Handbook for Light Artillery

by A. B. Dyer

Finding the range by the method designated, and the regulation of the fire according to the target, range, projectile, and observed effect, are intrusted to the captains of batteries, and it is only in exceptional cases that the battalion commander takes personal command in order to find the range or to regulate the fire.

Artillery fire is effective in proportion to its concentration. The long range of the guns permits a concentration of their fire on many different points without change of position. When practicable, the groups that are intended to fire on the same target should be placed under the control of one officer. In the advance-guard action the artillery of the assailant covers, and the artillery of the defence opposes, the deployment and advance of the advance-guard infantry. In the preliminary stages of a battle and the commencement of the artillery duel the fire is usually directed on the targets immediately opposite the batteries engaged; as soon as portions of the enemy's artillery-line are subdued the fire is concentrated on the different targets in succession, taking them in the order of their relative importance; during the preparation and delivery of the assault the fire of the assailants is concentrated against the point of attack; the fire of the defence is concentrated against the attacking infantry as soon as it shows itself.

Fire should be directed against batteries that are changing positions, and in order that this brief opportunity of inflicting serious damage may not be lost a part of the batteries of the defence should be especially instructed to open fire on hostile batteries while limbering or in movement without waiting for orders.

The defence generally offers more favorable opportunities for long-range fire than the offence, but whether advantage is to be taken of these opportunities must be determined by the general commanding, who will have to decide whether the effect of the fire will compensate for the partial or complete disclosure of the position that it involves. Ordinarily artillery should avoid opening fire at a greater range than 3000 yards. Beyond this distance it is difficult to observe the effect of fire even with good glasses. Longer range fire is used in exceptional cases against objects that are clearly seen and are of considerable extent, such as villages, camps, or large bodies of troops. Ineffective cannonades at long distances, and shelling woods or other localities not positively known to be occupied by the enemy, should not be permitted. The position from which fire is first opened may necessarily be much less than 3000 yards, in order to obtain view of the enemy.

Firing over friendly troops should be avoided as much as possible. Batteries that support an assault from a distance continue their fire upon the point of attack until it becomes dangerous to the assailants; they then either increase the range considerably in order to cover the ground beyond, or they direct their fire on other points of the enemy's line. Artillery does not fire at long ranges from positions in rear during a pursuit, on account of the danger to the pursuing troops; in such cases it should advance rapidly and endeavor to establish itself on the flanks of the enemy's line of retreat, where it will find the most advantageous positions.

As a general rule, the fire of artillery is directed against that arm of the enemy which at the time is predominant, or which is capable of inflicting the greatest loss on the infantry or cavalry that the artillery is supporting. During the artillery duel the artillery generally avoids firing at the other arms; but if large bodies of infantry or cavalry appear in open ground within effective range a portion of the guns should be directed upon them.

TARGET PRACTICE.

The artillery that first finds the range will have a great advantage in the artillery duel, and in all cases its correct establishment is the first condition of accurate shooting.

Observation of Fire.—Correct observation of the effects of fire is necessary in order to make the required corrections, and is indispensable to good shooting. It can only be acquired by much practice under the varying conditions of the wind, light, state of the atmosphere, background, foreground, and nature of the target, and is rendered more difficult in action by smoke and the liability of mistakes when more than one battery is firing at the same target. For medium as well as long ranges a good field-glass is required.