COAST ARTILLERY, JOURNAL - Air Defense Artillery

518 THE COAST ARTILLERY JOL"RNAL
qUll.drant. During this firing, the quadrant check of the elevation was not
used. It is believed that, since the quadrant check is not a safety precaution,
it could well be omitted.
Remark by the Coast Artillery Board:
3. f. A check by gunner's quadrant of elevation set by the elevation
scale is considered desirable.
Extract from report of critique:
3. g. The systemrequires that, to fire at a rate greater than that allowed
by the present system, namely a salvo every minute with a 30-secondrelay,
requires that the salvo interval he reduced to forty.fiveseconds and the relay
interval to fifteen seconds.
This requires that the plotter get his data off his hoard ten seconds
sooner than the old system, to allow the men with the proportional dividers
time to secure their interpolated data and to write the data on the special
display hoards. This does not present any serious difficultiesas long as the
course of the target is regular, as it is in most target practices. However,
with a fast target or one not running on a uniform course, it is not believed
that the plotter would have sufficient time to place his setforward point
with the care required.
Remark by the Coast Artillery Board:
3. g. The Coast Artillery Board has now under study the question of
the desirability of entering the deflection board with the actual range instead.
of a corrected range for the purpose of determining wind and drift
corrections. Should it be deeided to use the actual range when called off
the plotting board, a saving of time in the plotting room. would result
which would be of value. It is expected that improved interpolating devices
will also save time, as stated previously.
Extract from report of critique:
3. h. While it is realized that a 3O-secondrelay system allows more
time than is necessary for even a moderately trained organization, still it is
believed that a IS-secondinterval goes t6 the other extreme, in that a welltrained
battery is pushed to such a rate of speed that accuracy is apt tobe
sacrificed.
Remark by the Coast Artillery Board:
3. h. A IS-second relay system is entirely practical if the entire gun
crew thoroughly understands the system and is sufficientlytrained.
Extract from report of critique:
3. i. An additional safety precaution which is suggested, is the separation
of the 2-hell and 3-he1ldata, so that the danger of setting the wrong:
data is obviated. No method of accomplishingthis end has been suggested.
which does not increase the personnel required.