy and
have much improved the recent results.
The entire fleet is now being rapidly pro-
vided with these sights. Prize firing has
been held by the ships of the Channel
squadron. the Mediterranean squadron,
and by the China squadron
The French have inaugurated an elab-
crate system of training for their fleet
in target practice. instruction on board
vessels consists in firing with reduced
charges. in range-finding practice, and in
target practice. The object is to select
the two classes of gunners and their as
sistants, and, when selected, to give them
practice and to determine If they main
tain and improve their standard. Each
class of gun-that is. main and secondary
battery guns-has chief gunners and as
sistant gunners. who alcne are allowed to
fire their particular piece
instruction consists in gun pointing and
hrfng with light guns by means of a
simple device which permits firing cart
ridge from a dummy cartridge tube or
from gun barrel fitted to an empty
small balloons placed awash at distances
of fifty or sixty feet. Then follows regu-
lar monthly subcalibre practice at sea
Each quarter they hold two day and one
night frings at anchor at fixed targets,
and firings by day and by night at sea
at fixed or moving objects with the ship
cleared for action. For the fixed tar
gets two groups of balloon targets are
moored on each side of the vessel on lines
oblique TO the planes of fire. on one side
at a mean distance of ]. 100 yards for sub
calibre tubes of 20 inches and over, and
on the other side at a mean distance of
900 yards for dummy cartridge tubes or
subcalibre tubes of Las TO 1.S5 inches. Dis
tances are estimated by the gunners then
trial shots are made. The gunners are
required TO fire alternately at each tar
get. Each gunner is marked for accuracy
and rapidity of fire.
For the night practice at anchor at fixed
or moving targets vessels are anchored
by squadron or division in single column
using Hedges IL necessary. Two balloon
targets are anchored on each side slight
ly different in direction and distance. the
first two at about $40 yards for subcalibre
tubes of large and medium calibre guns
and the 2.25 inch tubes. and the two 9TH
ers at about 40 yards for the dummy
cartridge tubes and the Las and 1S5 inch
subcalibre tubes.
For the practice at sea, with ship
cleared q cti nd ,1iO
tices are held against fixed or moving
targets, at maximum distances of 1.6.9
yards for subcalibre pieces of 2.55 inches
or over. and at 655 yards for dummy cart
ridge firing tubes and subcalibre tubes of
1-45 and 1-S5 inches. For the practice by
day. with ship cleared for action and with
fixed targets, vessels act singly and to-
gether, steaming first singly between bal
loon targets anchored at intervals at
ranges of 1863 to 80 yards. and then
steaming together between lines of bal
loon targets at varying distances.
The practice by day or night at sea,
with the ship cleared for action, at NOV
ing targets, is executed as follows: YES
sells are formed in regular order. the fir
ing being executed against two Marengo
targets towed by torpedo boats or other
light craft craft at six knots, and 40
yards astern. At night searchlightS are
used to illuminate the targets and to
sight vessels which may cross the line of
fire. The train of guns is limited to 45
safety of the towing vessel.
once a year record practice is held. Its
main object is to select for each piece
for the ensuing year the gun captains
and their substitutes. these being chosen,
as far as practicable. from among men
having one more year to serve. This
practice is held at anchor, in fair weather.
at a distance of 2.4G0 yards at moored
floating target.
If for any reason this practice should
be held at sea, moderate weather must
be selected. and the firing vessel describes
around the target the circumference of
circle of a radius Of 2.400 yards. keeping
the target aheam TO avoid much training
Of the battery. In this case pyramid tar
gets are employed. Record practice with
light guns follows that with heavy guns.
at balloon targets placed at distances OF
from 1.6i0 to LOO yards for the different
Badges and money prizes are
distributed according to excellence and
to the size of the gun.
Three times a year practice is held
under the different aspects that may de-
velop in battle two of these with exercise
charges and projectiles flied with sand
and one with service charges and projec-
tiles.
other evolutions comprise combats be-
tween single vessels, combat by divisions.
and combat by squadron, attacks on coast
and bOmbardments: also guard
ing against attacks by torpedo boats.