The Gunner's Examiner

by Harold E. Cloke

A.

1^o If the single-core cable has not been cut and coiled in loading-room, place reel on jacks, cut 20 feet off the end, unreel to lengths given previously, cut and tag with mine number.

2^o Carry cable No. 19 on port side to after deck, keeping tagged end forward and coil in figure eight, keeping tagged end on bottom.

3^o Make Turk's head on each end, first slipping tagged end through a mine cap.

4^o Continue the operation above in the following order:

Nos. 1 to 9 starboard side.

Nos. 10 to 19 port side.

Q. Describe how to place mines aboard and to attach to cables preparatory to being planted.

A.

1^o Place mine buoys, anchors, mooring-ropes, raising-ropes, shackles, sister hooks, etc., aboard forward and in convenient places.

2^o Place loaded mines aboard last, nine on starboard and ten on port.

3^o Cut to proper length the loading wire, make a tapped joint with S. C. conductor with Turk's head, previously prepared through mine cap.

4^o Fasten mine cap on mine, lash cables to bales, shackle mooring-rope to mine, and anchor, lash mooring-rope to mine cable every 5 feet (not done if automatic anchor is used).

5^o Cut raising-ropes 50 feet plus depth of water and attach one end to anchor by anchor knot, the other end to mine cable by two half hitches and a serving of marline, secure at a few other points.

6^o Attach about 60 feet small rope to mine buoys and mark this rope every 5 feet, slip free end through maneuvering ring, and tie to buoy. (The mines, anchors, cables, raising-ropes, and mine buoys are now ready to be planted.)

Q. Explain how to sling the mine and anchor, and prepare it to "let go."

A.
1^o Mouse upper hooks of differential blocks and lash well with marline the tripping hooks.

2^o Sling the anchor to the tripping hook on the differential block of the forward davit, swing clear of rail, and lower close to water.

3^o Perform similar operation with mine from after davit.

Q. Describe the method of planting.

A. The planter now moves to the distribution-box boat, the latter to the port, No. 10 cable is passed to the same, planter now moves to No. 10 buoy, and when mine is abreast, the command "let go" is given.

The tripping hook of the mine is released first, and that of the anchor immediately after. The planter now circles to starboard, passes to the rear, and comes up to the distribution-box boat to the starboard. No. 9 is now passed, and planter moves forward to the position of this mine, plants it, and returns to distribution-box boat to repeat the operation till the group is planted.