“THROW OFF” SHOOT

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 4, 29 September 1933, Page 11

“THROW OFF” SHOOT

New Zealand Cruisers Practice Gunnery

A THRILLING SPECTACLE (From our Special Representative on board H.M.S. Diomede). New Plymouth, September 28. An interesting and very realistic exercise was carried out this morning by H.M.S. Dunedin and H.M.S. Diomede in the vicinity of Cape Farewell. It was what Is know in the service as a "throw-off shoot” by the cruisers with six-inch guns. Excellent practice was made by the ships, each of which fired 24 rounds.

"Throw-off” shooting differs from ordinary battle practice firing in several respects. In the latter case the ship shoots either at a stationary target while she is under way or more often at a target towed by some other vessel, the object, of course, being to secure definite hits. In a throw-off shoot such as that carried out to-day the target is the firing ship’s opposite number. Nature of the Shoot. Obviously it would not do for the projectiles to hit such a target, and safeguards are provided against this happening. Briefly it can be said that the ships’ guns are laid as accurately as possible for range, but a safety margin of right or left deflection is given to the guns so that the shells will fall clear of the target, either ahead or astern, though they may be over or short or on the line of the target ship. For technical reasons each gun In a “throw-off” shoot Is fired singly. “Spotting” the fall of the projectiles is carried out by observers with a “rake,” the business end of which is studded with nails spaced to represent 50 yards between each. With a towed target, the handle of the “rake” lies above the centre line of the towing ship, the head carrying the nails being, of course, at a right angle to this line. In a “throwoff” shoot, in which both ships are generally steaming at varying speeds on varying courses, the head of the “rake” Is trained as nearly as possible at a right angle to the firing ship. In either case observers can judge the fall of shell by reading the scale of yards marked on the “rake” head. A Realistic Target. This morning’s shoot was carried out at ranges of up to 10,000 yards, each of the six 6-inch guns of both ships fired four rounds. The Diomede was the. first ship in the practice, the Dunedin steaming far in along the land, presenting a very realistic target. The guns were laid by a director from the foretop and from the upper bridge. It was fascinating to see them training always on the target, whatever the course of the ship. Fire was opened from the two forward guns In turn. With crashing reports and mighty blasts of yellowish flame, the shock of discharge sending shudders through the ship, a low whine told of the flight of the shell, and some seconds later there was a great splash as the projectile struck the water ahead of the Dunedin. The first two round were obviously “overs,” but corrections of range were applied, and better placings resulted. The Dunedin then fired her 24 rounds. Each was signalled by the orange flash from the discharge, followed by a whine iof shell, the distant report of the gun being heard almost at the moment the splash was seen astern of the Diomede, to the accompaniment of the observer’s call of “over,” “short,” or “straddle.” The shooting over, the ships closed on each other to exchange observer’s reports by boat, following which the cruisers parted company, the Dunedin proceeding to Milford Sound and the .Diomede to New Plymouth, 95 miles away.

The Falrey 3F seaplane left New Plymouth at 5 a.m., sighted the warships off Cape Farewell, and was back at New Plymouth at 8.55 a.m. It later left for Hobsonville.