NAVAL GUNNERY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 259, 2 November 1933, Page 5

NAVAL GUNNERY.

ABOLITION OF "CAPTAIN OF GUN."

j It has been decided that the non-sub-J stantive rating of "Captain of Gun" is no longer required, and that the duties | now performed by these ratings as No. j 1 in 16in and Bin turrets may in future be carried out by suitable able seamen and marines carefully selected at sea. No extra pay will be granted for this, duty. The function of taking charge of loading, and of the gun's crew, formerly the duty of the "Captain of Gun," will in future devolve upon the gunner's mate. Men at present holding the rating of "Captain of Gun," first and second' class, may volunteer for transfer to director layer, or gun layer, second class. A leading seaman, or corporal of [marines will, however, be shown in the I quarter bill as "Captain of the Turret," to superintend loading operations for the Oin armament turrets in H.M. ships Nelson and Rodney, for the Oin turret of H.M.s. Enterprise, and for the Oin turrets of H.M.s. Leander, and later 6in gun cruisers. The non-substantive rating of "Captain of Gun" was introduced in 1927 with the introduction of a lever which controls all loading operations. At that time it was considered necessary that this lever should be handled by a highly specialised rating. Experience, however, has shown that the mechanism controlled by the lever is so perfect that a technical rating is not required—hence the change.