AT TWENTY MILES

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1930, Page 12

AT TWENTY MILES

SHELLING A SPECK. Bad 'weather for one day compelled the~ postponement of Fleet gunnery 7 and torpedo exercises, but we have been compensated for the disappointment by thrilling evolutions with the Second Cruiser Squadron (wrote the “Daily Telegraph” correspondent with the British Fleet). Leaving Repulse at dawn, we were transhipped to Hawkiris, the flagship of Rear-Admiral the Hon. „ Matthew Best, which, in company with her sister ship, Frobisher, steamed to sea. Our programme included important gunnery exercises and a concentration ■shoot by both cniisers against battle practice targets towed by the sloop Snapdragon.

During the forenoon Frobisher hoistod put her seaplane, which took the lir land carried out reconnaissance and artillery spotting duty. As the lay wore on conditions became almost ideal for shooting, with smooth water —a rare phenomenon in these parts—and high visibility. Shortly after two squadrons formed line ahead and the gun crews fell in. all guns being manned, though, actually only three out of our seven 7.5 in weapons were in action. By courtesy of the Admiral and the commanding officer of the ship, I was permitted to witness this fascinating spectacle from the compass platform of the bridge. The target was sighted at approximately twenty miles, and when we had reduced this distance by about one-half, a blue warning flag was hoisted, fire gongs were clanged, and with a deafening crash our first salvo went off. ’The next few minutes were decidedly hpctic. Hawkins, with Frobisher astern, was vomiting flame and clouds of tawny cordite smoke, while the air was filled with rumblings as the 200 pounder shell sped towards the distant target. The noise of the blast and the concussion were severe, and in my judgment more trying than the effects of heavier calibre guns. The shooting was superlatively good, salvo after salvo falling almost on top of the target, which, at such a great distance, was a mere speck. This astonishing display of gunnery had been preceded by a so-called bombardment shoot, which, although very spectacular, was conducted under conditions too technical for description.. . We are now steaming back, to Cromarty Firth, having seen me Second Cruiser Squadron engaged in practice which bore a close resemblance to an actual war engagement.

In this ship working parties are now replacing the electric globes, crockery, and other brittle articles which, previous to the firing, were stowed away to avoid damage.