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.
| Name of Detail. | Posts. |
| Chief of detachment (sergeant). | Two yards in rear of the breech, |
| facing it. | |
| Gunner (duly qualified corporal | Near the azimuth subscale |
| or private). | facing the mortar. |
| Breech detail (two privates, | In line immediately in rear of |
| Nos. 1 and 2). | the breech, facing it, No. 1 |
| on the right. | |
| Sponge and rammer detail (two | At the sponge and rammer, |
| privates, Nos. 3 and 4). | facing the mortar. |
| Elevating detail (two privates, | At the elevating hand-wheels, |
| Nos. 5 and 6). | facing them, No. 5 on the |
| right of the carriage, No. 6 | |
| on the left. | |
| Traversing detail (two privates, | At the traversing-cranks, facing |
| Nos. 7 and 8). | the mortar, No. 7 at the right |
| crank, No. 8 at the left. | |
| Truck detail (two privates, | In the gallery, near the entrance, |
| Nos. 9 and 10). | in the rear of and facing a |
| loaded truck, No. 9 on the | |
| right, No. 10 on the left. |
The posts of the gun detachment as given above are for inspection and preparatory to the service of the mortar.
Q. State in brief what equipments or implements each procures and places in proper positions.
A. No. 1: Oil-can, hand-sponge, and silk wiper.
No. 2: Silk wiper.
No. 3: Long lanyard, bore and chamber sponge.
No. 4: Rammer.
No. 5: Wrench for filling plug.
No. 6: Wrench for filling plug, measure and funnel.
No. 8: Primer-pouch, bag, scabbard, etc.
Q. How is a breech-block opened and closed?
A. In the same manner as for the 8-, 10-, and 12-inch guns.
Q. What does each member of the detachment inspect or test with a view of cleaning or oiling, if necessary, at the command "Examine gun!"?
A. Chief: Mortar in general.
Gunner: Azimuth subscale and traversing-gear.
No. 1: Breech-block and breech mechanism.
No. 2: Bore, chamber, gas-check seat, and breech-recess.
No. 3: Lanyard. (He coils it properly.)
No. 4: Muzzle-cover. (Removes it and places it aside.)
Nos. 5 and 6: Elevating-gear and recoil-cylinders.
Nos. 7 and 8: Traversing-gear. No. 8 clears vent and wipes primer-seat.
Nos. 9 and 10: Trucks.
Q. After examining gun, what changes in posts are made?
A. The chief of detachment and gunner go wherever their presence is necessary. No. 7 takes post at the door of the cartridge-room.
Q. Give the duties of each member of the detachment at the command "Load!"
A. Gun commander operates switches and firing-plug. Observes all detachments.
Chief generally supervises the proper loading of his piece, signals "Ready" or "Misfire," etc.
Gunner gives the piece the proper azimuth, signals "Azimuth set" to the chief.
No. 1 assists in opening and closing breech. Examines or oils, if necessary, the breech-block and gas-check. Assists in ramming.
No. 2 assists in opening and closing breech. Examines or oils, if necessary, the gas-check seat and breech-recess. Commands "Home!", "Ram!" Assists in ramming. Observes the scale on the rammer. Inserts loading-tray and withdraws same. Pushes cartridge properly into chamber. After firing, assisted by No. 5, sponges chamber and bore.
No. 3 assists in ramming. If firing by lanyard be used, he attaches the long lanyard to the short one and, after the piece is elevated, hooks the short lanyard to eye of firing-leaf and fires at the command. After firing, brings bore and chamber-sponge and assists No. 2 in sponging. Replaces sponge.
No. 4 brings up rammer, and places its head on the base of the projectile. Assists in ramming. Replaces rammer.
Nos. 5 and 6 give elevation at command of chief. (No. 5 operates the clamp and lock.) Assists in ramming.
After piece is fired, brings piece to 0° elevation.
No. 7 brings up cartridge and takes post at traverse-crank. On taking cover he returns to cartridge-room.
No. 8 inserts and removes primers.
Nos. 7 and 8 traverse the mortar at the signal of the gunner.
Nos. 9 and 10 bring up loaded trucks.
Q. What are the positions for ramming?
A. Nos. 1, 3, and 5 on right, Nos. 2, 4, and 6 on left, all facing rammer. The projectile is rammed home in one motion.
Q. In taking cover, what is the order of formation in rear of pits?
A. They take cover as shown in the following diagram:
| Mortar No. 4 | Mortar No. 2 | ||
| " " 3 | " " 1 | ||
| {8, 6, 5, G.} | {8, 6, 5, G.} | ||
| 4th detachment | { } | 2d detachment | { } |
| {4, 3, 2, 1 } | {4, 3, 2, 1 } | ||
| {8, 6, 5, G.} | {8, 6, 5, G.} | ||
| 3d detachment | { } | 1st detachment | { } |
| {4, 3, 2, 1 } | {4, 3, 2, 1 } | ||
Q. What comprises an ammunition detachment?
A. One chief, two corporals, and sixteen privates.
Q. Name the details.
A. Projectile: One corporal and Nos. 1 to 12.
Cartridge: One corporal and Nos. 13 to 16.
Q. Give their duties in brief.
A. The chief has general supervision and is responsible for the proper supply of ammunition.
Nos. 1 and 2 operate a trolley and pulley, and load trucks with shell.
Nos. 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8 operate other trolleys similarly.
Nos. 9, 10, 11, and 12 run up empty trucks, and when loaded return them to gallery entrance.
Nos. 13, 14, 15, and 16 pass designated cartridge to No. 7.
Note.—Where there are two magazines to an emplacement there is a separate detachment for each, composed of three non-commissioned officers and eight privates each. (Nos. 1 to 6 compose the projectile detail, and Nos. 7 and 8 the cartridge detail.)
Q. How does the drill for the 12-inch mortar carriage, model 1891, differ from that of model 1896?
A. Nos. 1 and 2 lift shell-tray from hoist-scoop to truck after ramming.
Nos. 5 and 6 man the shell-hoist and hand-wheel, in addition to assisting in ramming.
No. 6 returns to hoist hand-wheel after ramming, and lowers scoop when directed by No. 2.
Nos. 9 and 10 deliver shell on scoop, and return truck.
6-INCH DISAPPEARING.
Q. What composes a gun detachment?
A. One chief, a gunner, and ten privates.
Q. What are their posts preparatory to inspection or service of the piece?
A. Chief of detachment, two yards in rear of the breech, facing it.
Gunner, sighting-platform.
No. 1, two feet to the right and rear of the breech, facing it.
No. 2, two feet to the left and rear of the breech, facing it.
No. 3, two yards in rear of the breech, facing it.
No. 4, at the elevating hand-wheel, facing it.
Nos. 5 and 6, at the serving-table at the rear side of the loading-platform, facing to the front, No. 5 on the right side, No. 6 on the left.
No. 7, on the gun-platform at the head of the steps leading to the cartridge-room.
No. 8, at the telautograph.
Nos. 9 and 10, on the banquette, facing the gun, No. 9 on the right.
Q. What implements or equipments do each procure?
A. Gunner: Sight and difference-chart.
No. 1: Silk wiper, lanyard, sponge and oil-can.
No. 2: Loading-tray and silk wiper.
No. 3: Rammer and prop.
No. 5: Plug-wrench, funnel and measure.
No. 6: Plug-wrench.
No. 7: Chamber-sponge and dummy-extractor.
Q. What does each inspect or test with a view to cleaning or oiling, if necessary, at the command "Examine gun!"?
A. Chief: Gun and carriage throughout.
Gunner: Sight-standard, sight, azimuth subscale, traversing- and elevating-gears.
No. 1: (Removes breech-cover) breech-block and breech mechanism, vent, lanyard (hangs lanyard on elevating-arm).
No. 2: Bore, chamber, gas-check seat, and breech recess, and cleans them if necessary.
No. 3: The sponges (hangs them up when necessary).
No. 4: (Removes muzzle-cover, etc.) elevating- and traversing-gears under gunner's direction.
Nos. 5 and 6: Recoil-cylinders.
No. 7 passes up funnel and oil-measure when used.
No. 8: Telautograph or telephone.
Q. Give in brief the duties of each at the command "Load!"
A. Those of chief and gunner are practically the same as for the 8-inch disappearing.
No. 1 opens breech (by one continuous motion). Inserts a primer and takes lanyard. Closes breech. Fires at the signal. After piece is fired coils lanyard, and opens breech and removes primer.
No. 2 inserts loading-tray. Inserts cartridge by hand.
No. 3 rams projectile home. Replaces rammer. Operates tripping-lever, and trips at the command. After piece is fired sponges chamber.
No. 4 sets the elevation, signalling "Elevation set" by holding one hand at height of head until signal "Ready" is made by chief.
Nos. 5 and 6 alternate in bringing up projectiles and placing them on the loading-tray.
No. 7 receives a cartridge from No. 4 or No. 5 of the ammunition detachment. Passes it to No. 2. Closes safety-switch when gun is in battery.
No. 8 calls out and posts data received.
Nos. 9 and 10 receive projectiles from a truck and place them on serving-table.
Q. How is a dummy charge unloaded?
A. The chief of detachment commands: "Unload!"
No. 1 opens the breech.
No. 2 inserts the loading-tray, withdraws the cartridge and passes it to No. 7, and, as soon as the projectile is withdrawn, removes the loading-tray.
No. 3 brings up the extractor, pulls the projectile on to the loading-tray, and replaces the extractor.
No. 5 withdraws the projectile and returns it to the serving-table.
No 7 carries the cartridge to the steps and passes it to No. 4 or No. 5 of the ammunition detachment.
Q. How is the piece retracted?
A. The chief of detachment commands: (1) "From battery!"; (2) "Heave!"; (3) "Halt!" At the first command No. 3 goes to the retraction-crank and operates the pawl and speed-crank to permit the pulling out of the ropes. Nos. 5 and 6 mount on the carriage and place the loops of the ropes on the hooks. Nos. 1 and 2 pull out the ropes and pass the ends to Nos. 5 and 6. No. 3 takes in the slack. Nos. 3 and 4 take positions at the retraction-crank, and at the second command turn the crank. Nos. 5 and 6 relieve Nos. 3 and 4 when directed by the chief of detachment. When the gun has reached the loading position the command "Halt!" is given. At the command "Cast off!" No. 3 lets out enough slack to enable Nos. 1 and 2 to take the loops off the hooks.
Q. In an emplacement provided with an ammunition-hoist what changes in the above drill are made?
A. Nos. 5 and 6 serve projectiles from a loaded truck placed in rear of the gun.
Nos. 9 and 10 are posted at the delivery-table, and run loaded trucks to Nos. 5 and 6, returning empty ones.
Q. What composes an ammunition detachment?
A. One chief and five privates. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 in the shell-room, and Nos. 4 and 5 in the cartridge-room.
Q. Give their duties in brief.
A. The chief exercises general supervision.
Nos. 1 and 2 load trucks.
No. 3 runs up trucks convenient to the rear of gun, and returns them to shell-room.
Nos. 4 and 5 uncase cartridges and pass them to No. 7.
Note.—Owing to the comparative simplicity and the similarity of drill of almost all smaller-calibered pieces they are omitted in this work.
For definite details in the drill for 6-inch Pedestal, 5-inch Balanced Pillar, 4·7-inch Quick-firing, 15-pounder and 6-pounder Rapid-fire Guns, see Coast Artillery Drill Regulations.