Page 250
•
Page 250
214
(e) Speed of getting into and out of action.
With the 3" gun, all that is necessary after arrival on site is to lower four jacks to take the weight off the wheels, and to level the platform by means of the jacks. The whole process takes only five minutes. after firing, the gun goes out of level, it can be re-levelled quiokly by means of the jacks.
If,
The
With the 3.7" gun the process is much longer. ground must be levelled first and the gun lowered on to it. Only '30 of top-level is possible, either then or if the gun goes out of level after firing. The process takes 20 minutes when the minimum of digging is necessary. After only one burst of fire from a natural platform, the gun frequently goes so much out of level that it cannot be adjusted by the top-level. It is then necessary to pick up the gun, re-level the bed or prepare a fresh bed, and lower the gun on to it again.
Rate of fire and speed of traverse.
9.
The higher rate of fire and speed of traverse of the 3" gun are of advantage when firing at low-flying aircraft and at dive bombing aircraft close to the gun position, owing to the high angular velocity.
io.
In all firing the higher rate of fire of the 3" gun compensates to some extent for the smaller effective radius of burst.
Role of A.A. guns in Forward Areas.
11. The primary role of A.A. guns in the forward areas is to interfere with the activities of hostile reconnaissance aircraft. Photographic and strategical reconnaissance aircraft may fly above the ceiling of the 3" gun. But, on the other hand, when opposing forces have gained contact, the greater part of the aerial reconnaissance activity will be tactical and artillery reconnaissance. The role of such reconnaissance is to identify by eye small targets on the ground such as gun positions, lorries and infantry, halted or on the move. It is only possible to do this work from heights well below the ceiling of the 3" gun.
12. The secondary role of forward area A.A. guns is defence against bombing attack. The targets of the bombers will also be small, because it is a matter of policy not to offer large targets in forward areas. Bomb dropping has not yet achieved the accuracy necessary to be able to hit such targets from great heights and bombers must descend within the ceiling of the 3" gun. In fact, much of the bombing is likely to be done by low-flying aircraft and as stated in paragraph 9, 3" guns are able to deal with them better than the 3.7" guns.
13.
A.A. guns on the move are out of action. In order to carry out their roles they must spend as little time as possible on the move. Forward guns will frequently be sited within range of the enemy's artillery, and if they are located and shelled, they may have to move to new positions as rapidly as possible. When the troops they are protecting move forward, the A.A. guns may have to
Page 250
Page 250
Page 250Page 251