62 THE COAST .r\RTILLERY JOUR;,\AL J I'/y-<strong>August</strong> ever the nature of the attack, our AA units went into action and fired, and I believe the results justified our methods." One unit fighting at EI Guettar, shot down nine planes in one dav. Crews at Sidi bou Zid achieved a score of eighteen i~ three days. Throughout the 9
1943 :\'EWS AND CO~l~lE0JT 63 "zero feet" raider. This, of course, has meant raising the guns to towers and similar places. ~ The Commander-in-Chief, AA Command. General Sir Frederick Pile, has personally directed the battle with the sneak raiders. It has not been an easy one. The first steps taken were to increase to the utmost possible extent the period of warning given of the approach of raiders, and to increase the number of guns along the coastline. It must be obvious even to the Germans themseh'es that much progress has been made in both of these directions. The next step was up to the gunners themselves. And that brought the development of the sharpshooters. Everything these men do on the Light AA sites is now planned to the last detail. The traditional Army habit of having the main meal of the day at midday has been abandoned. Instead the gunners get a light snack, to reduce drowsinessin the afternoon. Route marches or any form of drill done in large groups have been ruled out to avoid sluggishness and maintain individual alertness. Special forms of physical training have been devisedmany of the exercises are done by the crews as they actually sit or stand at their guns. The guns are manned continuously. If a man at his post shoulddrop something-say, a coin-he must not bend down to pick it up because while his head was bent an F.\iV. 190 might sneak overhead unnoticed.-Dail)' Mail, London. Small Arms Against Planes Rifles and automatic rifles are somewhat effective against planes up to ranges of about 500 yards. V/hen they are employed, it is necessary to take a lead in exactly the same 1\"3Y as is done with the machine gun. To do this, the battle sightis used. The positions used in antiaircraft firing are those which Ican be assumed rapidly, afford the maximum flexibility to , the body for manipulation of the rifle, and do not require t undue exposure of the riflemen. These positions usually will be either the kneeling or the standing. The kneeling Iposition best meets the requirements listed above as it is lessvulnerable than the standing position. If Antiaircraft firing positions differ from those used in I ~round target firing in that: (a) The sling is not used. (b) The arms are not supported, but move freely in any direction with the body. I (c) The hands grasp the piece firmly, the left hand I near the lower band. (d) The butt of the rifle is pressed firmly against the 1 shoulder with the right hand, and the cheek is pressed firmly against the stock. (e) 'In the kneeling position the buttock does not rest on the heel, and the left foot is well advanced to the left front. The weight is slightly forward. The positions must be such that the rifle, the body from thewaist up, the arms, and the head are as one fixed unit. \Vhen leading a target. the rifle must be swung with a smooth, uniform motion. This is accomplished by pi\'oting the body at the waist. There should be no independent mo\'ement of the arms, shoulders, head, or rifle. Fire should be opened as soon as possible and delivered at as rapid a rate as is consistent with accuracy, The trigger should be squeezed aggressively and decisively. Once started, the squeeze should be continued until the cartridge is fired. Squeezing the trigger while the rifle is in motion requires considerable practice and should be emphasized in training.-Coast <strong>Artillery</strong> Training B"lletin. Home Guards for AA Guns ~Ianv more Home Guards will be used on the AA defenses ~f Great Britain in the immediate future. The increasing shortage of man-power has made it imperative that Regular soldiers employed on static gun sites shall be released for other combatant service. Home Guards have proved highly successful with the operational batteries, and General Pile, Commander in Chief of the AA defenses of Great Britain, is pleased with them. His demands are insistent for more Home Guards to replace Regular gunners who have been drafted elsewhere. Some antiaircraft batteries, almost entirely manned by Home Guards, have been in action against the enemy with splendid results.-Lonao/l Daily Mail. Barrage Balloons Over New York SOMEvVHERE ON LONG ISLAND, N. Y., June 30 -The first anchored balloon entanglement in the New York metropolitan area was unveiled by the Army yesterday as thirty of the silvery gas-bags soared into a cloudy sky. J\Iaj. Gen. Sanderford Jarman, whose antiaircraft units extend from Maine to Florida, gave the command which sent the barrage on its baptismal Hight, "Raise all balloons to R. O. H." (ruling operational height). This unit, with operating headquarters in a clubhouse just off the first tee, protects an important objective. There are some 50 balloons, scattered several miles over the area, each manned bva crew of 13 men. The balloons go aloft only during air r;id alerts.-Ullited Press. Paramount from SOlJfoto A truck-mounted version of the RU5sian rocket gun shown on the previous page.
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