GUNS IN ACTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23436, 26 February 1938, Page 14

GUNS IN ACTION

ARTILLERY PRACTICE SUCCESSFUL SHOOT AT SUTTON TWO BATTERIES PARTICIPATE A convincing demonstration of the efficiency which can be achieved by means of concentrated training after a prolonged period of preparation in the technicalities of modern arms was provided on Thursday and yesterday, when the 14th Medium Battery, of Dunedin, and the 16th Light Battery, of Christchurch, completed a week of practical training at Sutton with a two days’ shoot over country which tested severely the ability of both the officers and men. The work of the two batteries was distinctly good, the accuracy of their fire over long ranges on both days, when the changing wind conditions made the predictaole drill of the projectiles a difficult business, giving an indication of the serviceableness 01 these particular arms of the Dominion's defence forces.

The 14th Medium Battery was commanded by Major R. E. Sleigh, and Major Blake was in charge of the 16th Light Battery. Also present during the latter part of the camp were Lieuten-ant-colonel G. B. Parkinson, Officer Commanding the Royal New Zealand Artillery, who is carrying out a course of inspection of the various battery units in the Dominion, Major A. Bongard, Area Staff Officer, and Captain Pollard. Scheme of Co-operation In the first day’s shoot a brigade scheme was insituted, this being the first time that two batteries had cooperated in such a series of artillery exercises in the South Island. The big six-inch howitzers of the 14th Battery were brought into position near the main road to Sutton and opened fire with 1001 b shells on Bergen’s Face, a portion of the Rock,and Pillar Range, at a range of 8600 yards, while the 16th Battery’s small but highly efficient 3.7-inch howitzers were trained on a series of targets about 4500 yards from a position further in towards the supposedly enemy country. Presupposing the cessation of an enemy advance, both batteries moved up into new positions during Thursday night, and established firing lines by means of battery pickets, consisting of care-fully-shaded lamps, leaving the guns in readiness to open fire as soon as daylight came yesterday. The new positions gave the 3.7-inch howitzers a rqnge of about 3600 yards and the six-inch guns a range of from 6500 to 7000 yards. , ‘ ~ , The first rounds fired by each battery yesterday were on the lines established during the night, for checking purposes, and thereafter the two sets of howitzers were trained to pinpoint 'targets to establish accuracy of fire, ranged various_ zones for the purpose of gaining information, and engaged in neutralisation tactics in which they sought to destroy possible enemy positions over certain areas of country. , , . One of the features of the work of the batteries was the efficiency of the system of communication between the observation post, which was situated on a commanding ridge of rock, and the two groups of guns, the orders from the officers in charge of the post being transmitted to the officers at the gun positions by means of portable radio-telephone sets and checked by field telephone. ~ The range party, which, a mile further away, noted the fall of the shells and collated the information gained for presentation to the commanding office _at the close of the shoot, was also in touch with the observation post by means of radio* telephone, the sets in use having an effective range of approximately three miles. The members of the headquarters staffs operating the lines of communication carried out their work with precision, facilitating the successful conduct of the shoot by the efficient forwarding of orders .of the officers in charge of the exercises. Mechanical Transport One of the lessons of the camp was the value of mechanised transport, which has recently been introduced into battery practice, the ease with which both the heavy and light howitzers were brought into position, as well as the rapid movement of the gun crews to the new positions, being in marked contrast to the days when batteries relied upon horses for their motive power. The neavy six-inch guns, weighing five tons and a-han, were hauled through the hilly country with ease by powerful caterpillar tractors, and the new Dragon sixwheelers, which, with the smaller general purpose vans, are so camouflaged that their detection in rocky country is extremely difficult, named the 3./inch howitzers over the stony country without the slightest difficulty. A remarkable feature of these small guns is that they are so designed that they can be dissembled intp 18 pieces, even the barrel breaking into two pieces, for easy transport in difficult country. Nevertheless they are extremely accurate weapons, as was evidenced by the good shooting accomplished with them during both days of live shell portion of the camp will break up to-day, when the Dunedin and Christchurch detachments will return home, but the members of the permanent staff will remain in camp to undergo further gunnery practice, and also to carry out the work of striking camp.