By a proper application of scotches, the Madras and every description of traversing platform can be made available for night firing.
When the foregoing expedients cannot be resorted to, the platform and the carriage should be chalked in different places, and when the gun is run up, these chalk-marks should be made to correspond. A lantern, in this case, is always required.
For Mortars.
After the mortar has been accurately laid, a plank, thin enough to go under the running-up bolts without touching them, is placed against the outside of one of the cheeks of the bed, and nailed or screwed to the platform, and the mortar after every round, run up to it. If a suitable piece of plank cannot be procured the platform must be chalked close to the mortar bed.
Article 14.
FIRING AT MOVING OBJECTS.
For firing at moving objects a garrison carriage may be fitted with a directing bar, as for night firing, and traversed by means of tackles hooked to eye-bolts in the rear end of the bar. If the rear end be shaped for about ten inches like an axletree arm, and fitted with a truck, the operation of traversing will be greatly facilitated. This method is peculiarly applicable to coast batteries, where the guns are mounted en barbette and where vessels under sail are the objects to be fired at. The gun is elevated and primed, and the proper tackle being then hauled upon, No. 1 gives the word “Fire,” without any caution to the traversing numbers.
Part 2.—Article 1.