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to their respective stations, shifting J.B. boats while laying out is going on, &c. She would be required until the laying out was complete.
(3.) Twenty native boatmen to lay out multiple cables from the "Megohm," and subsequently to assist in heavy work in the S.M. Yard. They will be required for three days.
7. Experiments have shown that the four mine-fields can be completely laid out in 3 days, even in somewhat unfavourable weather, and the programme for laying out is based on this, though exceptionally favourable or unfavourable weather might reduce or extend the time taken to 3 or 4 days respectively.
The stages would be approximately as follows:-
On First Day.-No. IV mine-field and the mines in Friendly Channel in No. III. All multiple and group cables in Nos. II and III mine-fields.
On Second Day.-Multiple and group cables in No. I mine-field, mines in No. II mine-field, and in No. III to the north of the Friendly Channel.
On Third Day.-The mines in No. III to the south of the Friendly Channel and No. I mine-field.
On Fourth Day.-The whole completed and any necessary repairs to mine-fields carried out.
8. The detailed programme for laying out is as follows:-
Eastern Defence, No. IV mine-field, Lyemun.
"Solent," 1st trip.-Embarks lines of buoyant mines Nos. 43-44, 41-42, 49–50, and tows out a J.B. pinnace, containing Nos. XI and XII multiple cables. Lays out, first multiple cables, then mines in order shown above.
kr
Solent," 2nd trip.-Lays out Nos. 47-48, 45-46, 53-54, and 51-52 mines.
The two trips take probably six to seven hours.
Western Defence, Nos. I, II, and III mine-fields, Stone-cutters, and Belchers. "Miner," 1st trip.-Proceeds to western mine-fields with alignment, test room, and observing station parties, lands them at their respective stations, leaves three J.B. pinnaces at Belchers and lays Nos. VIII, IX, and X multiple J.B. buoys.
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Miner," 2nd trip.-Embarks and lays out B.B., C.C., D.D., H.H., J.J., K.K.L., M., T., N., V., U group cables and M. D. J. Bs.
"Miner," 3rd trip.-Lays Y., Z., A.A., E.E., F.F., G.G., O., P., W., X., Q., A., S.
cables and M. D. J. Bs.
group
"Miner," 4th trip.-Lays A., B., C., D., E., F., G., H., J., K. group cables and M. D. J. Bs.
The "Megohm," towed by a hired launch, lays the main cables in the following order: VIII, IX, X, VII, III, IV, V, VI, II, I.
CC
Solent," 3rd and 4th trips.-Lays the western marking buoys, Nos. 3 and 4, of the Friendly Channel in No. III mine-field. Lays the lines of ground mines in the following order: 61-63, 64-66, 67-69, 70-72, 73-75, 76-78, 79-81, 82-84.
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"Solent" and "Miner," 5th and subsequent trips.--The groups of E.C. mines are laid by the "Solent and "Miner" in the following order: L. M. N. O. B.B., C.C., D.D., H.H., P. Q. R. S. J.J., K.K., G. G. F.F., T. U. V. W. X. A.A., Z. Y. E.E., A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. K.
The number of trips cannot be laid down exactly, but it is generally found most convenient to sling three groups and embark two others with tripping chains and Miner." The sinkers on the Solent" and to sling two and embark one on the mines which have been embarked are slung in the mine-fields.
፡፡
The distribution of officers and men for the first day of laying the mines is shown in Table E (i). When the alignments have been put up and the mines of No. IV mine-field and the observation mines of No. III mine-field have been laid the align- ment and observing station parties join the priming and connecting-up parties. All hands are permanently detailed for their defence duties and are kept well instructed in
them.
9. On completion of the laying out of the mines, the officers and men of the company and attached supernumerary staff will go to their appointed stations as
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