Handbook for Light Artillery

by A. B. Dyer

The instant the necessity for rapid fire ceases to exist the fire should revert to the ordinary rate.

TARGETS MOVING TOWARDS THE BATTERY.

The range is found by trial shots, the elevation being increased or reduced by stages of 100 or 200 yards, depending on circumstances.

As soon as a shell is observed to fall not too short (within 100 yards of the advancing target) all the guns fire a round rapidly.

If infantry is being fired at, each subsequent round should have its range diminished by 100 yards; if cavalry or artillery, at a trot or gallop, it should be diminished 200 and 300 yards respectively.

TARGETS MOVING FROM THE BATTERY.

Two elevations differing by 100 yards are obtained as before; with the lower of the two a salvo of shrapnel is fired from all the guns in the battery, the proceeding is then repeated, and so on.

TARGETS MOVING OBLIQUELY AND ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE BATTERY.

If the target is of great length, aim at the head of it; if not of great length or moving rapidly, aim in front of it.