. St. Nicholas [serial]. SPLASHES OK THE raph, copyright, by Enrique Mitller. Michigans twelve-inch shells problems had to be solved and all sorts of ob-stacles overcome by long experience, before fourimmense crewless and rudderless target hulkscould be successfully operated at a speed whichwould faithfully represent cruising vessels. It has been but a few years since the targetconsisted of a stationary piece of triangular can-vas, ten feet high, stretched between two masts,and intended only as an aiming point. Observers near the target would note the splashes and calcu-late how many shots wou
. St. Nicholas [serial]. SPLASHES OK THE raph, copyright, by Enrique Mitller. Michigans twelve-inch shells problems had to be solved and all sorts of ob-stacles overcome by long experience, before fourimmense crewless and rudderless target hulkscould be successfully operated at a speed whichwould faithfully represent cruising vessels. It has been but a few years since the targetconsisted of a stationary piece of triangular can-vas, ten feet high, stretched between two masts,and intended only as an aiming point. Observers near the target would note the splashes and calcu-late how many shots would have been hits hadthe targets been 25 feet by 100 feet. Actualholes in this target were not looked for. On a recent practice, an old boatswain on theMichigan, who had served on the Kentucky, toldme how, at her early practices, the latter vesselhad used an island for a target. The island wasinhabited by gulls. If the shot struck anywhere. From photograph, copyright, by H. K. FROM A SHIP SEVEN MILES DISTANT ARRIVING AT THE TARGETS. igi2.] OR, BATTLE-SHIPS AT TARGET-PRACTICE 775 on the island, the gulls would fly up. If theywere seen to rise, the shot was counted a hit. Since that time our gunners have made mar-velous strides. As fast as they advanced in skill,new conditions were prescribed and the distancesincreased. The best thought throughout the ser-vice has been put on the subject. Training hasbeen incessant, and the most advanced methodshave been introduced to attain accurate aim andrapidity of fire. Actual conditions are imitated, as far as prac-ticable, to prevent false training even in the drillpractice. The dummy ammunition is made justthe proper shape and weight. One end of thepowder bag is even painted red to accustom theteams to keep the ignition powder, or fast-burn-ing end of the bag, next to the primer, thoughboth kinds of powder used at drill practice areactually represented by a harmless
Size: 2298px × 1087px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthordodgemar, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookyear1873
