FIFTH COMMAND.
"LOAD!"
"No. 3 removes cap from fuze!"[36]
261. The cap is never to be removed until the shell has been entered in the gun. With high elevations, or when rolling, care should be taken that the shell does not slip down the bore before this is done.
The cap or patch is removed by taking hold of the lug with the forefinger and thumb, first raising it a little, and without twisting; a pull readily removes it. The patch is passed to the Gun Captain, as an evidence that the priming has been exposed; the patches to be preserved and accounted for at the end of the firing.
262. The Loader must be careful not to touch the fuze composition with his fingers, for fear of injuring it by moisture. Where the firing is not hurried it is advisable to raise the priming of the fuze, to insure its ignition. All of these details should be carefully explained to the crew.
263. No wad is required over a shell, but a selvagee wad may be used in heavy rolling.
264. When loading with shot a selvagee wad is placed over it. A part—half or a third—of a selvagee wad, is equally efficient in holding the shot in place.
265. Shells should be used against Ships at all distances where the penetration would be sufficient to lodge them. They are of no service in breaching solid stone walls, but are very effective against earthworks, ordinary buildings, and for bombarding. For these purposes a good percussion or concussion fuze is desirable, but no reliable fuzes of these kinds have as yet been devised.
266. Solid shot should only be used when great accuracy, at very long range, and penetration are required.