WORKS OF CAPTAIN H. E. CLOKE
PUBLISHED BY
JOHN WILEY & SONS
The Gunner's Examiner.
Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged. 8vo, viii + 206 pages, 109
figures. Cloth, $1.50.
The Enlisted Specialists' Examiner.
8vo, vi + 186 pages, 146 figures. Cloth, $2.00 net.
[Illustration: SOME RESULTS OF LONG RANGE FIRING IN BOSTON HARBOR.
BULLS EYE, 12" B.L.R.
HIT ON WATER LINE, 10" B.L.R.
_Frontispiece._]
THE
GUNNER'S EXAMINER
PREPARED BY
HAROLD E. CLOKE
_Captain Coast Artillery Corps, U. S. A._
_THIRD EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED._
FIRST THOUSAND
NEW YORK
JOHN WILEY AND SONS
LONDON: CHAPMAN AND HALL, LIMITED
1908
Copyright, 1905, 1906, 1908,
BY
HAROLD E. CLOKE
The Scientific Press
Robert Drummond and Company
New York
PREFACE.
Owing to the practical impossibility of a student of gunnery obtaining
ready access to all the books, pamphlets, circulars, orders, etc.,
necessary to fit him for the examinations as required by General
Orders of the War Department for first- and second-class gunners, and
also owing to the extreme difficulty the average enlisted man has in
comprehending the technical language in which these books, pamphlets,
etc., are couched,--provided he does by some stroke of good fortune
come into possession of some of them,--the author has been impelled to
compile this work.
Effort has been made to eliminate all subjects that are not included
in the requirements of G. O. 141, 1904, yet being particular that it
contain all such subjects as an examining board might fairly construe
to be within the interest and scope of the order.
As the art of gunnery changes from year to year, and the scope of
gunner's examinations changes likewise, it is intended that this book
be revised and published accordingly.
The preparation of this book was suggested to the author by the members
of his company--the 61st Coast Artillery.
As is well known, the first publication of a text-book is liable to
contain a few technical errors. The author will be grateful for any
information of such a character concerning this work.
The author is indebted to Brigadier-General William Crozier for
supplying him with many pamphlets issued by the Ordnance Department; to
First Lieutenant W. K. Moore for correction of proof and other matters;
and to Master Electrician C. M. Beer, Artillery Corps, for photographs.
FORT TOTTEN, N. Y., February, 1905.
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
In this edition the author has endeavored to make all the corrections
which were suggested to him during the past year, and to add to the
book descriptions, etc., of the new range-board, the deflection-board,
several later types of guns, and a brief discourse on the loading,
planting, and care of submarine mines according to the new and adopted
system.
The author desires to thank Captain R. P. Davis for his revision of the
"torpedo gunnery" contained in the work.
FORT TOTTEN, N. Y., November, 1905.
PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.
As was stated in the preface of the first edition, this book will be
revised from year to year as the rules of gunnery change, and this
revision is made merely to bring the book up to date.
It is intended in this revision to conform strictly to G. O. 105, 1907,
and to add to the book only such matter as will assist enlisted men
of the Coast Artillery Corps to pass their examinations for first or
second-class gunners.
The chapter on submarine mining is almost completely revised, for the
reason that the new system has undergone many more radical changes
within the past few years than has gunnery in the Coast Artillery.
Several additions in mortar gunnery have been made in order to keep
pace with the rapid and remarkable development of this arm of Coast
Artillery.
FORT TOTTEN, NEW YORK, March, 1908.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
EXTRACTS FROM G. O. 105, MAY 11, 1907 1
Schedule of Examination for Gunners 2
Syllabus of Examination for Gunners 3
Second-class Gunners 4
First-class Gunners 6
Torpedo-company Gunners 9
Examination for Second-class Gunners 11
General Information 11
Service of the Piece 11
12-inch B. L. R., Disappearing Carriage 13
12-inch B. L. R., Mounted on Non-disappearing Carriage 26
8-inch Non-disappearing 30
12-inch Mortar, Model 1896 33
6-inch Disappearing 37
NOMENCLATURE AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION 41
Breech-blocks, Recoil-cylinders, etc. 44
Care of Guns and Carriages 66
Powders, Projectiles, Primers, and Fuses 73
Cordage, Blocks, Tackle, Gins, Shears, etc. 88
Knots and Hitches 91
Splices 95
Rigging-tackles 96
Gins 98
Shears 99
Hydraulic Jacks 102
U. S. Magazine Rifle Description etc. 105