The Washington times., 1902-07-04
Work of Operating Ord
nance Made SIMPLER
for Workmsn.
AN IMPORTANT DECISION
Proposed Change, Artillery Board Sub
mits, Will Simplify and Render Less
Liable to Error Work of Computer-
Test of Gunners.

technical circular relating to
changing the graduation of the sub
scales of azimuth circles in guns and
mortars has been promulgated by the
War Department. This circular is of
the greatest Importance to the artil-
lery of the army and is as follows:
by direction of the Secretary of
War the following action of the Ar
| tillery Board, Fort Monroe, Va. on
the subject of changing the gradua-
tion of the subscales of azimuth cir
cles on guns and mortars from min
utes to hundredths of degree is pub
lished to the army for the informa-
ticn and guidance of all concerned
''Tnes records of the Artillery Board
show that II approved, February 26,
1901. Captain Whistler's recommenda-
tionG as to the graduation of azimuth
circles of guns and mortars, viz. that
the same should be in degrees and hun
dredths instead of degrees and min
utes
The Action of the Board.
THE action of the board was record
ed thus:
1.-The proposed change will as rule
facilitate somewhat the calculations of
the battery commander and his imme-
diate assistants in firing under any of
the three cases contemplated by the
drill regulations.
''2. AS stated by Captain Whistler it
will necessitate the following changes,
involving, however, but small expense:
"a. Changing the subscales on guns
and mortars.
''b- changing the minute dials on po-
stion finders, both on the instrument
proper and on the replotting device.
ALSO the following changes, involv-
ing no expense:
&C. Remembering the circles on diff
ference charts.
ID Changing the numbers in defiec-
tion columns of the battery commanders
tables to the new system.
''3. It is believed that in a great ma
jority of cases these changes will con-
tribute both to accuracy and rapidIty
and that in NO case will they have an
opposite effect.
The board therefore concurs in the
recommendations of Captain Whistler.
Objection to Changes.
at is believed that the objection to
the changes recommended has been prin-
cipally due to two causes: One that the
Artillery Corps did not know the extent
and limit of the proposed changes, and
the other that the order TO turn in SUBJ
scales and minute dials TO the Ordnance
Department came shortly before the be-
ginning OF its practice season.
ITO the above list OF necessary changes
should be added the following:
"e Remembering the subdivisions of
the circles or scales on plotting boards
or the construction of the same anew.
The board. In addition to the state
ments given In its former action quoted
above. submits the following reasons
why in its opinion. the change should be
made:
The proposed change, If approved,
will simplify and render less liable TO
b. C. station as follows: In passing
from the predicted to the corrected All
muth of target 1t is necessary in gen.
eral to apply two corrections. one for
wind and one for drift. The first may
be positive or negative, She latter is al
ways negative.
THE combination OF these compound
numbers degrees and minutes) will al
ways be, even In the hands of the best |
enlisted men, much slower operation |
of error than the combination of these
same angles expressed decimally.
Test of Gunners.
This opinion has been confirmed in a |
yery complete manner by test of thir-
cen class gunners. taken at ran
lon. where with all the time desired |
It their disposal all but three made
,rrors when working in degrees and
minutes and only five made errors while
working with the same angles expressed
lecimally. Only two problems under
,ach head were given to each gunner,
me In addition and one in subtrac-
ion.
THE azimuth calculations having thus
,een made in the most speedy and ac
urate manner possible the gun or NOR
ar will be directed in the azimuth with
IL the ease of the present method
Difference charts will only require
Iteration by changing the minutes on
he circles to decimals of degree.
plotting boards will require SINH
ar change or reconstruction of the
ircles and scales.
1.-The battery commanders table will
euuire the two DETECTION columns. wind
nd drift, to be converted into deci-
lals of degree, a work OF perhaps
wo hours. {
with regard to the azimuths of {
atum points or of lines which are of
ecord it will be necessary to alter the ,
ecords in only a single particular,
amely, change the minutes and seconds {
, decimals OF n degree. :
with regard to future extensions of
he triangulation II may be done as
eretofore, with the same instruments,
nd upon its completion the azimuths
I such lines as are to be of record
onverted to the decimal system as be- ,
,re. The proposed change does not in :
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