1. Gunnery is the science and art of operating and firing guns.
2. A gun is a machine which throws projectiles with great force in a certain direction under the expanding force of powder gas.
3. The army is composed of the following divisions: The line and the staff. The line is composed of Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineers, etc. The staff of Quartermaster Dept., Commissary Dept., Ordnance Dept., Signal Corps, Pay Dept., etc.
4. The artillery in our army is organized as a corps of Coast Artillery composed of 169 companies and 6 regiments in the Field Artillery.
5. A battery of coast artillery consists of two or more guns or two or more pits of mortars.
6. A fire command is composed of two batteries or more whose fire sweeps the same area or adjoining areas; this fire is controlled by one man, called the fire commander.
7. A battle command is two or more fire or mine commands sweeping the same or adjacent areas; this commanded by one man—the battle commander.
8. A mine command is a portion of submarine defenses and rapid-fire guns, all commanded by one man—the mine commander.
9. The number of men required for a fire, battle, or mine command depends on the number and caliber of the guns or mortars or the size of the mine command.
10. The number of men in a coast artillery company is 109; in a troop of cavalry 65, in a company of infantry 60.
EXTRACTS FROM G. O., 9, W. D. 1908.
IV. Seacoast Artillery Table of Annual Allowances of Ammunition for Target Practice and Instruction per
Battery in Commission.
| Entries of the first column: | |||||||
| A = 15 pdr. R. F. (all models) | |||||||
| B = 4-inch and 4·72-inch R. F. | |||||||
| C = 5-inch R. F., models of 1897 and 1900 | |||||||
| D = 6-inch Ordnance Department R. F., models of 1897, 1900, 1903, and 1905 | |||||||
| E = 8-inch rifle | |||||||
| F = 10-inch rifle, models of 1888, 1895, and 1900 | |||||||
| G = 12-inch rifle, models of 1888, 1895, and 1900 | |||||||
| H = 12-inch mortar, models of 1886 and 1890: | |||||||
| H1 = At batteries to which only one company is assigned | |||||||
| H2 = At batteries to which two companies are assigned | |||||||
| Full Service Charges. | Additional | ||||||
| Primers for Drill. | |||||||
| Guns, Caliber | Trial Shots. | Record Shots. | Sub- | Service | Drill | ||
| and Model. | caliber. | Primers. | Primers. | ||||
| 1st | 2d | 1st | 2d | ||||
| Pract. | Pract. | Pract. | Pract. | ||||
| A | 3 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 3000 | 160 | 800 |
| B | 3 | — | 10 | — | 900 | 225 | 225 |
| C | 3 | — | 10 | — | 900 | 60 | 400 |
| D | 3 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 900 | 60 | 400 |
| E | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 600 | 60 | 400 |
| F | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 600 | 60 | 400 |
| G | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 600 | 60 | 400 |
| H | |||||||
| H1 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 150 | 100 | 400 |
| H2 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 300 | 200 | 800 |
Note.—All projectiles will be service weight and form, cast iron only, or such projectiles as are specially designated for target practice. Companies which cannot have subcaliber practice at home station have only one-half the annual subcaliber allowance.
12-inch Mortars.—The number of zones, muzzle velocities corresponding thereto, zone limits, width of zones and overlaps for the 12-inch mortar, cast-iron, steel-hooped, and the 12-inch mortar, steel, have been rearranged and are now as shown by the following table:
| Column headings: | ||||||||||
| A = Number of Zone. | ||||||||||
| B = Muzzle Velocity. | ||||||||||
| C = Weight of Projectile. | ||||||||||
| D = Zone Limits. | ||||||||||
| E = Width of Zone. | ||||||||||
| F = Overlaps. | ||||||||||
| 12-inch Mortar, Cast-iron, Steel-hooped. | 12-inch Mortar, Steel. | |||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | B | C | D | E | F |
| F. S. | Lbs. | Yds. | Yds. | Yds. | F. S. | Lbs. | Yds. | Yds. | Yds. | |
| 1 | 560 | 1046 | 2225-3000 | 775 | 400 | 550 | 1046 | 2210-2970 | 760 | 370 |
| 2 | 610 | 1046 | 2600-3480 | 880 | 480 | 600 | 1046 | 2600-3431 | 831 | 361 |
| 3 | 670 | 1046 | 3080-4110 | 1030 | 400 | 660 | 1046 | 3070-4030 | 960 | 399 |
| 4 | 743 | 1046 | 3710-5000 | 1290 | 400 | 725 | 1046 | 3631-4800 | 1169 | 371 |
| 5 | 837 | 1046 | 4600-6240 | 1640 | 400 | 810 | 1046 | 4429-5940 | 1511 | 420 |
| 6 | 910 | 1046 | 5840-7319 | 1479 | 594 | 915 | 1046 | 5520-7476 | 1956 | 449 |
| 7 | 1050 | 824 | —— | —— | —— | 1050 | 1046 | 7027-9250 | 2223 | 492 |
| 8 | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | 1300 | 824 | |||
Note.—Each smokeless powder cartridge to have 10-ounce igniter (black rifle powder) at each end in addition to above charges.
All smokeless-powder charges for mortars will be issued made up, ready for use, as the charges vary with each lot of powder. They will be distinctly marked to indicate the zone number.
(a) SERVICE OF THE PIECE.
Q. Give the general duties of a gun commander.
A. The gun commander repeats the commands "Commence firing" and "Cease firing," announces the kind of projectile to be used, the order to fire, the method of pointing, and in restricted fire the number of shots and the firing interval, all in accordance with the orders of a battery commander. The gun commander is responsible to the battery commander for the condition of the material and the efficiency of the personnel of his command.
Q. Give the general duties of a chief of detachment.
A. Each chief commands his own subdivision whenever it acts separately; is responsible for its drill efficiency and for the condition of the material to which it is assigned. He will especially see that the gas-check seat is clean and kept free from injury; that the projectile is rammed fully home; that the chamber is sponged properly after each firing; that the vent is properly served; that the cylinders are properly filled and the throttling-valve properly set before firing; that the mushroom head and gas-check are properly adjusted; that the kind of projectile designated by the battery commander is used, and that the breech detail observe great care and caution in sponging out and wiping breech mechanism and recess free from powder residue, dirt, etc., after each round fired.
Q. Describe how to signal elevate or depress.
A. Elevate: Raise either hand to the height of the head, fingers pointing upward. Depress: Raise either hand to the height of the head, fingers pointing downward.
Q. Describe how you would signal traverse right or traverse left.
A. Motion with either hand, fingers pointing in the required direction.
Q. Give the signals for the following: Clamp or Halt; Ready.
A. Clamp or Halt: Raise either arm to a horizontal position, fingers closed. Ready: Raise either arm vertically to its full extent, fingers extended.
Q. How would you signal stand fast with the whistle at a rapid-fire gun?
A. One blast signifies stand fast, the pause being of sufficient duration to enable orders to be correctly given and received; to resume operations the command "Go on!" will be given. Other signals may also be used.
12-INCH B. L. R. DISAPPEARING CARRIAGE. (CHAIN HOIST ON LEFT SIDE.)
Q. What composes a gun section?
A. A gun commander, a gun detachment, an ammunition detachment, and a reserve.
Q. How many men in a gun detachment?
A. One chief, one gunner, one range-keeper, and eighteen privates.
Q. Name the details into which a detachment is divided, and give posts of each.
A.
Q. Name the equipments or implements which each member procures and places in proper position at the command "Posts!" on first arriving at the gun.
A. Gunner: Sight and difference-chart.
Range-keeper: Stop-watch and prediction-scale.
No. 1: Translating roller or crank, can with sponge and oil, and a silk wiper.
No. 2: Loading-tray and a silk wiper.
No. 3: Primer-pouch, bag for empty primers, scabbard containing punch, gimlet, and reamer, and a lanyard.
No. 4, assisted by No. 13: Rammer.
No. 9: Wrench, funnel, and measure with oil.
No. 10: Chamber-sponge and wrench.
No. 11: Dummy-cartridge extractor.
No. 12: Shot-trucks.
No. 13: Same as No. 4 (Rammer). No. 13 assists No. 4.
Q. State in brief what each member of the gun detachment inspects and tests at the command "Examine gun!"
A. Chief inspects gun and carriage throughout.
Gunner inspects and tests sight, sight-standard, azimuth subscale, traversing-gear, and firing-key.
Range-keeper inspects elevating gear.
No. 1 removes breech-cover and inspects breech mechanism, and assists in sponging bore when necessary.
No. 2 examines bore, chamber, gas-check seat, and breech-recess, cleans them when necessary, and oils breech-recess.
No. 3 cleans vent and primer-seat, hangs lanyard on elevating-arm.
No. 4 brings sponges and assists Nos. 1 and 2 when necessary and replaces sponges.
Nos. 5 and 6 test elevating-gear with range-keeper.
Nos. 7 and 8 test traversing-gear with gunner.
Nos. 9 and 10 examine recoil-cylinders to see that they are properly filled. No. 9 does the filling with oil when necessary. Wrenches, funnel, and measure are passed back and replaced, filling-plugs replaced, and Nos. 9 and 10 take posts two paces on right and left, respectively, of No. 4.
No. 11 receives and disposes of muzzle-cover, passes up and replaces funnel and oil-measure when necessary, then takes post near No. 12 at the trucks.
No. 12 removes muzzle-cover, examines trucks.
No. 13 inspects and tests telautograph. If a telephone is used, he puts on head receiver and wears it until dismissed.
Q. Explain briefly how to open a breech mechanism, Model 1888.
A. Figure 1 shows breech in normal position—closed. No. 2 turns rotating crank-catch 90° to left and turns rotating-crank in the direction of the arrow till it stops (Fig. 2).
No. 1 turns translating-roller to left till, at the end, the shock releases the block (Fig. 3), then swings block free to right of gun till it engages securing-latch (Fig. 4). Mechanism 1895 is opened by No. 3 turning crank continuously till motion stops, being careful that crank does not catch safety-lanyard.
Q. Give duties of each member of the detachment at the command "Load!"
A. Chief commands: (1) "With shot!" (shell or dummy projectile); (2) "Load!"
Gunner gives direction to piece according to the system used, and either fires electrically or signals to No. 3 to fire. (Except in Case 3.)
Fig. 1.
Range-keeper calls off range, using predicting-scale, and corrects same for gun difference; signals or calls out "Elevation-set!"
No. 1 assists in opening and closing breech. Examines for dirt, etc., the breech-block and gas-check. Oils same. When necessary, assists in ramming. Places third section of cartridge on shot-tray.
Fig. 2.
No. 2 assists in opening and closing breech, examines for dirt, etc., and oils gas-check seat and threads of breech-recess. He commands: (1) "Home!"; (2) "Ram!" Observes scale on rammer, places second section of cartridge on front part of shot-tray, pushes fourth section into chamber, such that its base will almost clear the gas-check seat. If necessary, inserts loading-tray and sponges, assisted by No. 10.
Fig. 3.
No. 3 inserts a primer. At command "Trip!" steps to rear and slightly to right of piece. Fires at gunner's signal. Coils lanyard. Removes old primer and places it in a bag.
No. 4 brings up rammer and places it against base of projectile, assisted by Nos. 9 and 13. Assists in ramming projectile and sections of cartridge. Replaces rammer on its support.
Nos. 5 and 6 set the elevation-scale for given range.
Nos. 7 and 8 traverse, at the command of the gunner.
Nos. 9 and 10 assist in ramming. Trip the piece. After firing No. 10 brings up chamber-sponge.
Fig. 4.
Nos. 11 and 12 bring loaded truck and place it in position, adjusting height of shot-tray to that of the breech. No. 11 steps to right, and No. 12 to left, of truck. If there be a brake, No. 12 sets it; if not, No. 11 chocks the front wheels. No. 12 places first section of cartridge on tray, No. 11 the fourth. Both remove truck to delivery-table and take posts at a loaded truck.
Nos. 13 and 14 assist in ramming projectile and sections of cartridge. Assist 9 and 10 at pinch-bars when piece will not trip.
No. 13 assists No. 4 in bringing up and replacing rammer.
No. 15 calls out and posts ranges and deflections or azimuths received.
No. 16 notifies chief of ammunition detachment kind of projectile required, also when to start and stop the hoist.
Nos. 16, 17, and 18 load the trucks.
Q. Give the positions of the ramming detail.
A. Nos. 1, 4, 9, and 13 on right. Nos. 2, 10, and 14 on left. All face rammer and grasp it with both hands.
Q. Explain the method of ramming.
A. Nos. 13 and 14 take hold near the end of the rammer, rammer-head being on base of projectile. At the command "Ram!", all rush forward, carrying projectile to its seat with force. Nos. 1 and 2 quit the rammer when near the truck. First three sections of cartridge are rammed without command.
Q. Explain how to unload a dummy charge.
A. The chief commands "Unload!" Breech is opened and truck brought up as for loading. No. 4 brings up extractor and pulls out sections. No. 1 puts two sections on right of truck, No. 2 puts others on left.
Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 withdraw projectile to truck. Truck is removed and extractor replaced.
Q. Explain how to retract a gun.
A. Chief commands (1) "From battery!", (2) "Heave!", (3) "Halt!"
At the first command Nos. 7 and 8 go to the retraction-cranks. No. 7 operates the retaining-pawl and speed-crank to permit the pulling out of the ropes. Nos. 9 and 10 mount on the gun-levers and place the ends of the ropes on the hooks, receiving them from Nos. 3 and 4, who mount on the chassis to assist. Nos. 1 and 2 pull out the ropes and pass the ends to Nos. 3 and 4. No. 7 takes in the slack. Nos. 7, 8, 9, and 10 take positions at the retraction-cranks, and at the second command turn the cranks.
Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 relieve Nos. 7, 8, 9, and 10 when directed by the chief of the detachment. Odd numbers work on the right side of the carriage, even numbers on the left side. When the gun has reached the loading position the command "Halt!" is given. As the command "Cast off!" is given No. 7 lets out enough slack to enable Nos. 1 and 2 to take the rope-ends off the hooks.
Q. Where electric motors are provided, who operates them?
A. The gunner the traversing-controllers, No. 5 the elevating and retracting controllers; No. 6 watches the circuit-breakers, and when broken by an overload he closes the breaker.
Q. When the shot-hoist is on the right, what changes in the service of the piece are made?
A. No. 4 in ramming takes position between Nos. 2 and 10 on the left side. Nos. 10 and 14 assist No. 4 in bringing up and replacing the rammer, instead of Nos. 9 and 13. No. 9 brings up and replaces sponge and assists in sponging, instead of No. 10.
Q. How many men in the ammunition detail?
A. One chief and twelve privates.
Q. Name the details into which it is divided, and the numbers composing each.
A. Hoist detail, Nos. 1 and 2.
Projectile detail, Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Cartridge detail, Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Q. Give the duties of each in brief.
A. No. 1 operates the controller and starts the hoist supplying the delivery-table with ammunition.
No. 2 repeats name of projectile announced, rolls same with cartridge to hoist-carrier.
Nos. 3 and 4 operate a trolley and differential pulley.
Nos. 5 and 6 operate another trolley and pulley.
Nos. 7 and 8 uncase cartridges.
Nos. 9, 10, 11, and 12 place sections on receiving-table in proper order. If electrical power fails, Nos. 1 and 2 operate hoist by hand-cranks.
Note.—Since the drills for the 10-inch and 8-inch disappearing guns differ from the drill for the 12-inch in so few minor details, no separate questions and answers in these cases are given. In the 10-inch piece the following differences were noted: Nos. 13 and 14 are omitted in the rammer detail; No. 4 in procuring implements attends to the rammer alone; in loading, No. 2 pushes the second section of cartridge into the chamber instead of the fourth; in ramming, the positions from front to rear are Nos. 1 and 9 on right, Nos. 2, 4, and 10 on left, facing rammer, etc. When hoist is on right side No. 10 assists No. 4 (No. 13 being left out).
In the 8-inch piece the rammer detail consists of No. 4 (13 and 14 omitted), the truck detail of No. 11 (12 omitted), and the hoist detail of Nos. 16 and 17 (No. 18 omitted). The duties of the numbers omitted in these details are performed by the remaining numbers in that detail, otherwise the drill is precisely the same as for the 12-inch piece. In extracting a dummy Nos. 2 and 3 do not assist in withdrawing; Nos. 1 and 4 do this.
12-INCH B. L. R. MOUNTED ON NON-DISAPPEARING CARRIAGE WITH CHAIN HOIST.
Q. How many men in a detachment?
A. One chief, one gunner, one range-keeper, and nineteen privates.
Q. Name the details into which a gun detachment is divided, and give posts of each.
A.
The posts of the gun detachment as given above are for inspection, and preparatory to the service of the gun.
The chief of detachment and gunner go wherever their presence is necessary.
Q. Name the equipments or implements which each member procures and places in proper position at the command "Posts!"
A. Gunner: Sight and difference-chart.
Range-keeper: Stop-watch and prediction-scale.
No. 1: Translating-roller (or crank), can of oil with sponge, lanyard, and silk wiper.
No. 2: Loading-tray, primer-pouch, etc.
No. 5: Wrench, funnel, and measure of oil.
No. 6: Wrench.
No. 9: Rammer and prop.
No. 10: Chamber-sponge.
No. 11: Dummy-extractor.
Nos. 15 and 16: The trucks.
Q. State in brief what each member inspects and tests at the command "Examine gun!"
A. Chief: Gun and carriage generally.
Gunner: Sights and sight-standard, azimuth subscale, traversing-gear, and firing-key.
Range-keeper: Elevating-gear.
No. 1: Removes breech-cover and inspects breech mechanism.
No. 2: Bore, chamber, gas-check seat, breech-recess, vent, primer-seat.
Nos. 3 and 4 assist in sponging bore if on No. 2's inspection it is found to need it.
Nos. 5 and 6: Recoil-cylinders.
No. 9 passes up funnel, measure, etc., to No. 5.
Nos. 7 and 8: Traversing-gear with gunner.
No. 10 passes up and replaces sponge when necessary.
Nos. 11 and 12: Shot-hoist tackle; remove muzzle-cover.
Nos. 13 and 14: Shot-hoist gearing.
Nos. 15 and 16: Trucks.
No. 17: Telautograph or telephone.
Q. Give duties of each member of the detachment at the command "Load!"
A. Chief gives commands for loading.
Gunner and range-keeper same as for 12-inch disappearing.
No. 1 assists in opening and closing breech. Examines for residue, dirt, etc., the breech-block and gas-check, and oils same if necessary. Inserts first and third sections of cartridge. Adjusts lanyard. Fires at command of gunner.
No. 2 assists in opening and closing breech. Examines gas-check seat and breech-recess; oils and cleans the same if necessary. Inserts loading-tray. Swings projectile into position and gives commands for ramming. Observes scale on rammer. Inserts second and fourth sections of cartridge, seeing that the last section is properly seated. Removes loading-tray. Breech being closed, inserts a primer. After firing removes primer and places it in bag. Assisted by No. 4, sponges chamber.
No. 3 receives rammer and places it on base of projectile. Assists in ramming projectile and first three sections of cartridge. Passes rammer back to No. 9.
No. 4 assists in ramming. Receives chamber-sponge and assists in sponging. Passes sponge back to No. 10.
Nos. 5 and 6 elevate and depress the piece.
Nos. 7 and 8 traverse the piece at the gunner's command, and assist in depressing the piece if necessary.
No. 8 closes safety-switch at command "Ready!"
No. 9 passes up rammer to No. 3, and assists in ramming. Replaces rammer.
No. 10 passes up and replaces chamber-sponge. Mounts carriage-platform and assists in ramming.
No. 11 hooks tackle to shot-tray and commands "Hoist!", mounting the steps and steadying the projectile in time to command "Halt!" When the projectile is at height of breech commands "Lower!", and guides tray to truck-platform and unhooks it.
Nos. 12 and 13 hoist the projectile. Pass sections of cartridge to Nos. 1 and 2.
No. 14 assists in hoisting, and, while Nos. 12 and 13 pass up sections, lowers shot-tray.
Nos. 15 and 16 bring up and return trucks.
No. 17 calls out data received and posts it.
No. 18 notifies chief of ammunition detachment when to start and stop hoist. Repeats to him kind of projectile designated.
Nos. 18 and 19 load the trucks.
Q. Give positions of rammer detail.
A. Nos. 1, 3, and 9 on right; Nos. 2, 4, and 10 on left, facing rammer.
Note.—No. 2 commands "Ram!", and by about three separate rushes the projectile is rammed home; No. 2 giving "Home!", "Ram!", when the brass scale on rammer is about two feet from face of breech. Nos. 3 and 4 withdraw rammer.
Q. Explain how to unload a dummy.
A. Chief commands "Unload!" (gun being depressed to 0° elevation).
No. 10 passes extractor to No. 4, who withdraws cartridge.
Shot-tray being in position at the breech as in loading, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 withdraw projectile to shot-tray. It is lowered and replaced by the shot-hoist detail. Where no chain ammunition-hoist is provided the drill will be modified to meet the conditions by the battery commander.
The ammunition detachment and duties of members operating electric motors are the same as in the 12-inch disappearing-gun drill.
Q. In what particulars does the drill for the 10-inch non-disappearing gun differ from the 12-inch non-disappearing?
A. First. Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 man the rammer.
Second. Sponge and rammer detail is composed of No. 9 only.
Third. Truck detail consists of No. 10 only.
Fourth. The cartridge detail consists of four men only.
DRILL FOR 8-INCH NON-DISAPPEARING.
Q. How many privates in a detachment?
A. Fifteen.
Q. Name the details into which a detachment is divided, and give posts of each.
A.
| Name of Detail. | Posts. |
| Chief of detachment (sergeant). | Two yards in rear of the carriage, |
| facing it. | |
| Gunner (duly qualified | Sighting-platform. |
| non-commissioned officer | |
| or private). | |
| Range-keeper (non-commissioned | On the left of the carriage, |
| officer or private). | opposite the elevation-scale. |
| Breech detail (two privates, | In line, immediately in rear of |
| Nos. 1 and 2). | the breech, facing it, No. 1 |
| on the right. | |
| Elevating detail (two privates, | At the elevating hand-wheels, |
| Nos. 3 and 4). | facing them, No. 3 on the |
| right of the carriage, No. 4 | |
| on the left. | |
| Traversing detail (two privates, | In front of the traversing cranks, |
| Nos. 5 and 6). | facing from the parapet, No. |
| 5 on the right of the carriage, | |
| No. 6 on the left. | |
| Shot-hoist detail (four privates, | Nos. 7 and 8 at the |
| Nos. 7, 8, 9, and 10). | windlass-cranks, |
| facing to the rear, No. | |
| 7 on the right of the carriage, | |
| No. 8 on the left, No. 9 | |
| opposite the shot-hoist tackle, | |
| facing the carriage, No. 10 | |
| at the foot of the steps to the | |
| carriage-platform, on the left | |
| of the carriage, facing it. | |
| Sponge and rammer detail (one | One yard in rear of the |
| private, No. 11). | carriage-platform, facing it. |
| Truck detail (one private, No. 12). | Near the hoist, in rear of a |
| loaded truck. | |
| Telautograph detail (one private, | At the telautograph. |
| No. 13). | |
| Hoist detail (two privates, Nos. | At the delivery-table, facing it. |
| 14 and 15). |
The posts of the gun detachment as given above are for inspection, and preparatory to the service of the gun.
The chief of detachment and gunner go wherever their presence is necessary.
Q. Name the equipments or implements which each member procures and places in proper position at the command "Posts!"
A. Gunner, range-keeper, Nos. 1, 2, 5, and 6 procure the same as for the 12-inch piece.
No. 9: Chamber-sponge.
No. 10: Extractor for dummy.
No. 11: Rammer and prop.
No. 12: Trucks.
Q. State in brief what each member inspects and tests at the command "Examine gun!"
A. Chief, gunner, range-keeper, Nos. 1 and 2 the same as for the 12-inch piece, Nos. 3 and 4 the elevating-gear.
Nos. 5 and 6: Recoil-cylinders, traversing gear.
No. 7 passes up and replaces funnel and measure.
No. 8: Hoisting-gear, and removes muzzle-cover.
No. 9 and 10: Tackle of shot-hoist.
No. 11 passes up and replaces sponges.
No. 12: Trucks.
No. 13: Telautograph or telephone.
Q. Give the duties of each at the command "Load!"
A. Chief, gunner, and range-keeper are the same as for the 12-inch piece.
No. 1 assists in opening and closing breech. Examines gas-check and breech-block. Assists in launching projectile on the loading-tray. Assists in ramming projectile. Passes back to No. 11 the rammer. Hooks lanyard to firing-leaf. Fires at signal of gunner.
No. 2 assists in opening and closing breech. Examines gas-check seat and breech-recess. Inserts loading-tray. Commands "Home!", "Ram!", and assists in ramming. Observes scale on rammer. Inserts sections of cartridge and pushes them home by hand. Removes loading-tray. Inserts a primer and lowers slide. Removes old primer and places it in a bag. Sponges chamber.
Nos. 3 and 4 elevate the piece.
Nos. 5 and 6 traverse the piece.
Nos. 7 and 8 hoist the projectile at the command "Hoist!" No. 8 lowers the shot-tray.
No. 9 hooks the tackle to the shot-tray and commands "Hoist!" Steadies the projectile. Places section of cartridge on rear of carriage-platform.
No. 10 mounts steps and commands "Halt!" when projectile is level with breech. Launches it on loading-tray, and swings shot-tray clear of carriage-platform and resumes post.
No. 11 passes rammer to No. 2.
As soon as projectile is rammed passes both sections of cartridge to No. 2 and returns rammer.
No. 12 brings up and returns trucks.
No. 13 calls out and posts data received.
No. 14 repeats to ammunition-sergeant kind of projectile to be used; also notifies when to start and stop the hoist.
Nos. 14 and 15 load the trucks.
Q. How is a dummy charge unloaded?
A. The gun is brought to 0° elevation. No. 11 passes up extractor. No. 2 withdraws sections of cartridge. No. 10 passes them to No. 11, who places them on truck. The shot-tray is held in position while No. 2 withdraws the projectile to the shot-tray, when it is lowered to the truck.
Note.—The ammunition detachment is the same as prescribed for the 12-inch disappearing gun.
12-INCH MORTAR, MODEL 1896.
Q. What comprises a gun detachment?
A. Chief of detachment, gunner, and ten privates.
Q. Name the details into which it is divided, and give the posts of each.
A.