BATTERY PRACTICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 10

BATTERY PRACTICE

FORT DORSET

NIGHT SHOOTING BEGUN

Realistic exercises were carried out last night by the 15th Heavy Battery, N.Z.A., which is in camp at Fort Dorset. A target was towed over an area between Barrett's Reef and Palmer Head by the Janie Seddon and the 6in battery was manned to repulse the imaginary attack represented.

Six searchlights were employed. Three at Fort Dorset and two at Palmer Head were manned by the returned soldiers' section of the 15th Battery and one on the beach at Breaker Bay was manned by members of the 22nd Anti-Aircraft Battery. The exercises, which were to continue all night, were begun at 9.30 o'clock when twelve rounds were fired from the Oin battery.

Reverberating roars were heard in Seatoun as the guns opened fire, and the brilliant beams of the searchlights illuminated the area out beyond the Heads where the Janie Seddon was towing her target. The night was beautifully fine and good visibility made accurate shooting possible.

At 11 p.m. a further shoot was carried out with the 12-pounder battery.

Major R. Park, R.N.Z.A., district artillery officer, is directing the exercises, and Major D. A. Carty, N.Z.A., is in command of the 15th Heavy Battery. The adjutant of the camp is Lieutenant L. W. Thornton, R.N.Z.A.