LIVE SHELL FIRING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23273, 16 February 1939, Page 15

LIVE SHELL FIRING

PRACTICE AT NORTH HEAD 13TH HEAVY BATTERY CAMP THE USE OF 61N. GUNS As part of the training members have been receiving over tlio past week in their annual camp at North Head, a live shell practice is to be carried out this morning by the 13th Heavy Battery. A similar course will be held to-morrow, the times of practice on both days being from 9 o'clock until 2 p.m.

Those in camp include a detachment of returned soldiers who recently volunteered for service with the coastal dfv fence forces, particularly for manning searchlights, driving the Diesel engines and working at the directing stations. These men will help with to-day's live shell practice. The battery will use 6in. guns, balfcharges being fired to-day and full charges to-morrow. The direction of fire will be as usual, across the Rangitoto Channel, and warnings have been issued to mariners to keep clear of the lines of fire during the practice. The 6iu. guns also cause considerable concussion during firing and householders have been advised to secure articles which might be displaced. The battery will remain in camp until Sunday. It has been doing training, including participation in the recent combined large-scale 24-hour exercise executed in concert by Navy, Army and Air Force units, since February 8.