TARGET FOR GUNS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21098, 4 February 1932, Page 10

TARGET FOR GUNS.

COASTAL STEAMER BREEZE.

PRACTICE FOR NAVAL SLOOPS

USE OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES.

To be shelled and sunk by warships is I the fate which will befall the ok! coastal steamer Breeze next Wednesday, when she will become a practice target for the sloops Veronica and Laburnum. If gunfire fails to sink the vessel she will be blown up by other means. The Breeze, which has been offered to the naval authorities as a target by the Canterbury Steam Shipping Company, was stranded near Port Robinson, on the coast of Canterbury, during a dense fog on the morning of December 18. To the accompaniment of strenuous pumping the vessel managed to reach Lyttelton, but it was found that extensive damage had be«n done to the hull and keel and that the cost of repairs would not be warranted. The vessel, which is of 553 tons and 165 ft. long, is being dismantled at Lyttelton prior to being sunk. The sloop Veronica left Auckland for Lyttelton at 7 a.m. yesterday, but the Laburnum will not leave until to-day. At 11.30 a.m. she will sail for Kawau, and will leave Kawau for Lyttelton on Sunday, arriving at the southern port on Wednesday morning. She will be met off shore by the Veronica and the Breeze, the latter vessel in tow, but the final arrangements with regard to the towing of the Breeze have not been completed. The sloops will then carry out their firing practice on the hull. Both sloops carry two 4in. guns, and they will fire 20 rounds from each gun, making 80 rounds in all. Six rounds from each gun will be high explosive shell, which is unusual ammunition to use on a practice shoot, but without which it would not be possible to sink the target, an end not sought at ordinary target practice, but desired in this case. As all the remaining shells will be practice shells, or so much iron, they will only hole the vessel when they strike and may not do enough damage to sink it. It is hoped the high explosive ammunition will ensure the desired result, but if the Breeze should still be afloat when all the rounds are fired an explosive chargo will be placed aboard her and she will be blown up.

In tho parlance of gunnery the practice will be a concentration shoot. That is, one ship will control the shooting of both by passing on to the other vessel the necessary information as to range and other details. Then both vessels will fire simultaneously. In this case the Veronica, being the senior vessel, will act as the master ship. The Veronica also will be in charge of the blowing up of the Breeze should that course be necessary.