GUNS IN ACTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23002, 1 April 1938, Page 10

GUNS IN ACTION

LITE SHELL PRACTICE

NORTH HEAD OPERATIONS COASTAL DEFENCE TRAINING GOOD MARKSMANSHIP SHOWN Firing at a target representing the conning-tower of a submarine, <SO members of the second batch of men being trained under the Government's coastal defence scheme had their first live-shell gunnery practice at North Head yesterday afternoon. The men went into training at Narrow Nock only two months ago, hut their shooting yesterday was described by officers as being particularly good, as was that of the first batch some time ago. Captain F. It. Husband was in command of the men. Tho tw.o surface 12-pounders overlooking Motukorea Channel were manned and 10 rounds were fired from each. The target was towed behind a launch and firing was started at a range of about .'3400 yards, finishing at about 3750. Both guns had to bracket the target, firing over it first and then on the near side, but no shells were used to fire in between in order to get direct hits.

Although no direct hits wore attempted many of tho shots which passed over the supposed conning-tower hit tho water so close behind the target that the officers were satisfied that in ordinary circumstances damage would have been done. Bicoehets from in between gun and target would also have scored hits. For the purposes of the practice, however, the aim of the two giins was counted as very good, and only a few of the shots, which were all fired within several minutes, went wide. Communication between tho launch and the battery was maintained by a wireless detachment, this method having only recently been tried. It has been found, however, that it is vastly superior to the old means of communicating by flag, although both ship and shoro flagstaffs carried red danger flags when the launch was brought on to her course.

The whole practice was carried out as arranged. Each gun was tested before the shooting began and no mishaps occurred. There were no small craft anywhere near the lino of fire and the only vessel which passed in front of the guns did so before the practice was due to start. Householders in the vicinity had been recommended to keep their windows open and to secure objects which might bo damaged while the guns were firing, but only comparatively slight concussion was caused bv the 121b. shells.