ACCURACY IN FIRING.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5223, 5 February 1913, Page 4

ACCURACY IN FIRING.

The strides made of iate veara in tb3 deadly science of gunnery have been truly startling, bine of the latest inventions is that of Sir Percy Scott, the foremost expert in gunnery in Great Britain, for firing the large guns on warships. This new method, which lias been on trial for nearly four years, has achieved some remarkable successes. To settle the matter definitely the Admiralty sunt out the Thunderer and the Orion, two sister slips, in November, to conduct a private trial. On November 25th, the Thunderer scored 41 out of 50 shots with 13, Sin, guns at a distance of 10,000 yards, 'i he details of this latest “director” contrivance are at present a close secret, but it has been ascertained that an apparatus is fitted on a platform on the ship’s foremast, by which all the hig guns arc automatically brought to exactly the same level. By this means all the guns can he fired from this platform by a single officer in such a way that their shells fall simultaneously on the same spot. The effect of five or ten heavy shells falling at once upon the side of a warship would he appalling. The latest news that has reached us concerning the tests carried out by the Orion and Thunderer is contained in a cable message dated December iird, in which it is stated that the Orion demolished the target at 10,000 yards while the Thunderer missed with the first three salvos, but succeeded with the three last. This seems to show that the "director,” while possessing great possibilities is not yet absolutely sure in its working, and is open to a certain amount of perfecting. It is said, however, that orders nave been given for the installation of Sir Percy Bcott’s "direc tor” in all armoured ships.