July-August - Air Defense Artillery

and, using the GFT and range deflection
fan. determine the azimuth from aiming
point and eleyation from zero for the
next round. The differences between the
corrected data and the data used to fire
the first round are determined and sent to
the gun. The trackers set the correction
data on the scales but do not disengage
the handwheel unless the correction is
so large that it cannot be set off on the
scale. In this case the tracker would set
off the deflection and rezero the indicator.
The second and following rounds
are fired until a one mil elevation bracket
and a two mil azimuth bracket are
reached . .At this time the command to
the gun would be, "Left (or right) 1 mil;
add (or drop) ~; fire for effect." The
gun would be set on single fire and the
required number of rounds fired.
The fire direction center personnel
keep track of the deflection from aiming
point and ele\'ation from zero for each
round; when a target hit or proper
bracket is reached they have arriyed at a
correct or adjusted azimuth from the
aiming point and a corrected or adjusted
elevation from zero. If a base point registration
is fired, the corrected data are
recorded in the fire direction center.
\Vhen the obseryer sends in a new target
using the Base point as a reference the
deflection from the base point is computed,
added to or subtracted from the
recorded aiming point base point deflection
to gi\'e a firing deflection from aim-
Figure 1.
ing point which is set on the gun.
Example. The deflection from an aim-
ing point to a base point is determined
by registration to be Left 350 mils. A
target is obseryed which has a deflection
of right 150 mils from the gun Base
Point line. The target's aiming point
deflection is left 200 mils. See Figure 1.
The quadrant elevation (firing table elevation
plus or minus site), and the aiming
point deflection of left 200 mils are
set and the first round is fired.
In most cases the "T" angle will be
less than 100 mils. The observer sends
in his lateral de\'iation in yards; the mil
deflection correction can be computed at
the gun by using the 100 O\'er R scale on
the GFT, or by using the mil rule.
This system can also be used in direct
fire at stationary targets. The trackers
lay the gun originally using the conventional
sighting systems and then use
the azimuth and ele\'ation scales to apply
corrections after the first burst. Corrections
come from someone at the gun
observing the target with binoculars.
The system described is simple enough
for all members of a gun section to understand.
A thirty-minute instruction
period plus a few firing problems will
make them experts. A combination of
this procedure with forward observer
techniques and map reading will make
each 40mm gun section an effecti\'e surface
gunnery unit! ready for action under
most any battle conditions.
You face a fanatical foe to whom life is cheap and death commonplace.
In battle your enemy has no qualms about charging into withering
fire. They know that hesitation will only bring death from their own
officers' guns.
Your training is rugged to enable you to face the enemy-and live.
You are conditioned to hardships and fears and confusion of battle.
You are not going into combat without understanding. Every officer
in the Army is under orders to make clear to every man the reason why
he will fight, and the nature of the victory he strives to win.
You will have at your command the best medical care obtainable in
the world.
While our immediate aim is to prepare you for battle, ultimately we
intend to bring you safely home strengthened morally and physically.
You who enter military service compose the finest group of men and
women in the world. You have a belief in God, in decency, in fair play,
and in the truth.
And a strong determination to remain free, and to help protect freedom
for all mankind.
(From an article by Gen. Mark W. Clark appearing in a recent issue of
"See" magazine.-EdJ-Armed Forces PressService.
JULY-AUGUST, 1951 43