SECTION DRILL (WITHOUT TRANSPORT).
Guns, tripods and ammunition boxes will be placed on the ground, muzzles to the front and in line, legs to rear, straps round rear legs buckled, clamps sufficiently tight to prevent legs from hanging loose when tripod is lifted. Traversing clamp sufficiently loose to enable gun to be deflected by a sharp tap with the hand on rear crosspiece, guns on right and not closer to each other than eight paces, ammunition boxes three paces in rear.
Fall in.—Detachment for the two guns will “fall in” in two ranks, five paces in front of the interval between guns, sergeant on left of front rank, corporal covering him in rear.
Front rank will be right gun detachment.
Rear rank will be left gun detachment.
Number.—As in squad drill.
Take Post.—Detachments turn outwards and double to their respective guns (sergeant and corporal on outer flanks, where they can superintend). Nos. 1 and 2 fall in on left of tripod; No. 3 on left of ammunition box. (If ground suitable these numbers should lie down.)
Nos. 4, 5 and 6 fall in, in single rank, in rear of No. 3.
The gun position and point of aim is then indicated, followed by command:—
Mount Gun.—No. 1 picks up tripod, having previously seen that both elevating screws are exposed the same distance, carries and places it in position indicated. In adjusting, he must ensure that crosshead and sights are upright, and legs clamped tight. No. 2 should so time his advance that he will arrive immediately the tripod is adjusted. He will carry gun to right side of tripod, holding rear crosspiece with left hand, gun muzzle to rear under right arm. Kneels on left knee, facing tripod, and supporting weight of gun on right knee, places it on tripod, drives in and turns down crosshead joint pin, and removes cork plug from steam escape hole.
No. 1 fixes elevating joint pin and directs gun towards the mark.
No. 2 kneeling and placing ammunition box in position.
No. 3 when he sees gun nearly mounted, will carry ammunition box forward and place it within reach of No. 2. He then retires to a position not immediately in rear of the gun.
Load.—No. 1 raises tangent sight, No. 2 passes tag of belt through feed block. No. 1 turns crank handle on to buffer spring, pulls belt to left front as far as it will go, and lets go crank handle, releases strain on belt, then turns crank handle on to buffer spring, again pulls belt to left front and lets go belt and crank handle. The gun is now ready to fire.
Single Shot Loading.—Carry out first half of loading motions, then, without touching belt, turn crank handle on to buffer spring and let go.
800 (Range).—No. 1 repeats the order and adjusts slide to elevation required.
At (Object).—No. 2 adjusts traversing clamp if ordered to by No. 1, who lays the gun, raises automatic safety catch with forefinger and prepares to fire.
When No. 1 is ready No. 2 holds up his hand.
Fire.—No. 1 presses the double button.
Cease Fire.—No. 1 releases automatic safety catch and remains steady.
Traversing Fire.—No. 1 will lay gun on flank named, press button, and tap alternately, with the hand, on the rear crosspiece in the required direction, until limit is reached.
Unload.—No. 1 lowers the sight (not the slide), turns the crank handle twice in succession on to buffer spring, letting it fly back each time on to the check lever; then presses up finger pieces on bottom pawls, No. 2 withdrawing and repacking belt in box. No. 1 clears ejector tube and lock, and releases lock spring by pressing double button.
Dismount Gun.—No. 1 removes crosshead and elevating joint pins. No. 2 replaces cork plug, passes ammunition box to No. 3, and removes gun to its original position in rear, No. 1 following with tripod, joint pins will then be pushed home, legs folded and clamped.
Prone Position.
Mount Gun.—No. 1 crawls into position, pushing tripod forward with right hand, having first adjusted front legs by turning it over and moving legs round so that they remain in a slightly backward position over the elevating wheel.
When in the position ordered for mounting, he turns legs down and adjusts so as to secure a low, upright position of the crosshead.
No. 2 will then move into position, on his back, carrying the gun across his body, muzzle to the front. On reaching tripod he will push muzzle towards No. 1 who will assist in mounting, and insert crosshead joint pin, No. 2 inserting elevating joint pin and removing cork plug.
No. 1 will then turn into position for firing, supporting himself against the legs of No. 2.
Adjust sights, load, and fire as ordered.
Out of Action.—No. 1 will unload, Nos. 1 and 2 (in prone position) will take hold of rear leg (No. 1 with right hand, No, 2 with left), and draw gun out of action until under cover, when gun will be dismounted in the usual manner; No. 2 having drawn ammunition box back with the gun.