CHAPTER III (E)
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If by the fourth day of the "war" stage authority has not been obtained to lay out the mine-field, preparations will not be carried further, and additional officers and men for electric light work will be distributed at once to sections in accordance with Table E (v). When authority is subsequently given to lay out the mine-fields, officers and men will be withdrawn from sections down to the numbers laid down in Table E (ii).
When the mine-fields are to be laid out, the O.C.S.M. will obtain launches and men as follows:-
(1.) A powerful launch to tow the "Megohm."
(2.) Two fast launches for general work.
(3.) Two or more junks as J.B. boats.
(4.) Twenty native coolies.
These will be required for about three days.
The mine-fields will then be laid out in their numerical order, provided the friendly channels are marked, and the arrangements for passing the traffic through the mine-fields have been completed. Detailed orders for laying the mine defence are given in the form of working orders below.
After mobilization is completed a daily report of the condition of mines and lights will be sent in by the O.C.S.M. of each Section to his Section Commander, and a summary of any casualties telephoned to the O.C.S.M. at headquarters, who will arrange for repairs, calling in the men from sections as necessary. The O.C.S.M. will also frequently visit the sections and confer with the Section Commander and Section 0.C.S.M. as to any defects brought to notice, or improvement which may be possible in the working or manning of lights, mines, or torpedoes.
3-Standing Orders for laying Submarine Mining Defences.
(1.) Boats available :-
Steam-ship "Solent," steam-ship "Miner."
1 hired launch for "Megohm."
2 hired launches for general work. "Megohm," 6 J.B. boats.
3 hired junks as J.B. boats.
(2.) Distribution.—As Table E (iv).
(3.) Alignments and Signallers.--Alignment flags to be up by daybreak, signallers to be detailed in three hour reliefs from the electric light parties, one for each test room and one for each observing station.
(4.) Method of laying.---All observation mines to be laid by P.F., and also E.Cs. when possible. If both boats require P.F., “Solent" to have preference. If P.F. not available, lay by sextant angle.
(5.) Shore parties.--Connect up and embark mines as under, group cables and J.B. moorings to be embarked with their groups.
First day :-
On "Miner
(1st trip).-Moorings and j boxes for I, II, III. B, L, E, O, H, R.
On "Solent" (1st trip).-Six lines of mines, 1 to 18. Moorings and group cables for A,
C, D, F, G, J, K, M, N, P, Q, and telephone cable R to GG.
On "Miner" (2nd trip).-Five groups, D, E, F, G, H.
On "Megohm" (2nd trip).-Nine groups, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R.
On "Solent" (2nd trip).—Three lines, 19 to 27, and three groups, A, B, C.
The above completes the mines to be laid the first day.
The following will be connected up and embarked the first evening ready for laying out next
day:-
On "Solent" (3rd trip).—Nine lines, 61 to 78, and two groups, A and B.
On "Miner" (3rd trip).-Five groups, 00, NN, MM, LL, KK.
On "Megohm" (3rd trip).-Nine groups, AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, JJ.
Second day:
On "Solent" (4th trip).-Seven groups, CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, JJ.
On "Solent" (5th trip).—Three groups, A, B, C, and seven lines, 41 to 54.
(6.) Laying-out Parties:-
First day
"Solent" (1st trip).-Lay from deck J.B. moorings, group cables and lines, 1 to 18, and
return.
(2nd trip).-Enıbark aud lay from deck lines, 19 to 27, and groups A, B. C.
Then embark and lay two or three groups from "Megohm."
"Miner" (1st trip).-Lay moorings and boxes for I, II, III, B, L, E, O, H, R, and return.
(2nd trip).—Embark and lay from deck D, E, F, G, H groups, and lay six or seven
groups from "Megohm."
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Megohm" (1st trip).-Lay main cables I, II, III, B, L, E. O, H, R, and return to pier. (2nd trip).-Embark and take out J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, and return to pier.
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