ii. By the director placed as before, but pointing on the reference

point, the target and its extent with reference thereto being described to the section commanders by the N.C.O. left in charge.

In both i. and ii. the section commanders will throw their guns on to the line themselves but the battery commander will frequently put the first gun on to the line himself.

When indirect laying is used in such a position, the layer, after his gun has been thrown on to the line by the section commander, will immediately pick up an auxiliary aiming point to lay on from round to round. With guns not provided with No. 7 dial sights, an auxiliary aiming point must be picked up which is in the field of the rocking bar sight or which can be laid on over the dial sight.

In a semi-covered position when the section commander cannot see the target, the procedure will be as in a covered position.

10. Guns not provided with No. 7 dial sights will be laid if possible on auxiliary aiming points; otherwise they will be laid from round to round over the No. 1 dial sight on the original aiming point. Aiming posts should seldom be necessary.

=199.= _Observation of fire._

1. To derive full benefit from the accuracy and rapid fire of modern equipment and to ensure effective support to the other arms, correct observation with reference to the objective is most important.

2. To enable a battery to engage an objective, a position must be selected from which to observe and control the fire of the battery. This is called the “_observing station_.”

The position of this station should be as close to the battery as possible, provided a good view of the field of fire is obtainable. With this object use should be made of any means such as a tree, house, haystack, limber, ladder, &c. When the observing station is near the battery it should, if possible, be behind the line of section commanders to facilitate the passage of orders, due regard being paid to the direction of the wind.

The officer who observes and controls the fire from the observing station is the battery commander for the time being. Any other officer sent out to assist in the observation of fire is called an “_observing officer_.”

Observation should be made with glasses having as large a field of view as is compatible with good power of magnification, and graticules will be found of the greatest assistance. The telescope, on account of the smallness of its field, is unsuited for the observation of fire when ranging, but is very useful for watching the effect of fire when ranging has been completed.

3. _Combined observation._--In the case of targets which are distant, very difficult, or behind an intervening crest, and in night firing, the battery commander will generally find it useful to combine his own observations with those of a flank or advanced observing party. In the case of a flank party the method of its employment is illustrated in the figure which follows:--

This method is also applicable when the battery commander, being unable to observe himself and great accuracy being required, decides to make use of two observing parties.

When this system is employed each observing party will only send in results of its observations as right or left of the line from it to the target. The amount right or left should be measured in degrees and minutes.

_Heavy batteries._

4. In a heavy battery there are two observing parties, one to each section. When the battery is intact both parties are under the direct command of the “_observing officer_.” When a section acts independently, its own observing party accompanies it.

When the battery commander goes forward to reconnoitre he will be accompanied by the observing officer, in addition to the section commander mentioned in Sec =192= (1).

The observing officer will take charge of the observing party when one is employed. If two observing parties are employed he will superintend the work of both as far as possible. When the battery commander observes for himself, the observing officer will assist as may be required.

=200.= _Look-out men._

1. As the attention of battery commanders is so much taken up by the observation and control of the fire of their batteries, men, termed “_look-out men_” are to be trained in every battery, whose duty it is to assist the commander in watching areas of ground and the movements of hostile and friendly troops.

2. Look-out men should be selected for their intelligence and good sight, and should be adepts in the use of the telescope. There should usually be two in each battery (not the range-takers or signallers). One of these men may be employed, if desired, by the battery commander to assist him in taking angles of sight, &c.

In action they should take up a position as near the battery observing station as is compatible with the instructions they have been given.

They should be trained to co-operate with the range-takers so that the latter may receive early information as to possible objectives.

=It is not their business to observe the fall of the shell, nor should they be used as patrols.=

=201.= _Control of fire._

1. The fire of a battery is controlled by means of the voice or through the medium of the telephone, signalling, orderlies, or whistle.

2. _Voice._--If the observing station is near the battery, the battery commander gives his orders direct to the battery, or he may employ a selected man to call them out.

If the observing station is at a distance the battery leader repeats the orders of the battery commander. Whilst performing this duty he will cease for the time to act as section commander, and will supervise the means of communication at the battery. In this case a position in rear of the line of section commanders, with due regard to the direction of the wind, is generally best.

3. _Telephone._--When the telephone is the means of communication, signalling communication should also be established. (_See_ “Training Manual--Signalling.”)

4. _Signalling._--The semaphore code will be used.

Semaphore signalling with small flags can be read in a clear atmosphere without glasses up to 1,200 yards, and with the telescope up to 2,000 yards; signalling with the arms can be read up to 600 yards in favourable conditions.

A quick method of utilizing semaphore signalling is to employ two sets of signallers, each pair having different coloured flags. Those with the same coloured flags should communicate with each other only.

The procedure for “attracting attention,” “moving of signallers,” and “erasing of signals,” will be as ordinarily employed in signalling. Special attention should be paid to light, background, &c.

5. In sending orders or the result of observations by signal, the following abbreviations will be used:--

Aiming point AP Fuze FZ Air AR Go on GO Air high AR Graze GZH All guns AL Gun fire GFL Angle AN Left LG Angle of sight AS Left-half battery LH Battery fire BY Line LIF Both guns BO Line of fire LOTH Centre C Lyddite LY Collective ranging CO Minutes MIL Commence firing FI More left MLRE Common shell CS More right MR Concentrate CO One round ORN Core only or first CO Over or increase PLRE Core and one ring CO Parallel PAOR Core and two rings CO Percussion shrapnel PSTR Corrector CO Probably PBR Deflection DF Put flag on director PFN Degrees DE Range RGG Depression DE Ranging RGP Distribute DI Repeat RES Doubtful QY Right RT Échelon EC Right-half battery RHH Effective fire EF Round RD Elevation EL Seconds SE Far F Second charge SC Fourth charge FO Section XC Full charge or fifth FC Section fire XF

Short or drop MN (minus) Third charge TC Stop firing STOP Time shrapnel TS Target TG Unload or empty guns MT Take flag off director TFD Unobserved UN

6. For communicating by signal with the wagon line the following abbreviations may be used:--

“Send up wagons to replenish ammunition”--W N. “Send up gun limbers”--G L. “Send up wagon limbers”--W L. “Send up wagon teams”--W T.

Any of these signals may also be used in combination with one another, thus:--

“Send up gun limbers and wagon teams”--G L W T.

_Mountain artillery._--“Send up one ammunition mule per subsection”--Both arms above the head.

“Send up firing battery mules to limber up”--Both arms extended horizontally.

7. _Orderlies._--A long chain of orderlies is an unsatisfactory means of communication which multiplies opportunities for error and is not well suited to service conditions, but a chain of not more than two specially trained men may be very useful when flag signalling would disclose the position.

8. _Whistle._--A long drawn out blast denotes “_Stop Firing_,” only to be used when rendered necessary by the fact that a word of command is likely to be either unheard, or to take a long time getting through the battery. On hearing the whistle, section commanders will order “STOP FIRING.” Firing will be resumed on the command “GO ON.”

Batteries in brigade, or in action close to other batteries, must avoid using the whistle unless it is an absolute necessity.

_Section control._

9. Should the battery commander consider it advisable at any time to place the control of fire in the hands of the section commanders he will order “SECTION CONTROL.” On this order section commanders will direct the fire of their sections, making any alteration in elevation, line, or corrector setting that may be necessary, or range their sections independently as may be required. The senior No. 1 may perform the duties of section commander.

The battery commander will watch the tactical situation and control the expenditure of ammunition. When he desires to resume control he will give the order “BATTERY CONTROL.”

=202.= _Methods of fire._

1. There are three methods of fire:--

Battery fire. Section fire. Gun fire.

2. In all methods of fire, guns are loaded and fired by order of Nos. 1.

3. _Battery fire._--In battery fire the guns are fired in succession throughout the battery commencing from the right at an interval of 5 seconds, unless another interval is ordered.

4. _Section fire._--In section fire the guns of each section are fired at the interval ordered by the battery commander, without reference to other sections.

5. _Gun fire._--In gun fire the battery commander orders the number of rounds to be fired, with or without an interval. The specified number of rounds is then fired at the interval ordered; if no interval is ordered, each gun is fired when reported “_ready_” and “_set_.”

In the case of an attack at close ranges, the number of rounds to be fired is not ordered, but fire is continued until an order to stop firing is given.

=203.= _Location of targets from aircraft._

1. The general method of procedure is as follows:--The pilot, or observer, or both, remain close to the artillery commander. When the latter wishes to use an aeroplane to locate a target he explains what he requires, and if possible the nature of the target and its general direction. The aeroplane then rises to the necessary height behind the battery in order to run less danger of injury by hostile fire. Meanwhile, two strips of white cloth are laid out on the ground near the battery so as to give the supposed direction of the target. The aeroplane, having got to the required height, flies out over the battery to find the exact position of the target.

2. Three different methods may be adopted to convey this information:--

i. A white Very’s light may be fired from the aeroplane when it is vertically over the target. At the battery end one observer follows the machine with a director and another takes the range with a one-man range-finder. The director is clamped and the range read as soon as the shot is fired. Provided the aeroplane is flying at a pre-arranged height the direction and range of the target can then be found.