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FM 4-49
WAR DEPARTMENT
COAST ARTILLERY
FIELD MANUAL
SERVICE OF THE PIECE
SEACOAST ARTILLERY
8-INCH GUN, MARK VI,
MODIFICATION 3A2,
ON RAILWAY MOUNT MlAl
AUGUST 6, ±942
REGRADED UNCLASSIFIED sv
| PM 4-49
I 01
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
SERVICE OF THE PIECE
SEACOAST ARTILLERY
8-INCH GUN, MARK VI, MODIFICATION 3A2
ON RAILWAY MOUNT M1A1
Changes ) WAR DEPARTMENT,
No. 1 J Washington, April 5, 1943.
FM 4-49, August 6, 1942, is changed as follows :
Section XI (Added)
DESTRUCTION OF MATERIEL
■ 64. General Princupuss. — a . Tactical situations may arise
when, due to limitations of time or transportation, it will be-
come impossible to evacuate all equipment. In such situations
it is imperative that all materiel that cannot be evacuated be
destroyed to prevent —
(1) Its capture intact by the enemy.
(2) Its use by the enemy, if captured, against our own or
allied troops.
h. The working principles to be followed are ;
(1) Methods for the destruction of materiel subject to cap-
ture or abandonment in the combat zone must be adequate, uni-
form, and easily followed in the field.
(2) Destruction must be as complete as the available time,
equipment, and personnel will permit. If thorough destruction
of all parts cannot be completed, the most important features
of the materiel should be destroyed, and parts essential to the
operation or use of the materiel, and which cannot be easily
duplicated, ruined, or removed. The same essential parts must
he destroyed on all like units to prevent the enotny constructing
518705° — 43
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
one complete unit from several damaged ones by (t cannibaliza-
tion ”
(3) The destruction of materiel subject to capture or aban-
donment will be undertaken' only when ordered by the harbor
defense or higher commander.
c. To accomplish adequate and uniform destruction of materiel,
it is essential that —
(1) All echelons prepare plans for the destruction of materiel
in the event of imminent capture. Such plans must be flexible
enough to make allowance for variations in available time, equip-
ment, and personnel.
(2) All echelons be trained to effect the desired destruction
of materiel issued to them. Training will not involve the actual
destruction of materiel,
d. Certain of the methods outlined require special tools and
materials, such as TNT and incendiary grenades, which normally
may not be items of issue. The issue of such special tools and
materials, the vehicles for which issued, and the conditions under
which destruction will be effected are command decisions ir
each case, according to the tactical situation.
■ 65. Priority of Destruction. — a. Destruction should be ac-
compli shed in the following priority :
(1) Tube.
(2) Power equipment.
(3) Carriage and mount.
(4) Sights and observation instruments.
(5) Plotting room equipment.
(6) Ammunition.
(7) Locomotive and railway cars.
b. In the event of imminent capture, everything that could be
of possible use to the enemy should be destroyed. If evacuation
is probable, all sights, optical instruments, and other valuable
small items should be evacuated.
■ 66. Tube. — The selection of a method of demolition will de-
pend on the tactical situation and the materials available. The
methods for the destruction of the tube are presented in the
order of their effectiveness.
S-INCH GUN, MARK VI
а. Demolition by unfuzed HE shell and either M9A1 AT
grenade or M6 AT rocket . — (1) Kemove the recoil cylinder drain
plug. It is not necessary to wait for the recoil fluid to drain
completely before firing the piece as in (4) below.
(2) Lay an armed ( safety pin removed) M9A1 AT grenade,
HE, or M6 AT rocket in the tube about 6 inches in front of the
projectile (see (3) below) with the ogive nose end toward the
shell. The grenade or rocket must be centered in the tube,
using either a wooden adapter or a wad of waste.
(3) Place an unfuzed, point-detonating, HE shell M103 and
propelling charge in the gun and close the breech.
(4) Fire the gun electrically if possible; if not use a lanyard
at least 100 feet long. The person firing the piece should be
under cover in the rear of the piece and about 20 degrees off
the line of fire.
(5) When using this method, the danger zone is about 500
yards in radius.
б. Demolition by TNT blocks . — (1) Remove the recoil cyl-
inder drain plug. Insert 30 to 50 Impound TNT blocks in the
chamber and close the breechblock. Plug the muzzle end of the
tube tightly with earth to a distance of approximately 2 feet
from the muzzle. Detonate the TNT charge by means of a
detonating cord routed through the primer vent.
(2) The firer should be under cover. The danger zone is
about 500 yards.
(3) For instructions on the wiring and firing of TNT, see FM
5-25, paragraphs 21 to 27, inclusive.
c. Demolition by TNT blocks and HE shell. — Remove the re-
coil cylinder drain plug. Ram an HE shell into the forcing cone,
place 30 to 50 ^4 -pound TNT blocks in the chamber, and close
the breechblock. Detonate the TNT with a detonating cord
routed through the primer vent. A sufficient length of safety
fuze should be used to permit personnel to reach cover.
d. Demolition by incendiary gi'enades . — If evacuation is im-
minent and it is desired to accomplish demolition without tell-
tale explosions, the following method should be used : Place 10
to 12 unfuzed M14 incendiary grenades in the chamber. They
should be placed on their sides and stacked one on top of another.
Close the breech. Equip another incendiary grenade with a 15-
3
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
second Bickford fuze, ignite it, and throw it in the muzzle.
Elevate the gun quickly to its maximum elevation. The metal
from the grenades will fuse with the interior of the breechblock,
making it impossible to open .the breech.
e. Demolition by firing gum at each other . — (1) Fire adjacent
guns at each other at point-blank range, using HE or AP shell.
Two or more hits on a vital spot such as the breech mechanism,
recoil mechanism, or tube should adequately destroy a gun. Fire
from cover. The danger space is from 200 to 500 yards.
(2) Destroy the last gun and carriage by the best means
available.
(3) Danger from “cannibalization” is inherent in this method.
■ 67. Breech. — Any of the above methods for destroying the tube
should also destroy the breech ; but if the method selected does
not, a heavy sledge may be used to render the breech useless.
■ 68. Recoil Mechanism. — a . If the methods explained in para-
graph 68a, b, or c are used to destroy the tube and breech, the
carriage and recoil mechanism should be adequately destroyed.
b. No other hasty method of destroying the recoil mechanism
has been proposed.
■ 69. Railway Mount. — a. The truck is the critical part of the
railway mount and the parts contained in the journal boxes of
the trucks are the most important to attack in the demolition
of the mount. Only one journal box and the parts contained
therein need be destroyed for each pair of wheels as the wheels
are pressed on the axle and must rotate together. The journal
box and journal-box parts may be destroyed by removing the
journal-box packing, placing %-pound TNT blocks inside the
journal box, and detonating the charge. The machined surface
of the axle journal may be mutilated or defaced by a sledge or
track chisel. The journal bearing and journal-bearing wedge
should be broken with a sledge if they are not destroyed by the
detonation of the TNT.
b. The coupler knuckle pins may be removed and the knuckles
thrown away, into deep water if possible. The lack of coupler
knuckles will prevent the coupling of the railway mount to a
locomotive or another railway car except by the use of chains.
4
8 -INCH GUN" , MARK VI
c. The triple or AB valves should be broken with a sledge. The
destruction of the valves will render the air brakes useless.
d. The air-brake hoses on the mount should be cut off.
e. If motive power is available, the mount should be derailed
before car parts are destroyed by —
(1) Running the mount through a switch with the switch
points open.
(2) Running the mount off the end of a spur track.
(3) Removing a rail and running the mount off the track.
(4) Disconnecting the rail at a rail joint, spreading the rail,
and running the mount off the track.
f. If possible, cars should be derailed down an embankment.
■ 70. Power Equipment. — -All auxiliary power equipment should
be rendered useless. Electric motors and generators can most
effectively and easily be put out of operation by injuring the
held or armature windings. If time is available, the motor shell
may be broken with a sledge and the coils ruined with a crowbar.
If time is short, a small-arms bullet may easily be directed into
the coils through the air vents in either end bell, but care
should be taken to see that no one is in the path of a possible
ricochet. Switch panels, sockets, plugs, and fuze or circuit-
breaker panels should be smashed with a sledge or ax.
■ 71. Sights and Observation Instruments. — Sights and ob-
servation instruments should be evacuated if possible. If they
cannot be carried away, they should be smashed thoroughly.
■ 72. Plotting Room Equipment. — All boards and instruments
should be smashed and burned if possible. Data transmitters
and all communication equipment should be smashed.
■ 73. Ammunition. — a . Projectiles . — Projectiles are stacked hori-
zontally with ogive ends pointing in the same direction. Re-
move the fuze from the center shell in the top row of each pile.
Pack a detonating cap, with detonating cord attached, next to
the booster in each center shell and detonate. The danger zone
is at least 200 yards. Shells standing on their bases cannot be
destroyed satisfactorily by sympathetic detonation.
&. Powder . — Separate loading propelling charges can be de-
stroyed best by burning. This is accomplished most effectively
5
COAST ARTILLERY YIELD MANUAL
when the charges are out of their containers or the containers
are split.
■ 74. Locomotive and Railway Cars - See FM 4-51 (when pub-
lished) for detailed instructions.
[A. O. 062.11 (3-16-43).] (C 1, Apr. 1043.)
By order of the Secretary of War :
G. C. MARSHALL.
Chief of Staff.
Official :
J. A. ULIO,
Major General ,
The Adjutant General.
6
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1943
FM 4-49
WAR DEPARTMENT
COAST ARTILLERY
FIELD MANUAL
SERVICE OF THE PIECE
SEACOAST ARTILLERY
8=INCH GUN, MARK VI,
MODIFICATION 3A2,
ON RAILWAY MOUNT MlAl
Prepared by The Coast Artillery School
under the direction of
THE COMMANDING GENERAL,
ARMY GROUND FORCES
Printed at
THE ARMY FIELD PRINTING PLANT
Coast Artillery School, Fort Monroe, Virginia: 1942
WAR DEPARTMENT
Washington, August 6, 1942.
FM 4-49, Coast Artillery Field Manual, Service of the
Piece, 8-inch Gun, Mark VI, Modification 3A2, on Railway
Mount M1A1, is published for the information and guidance
of all concerned.
[A. G. 062.11 (7-18-42).]
By order of the Secretary of War.
G. C. MARSHALL,
Chief of Staff.
Official;
J. A. ULIO,
Major General ,
The Adjutant General .
Distribution:
IBn and H 4 (5) ; IC 4 (100) .
(For explanation of symbols see FM 21-6.)
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section I. General. Paragraph Page
Scope 1 1
References 2 1
II. Organization.
Gun section 3 1
Gun squad 4 2
Ammunition squad 5 3
Formation 6 3
III. Duties of Personnel.
Battery executive 7 3
Assistant battery executive 8 4
Chief of section 9 4
Gun pointer 10 8
Elevation setter 11 9
Chief of breech 12 9
Battery commander’s telephone operator 13 9
Display board operators 14 9
Aiming rule operator 15 10
Chief of ammunition 16 11
Ammunition squad 17 12
Artillery mechanics 18 12
IV. Notes on the Service of the Piece.
General 19 13
Service of ammunition 20 14
Opening breech 21 15
Closing breech 22 16
Loading 23 16
Changing powder charge 24 17
Pointing, case III 25 17
Elevation, case III 26 18
Firing, case III 27 18
Firing, case II 28 18
Drill during simulated firing 29 19
The command re-lay 30 20
The command stand fast 31 20
V. Safety Precautions.
General 32 20
The command cease firing 33 20
Firing mechanism 34 21
Lanyard 35 21
Primers 36 21
Fuzes 37 22
Service of powder charge 38 22
Sponging powder chamber 39 23
Cover for gun section 40 23
Poor visibility 41 23
Misfires 42 23
III
TABLE OF CONTENTS — Continued
VI. Care and Adjustment op Materiel. Paragraph Page
General 43 24
Recoil mechanism 44 24
To fill recoil cylinder 45 24
Obturator 46 25
Navy firing lock, Mark VIII,
Modification II 47 25
Sponging solution 48 26
Care of bore 49 26
VII. Emplacement for Firing.
General 50 27
Precautions ? 51 27
Lifting jacks 52 29
Outriggers 53 29
Site 54 30
Preparation of position 55 30
Locating mount 56 30
Elevating and leveling mount 57 32
Assembly of outriggers and floats 58 33
VIII. Preparation for Rail Movement.
General 59 35
Loading and securing equipment 60 35
IX. Statistical Data.
Gun 61 38
Ammunition 62 38
Mount, railway, M1A1 63 40
X. Drill Table 42
Appendix. List of References 41
IV
FM 4-49
1-3
SERVICE OF THE PIECE
8-INCH GUN, MARK VI, MODIFICATION 3A2
ON RAILWAY MOUNT M1A1
Paragraphs
Section I. General 1-2
II. Organization 3-6
III. Duties of personnel 7-18
IV. Notes on the service of the piece 19-31
V. Safety precautions . 32^42
VI. Care and adjustment of materiel 43-49
VII. Emplacement for firing 50-58
VIII. Preparation for rail movement . 59-60
IX. Statistical data 61-63
X. Drill table 64
Section I
GENERAL
Paragraph
Scope 1
References 2
■ 1. Scope. — a. This manual prescribes the service of the
piece for the 8-inch gun, Mark VI, Modification 3A2, on
railway mount M1A1. The duties of the members of the
gun section in the service of the piece are contained in
section III and in the drill table, section X.
b. The emplacing and the service of the piece as described
herein are intended as a guide for the battery commander.
Changes in the details of the emplacing and the service of
the piece may be made to meet local conditions.
■ 2. References. — The references listed in the Appendix
should be consulted, especially those pertaining to ammu-
nition and the operation, care, and maintenance of materiel.
Section II
ORGANIZATION
Paragraph
Gun section 3
Gun squad 4
Ammunition squad 5
Formation 6
■ 3. Gun Section. — Each emplacement of 1 gun is manned
by a gun squad and an ammunition squad. The strength is
26 enlisted men.
1
4
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
■ 4. Gun Squad. — The gun squad (17 enlisted men) consists
of the gun commander (chief of section) , gun pointer, ele-
vation setter, battery commander’s telephone operator, dis-
play board operators, aiming rule operator, chief of breech,
and 9 cannoneers numbered from 1 to 9, inclusive. Men
are assigned to permanent positions according to their apti-
tude, but will be interchanged frequently in drill positions
in order to develop flexibility and facilitate replacement.
Elev.Display Board
Operator
Az.(Def I.) Display
Board Opr.
B.C. Tp. Opr.
0
©
0
©
©
©
©
©
©
o
Chief of
Ammunition
(7)^40
©
©
©
©
©
©
o
Chief of Breech
o
o
Aiming Rule Opr.
o
o
Elevation Setter
o
9
Gun Pointer
30
j
A
Chief of Section
(Gun Commander)
Figure 1 . — Formation of gun section.
2
8 -INCH GUN ON RAILWAY MOUNT M1A1 5-7
■ 5. Ammunition Squad. — The ammunition squad (9 en-
listed men) consists of the chief of ammunition and 8 am-
munition handlers numbered from 10 to 17, inclusive. This
squad is divided by its chief into details for the service of
powder and projectiles, and for miscellaneous duties re-
quired by local conditions.
■ 6. Formation. — Each gun section assembles in two ranks
as shown in figure 1. Unnumbered cannoneers form on the
right of their respective squads. The chief of breech and
the chief of ammunition form at the right of the numbered
cannoneers in the gun squad and ammunition squad, re-
spectively. After forming the gun section, the chief of sec-
tion takes post in the front rank, 30 inches to the right of
the gun pointer.
Section III
DUTIES OF PERSONNEL
Paragraph
Battery executive 7
Assistant battery executive 8
Chief of section 9
Gun pointer 10
Elevation setter 11
Chief of breech 12
Battery commander’s telephone operator 13
Display board operators 14
Aiming rule operator 15
Chief of ammunition 16
Ammunition squad 17
Artillery mechanics 18
■ 7. Battery Executive. — a. The battery executive com-
mands the firing section of the battery and is in charge of
the gun emplacements and accessories. He is responsible
for the —
(1) Training and efficiency of the personnel of the firing
section.
(2) Condition of the materiel under his charge.
(3) Observance of all safety precautions pertaining to the
service of the piece.
(4) Police of all emplacements.
(5) Emplacement and orientation of the guns when they
are moved into position, and their preparation for railroad
travel when they are taken out of position.
3
7-9
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
(6) Camouflage of all emplacements.
b. He inspects the materiel under his charge and person-
ally verifies the adjustment of all pointing devices as fre-
quently as necessary to insure accuracy. He or an assistant
battery executive tests all firing devices before each drill or
firing, paying particular attention to the safety featured.
c. He receives the reports of the assistant battery execu-
tives or chiefs of sections and reports to the battery com-
mander, “Sir, firing section in order,” or reports defects
which he is unable to remedy without delay.
d. He exercises general supervision over the loading and
pointing. If, for any reason, he desires to hold fire for one
firing interval, he commands: RE-LAY, and reports his
action to the battery commander.
e. At the conclusion of drill or firing, the battery executive
commands: REPLACE EQUIPMENT, inspects the emplace-
ments, and reports to the battery commander.
/. He selects the positions for and supervises the emplace-
ment and employment of the machine guns of the firing
section.
g. As battery railway officer he is responsible for the
condition and maintenance of the railway materiel assigned
to the battery.
■ 8. Assistant Battery Executive. — Each assistant battery
executive will perform the duties of the battery executive
that pertain to the emplacement or emplacements to which
he is assigned.
■ 9. Chief of Section. — a. The chief of section (gun com-
mander) , a noncommissioned officer, is in command of the
gun section and is also chief of the gun squad. He is re-
sponsible to the officer in charge of the emplacement for
the —
(1) Training and efficiency of the personnel of his section.
(2) Condition of the materiel under his charge.
(3) Emplacement of the piece and its preparation for
firing, including camouflage discipline and gas discipline
when necessary.
(4) Firing of the piece.
4
8-inch gun on railway mount M1A1 9
(5) Observance of all safety precautions pertaining to
the service of the piece.
(6) Police of the emplacement.
b. He supervises the preparation of the firing position,
the emplacement of the mount, the removing of it from po-
sition, the unloading and loading of equipment, the service
of the piece, and the service of ammunition, giving the nec-
essary commands and instructions for carrying out these
operations. He personally directs the care and preservation
of the materiel.
c. The gun being emplaced for firing, he commands: 1.
details, 2. POSTS, and supervises the procuring of equip-
ment. After all details have reached their posts (figs. 2
and 3), he commands: EXAMINE GUN. He then makes an
inspection of the gun, carriage, and other materiel, giving
particular attention to the recoil and recuperator systems,
firing mechanism, recoil parts lock and other safety devices,
oiling of the various bearings, and the condition of the
track, outriggers, and floats. He receives the reports of the
chief of ammunition and of the various details of the gun
squad, and reports to the officer in charge of the emplace-
ment, “Sir, No. in order,” or any defects which he
is unable to remedy without delay.
d. When necessary to verify the section personnel, he
commands: CALL OFF. At this command the cannoneers
in each squad call off their titles or numbers in succession,
beginning with the unnumbered members of the section,
followed by the numbered members in order.
e. He informs the chief of ammunition as to the projec-
tile, fuze, and powder charge to be used.
/. At the command target, he repeats the command and
the target designation. As soon as the gun pointer is on
the target (or aiming point) , the gun commander reports or
signals to the officer in charge of the emplacement, “Sir,
No. on target.”
g. At the command load, he repeats the command and
supervises the loading. After the piece is loaded and laid,
he calls or signals, “No. ready.” He also commands:
5
Figure 3. — Gun squad at details, POSTS.
9-10 COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
LOAD before each shot of a series. The piece is not fired
until the command, commence firing, is given and the
proper firing signal received.
h. At the command commence firing, if the piece is un-
loaded he commands: LOAD, and supervises the work of his
section. After the piece is loaded and laid, he sees that all
personnel are clear.
i. He commands: CEASE FIRING, when the number of
shots specified have been fired. He repeats the command
cease firing, when it is received. At the conclusion of a
series of shots, he reports to the officer in charge of the
emplacement, “Sir, No. (so many) rounds fired.”
When dummy ammunition is used, he commands: UN-
LOAD, and supervises the unloading.
j. During the firing he stations himself in such a position
as best to observe the functioning of the gun section and the
gun. He pays particular attention to the action of the gun
in recoil and counterrecoil in order that a loss of recoil oil
by leakage may be observed in time to be corrected.
k . In case of a misfire, he calls, “No. misfire.”
He sees that the precautions described in paragraph 42
are observed.
l. When firing on a time interval signal, he commands:
RE-LAY in case the time interval signal fails to sound at
the gun, or in case his gun is not ready to fire when the
time interval signal sounds. He repeats the command re-
lay, when it is received.
m. At the command replace equipment, he supervises the
replacing of all equipment, sees that all materiel is properly
secured and the emplacement policed, and then, unless
otherwise directed, he forms his section.
■ 10. Gun Pointer. — The gun pointer (noncommissioned
officer) is charged with the duty of pointing the piece in
direction. He is responsible to the gun commander for the
proper operation, care, and adjustment of the sight, azi-
muth indicator, traversing mechanism, and for the super-
vision of the aiming rule operator. For detailed duties of
the gun pointer, see the drill table, section X.
8
8-inch gun on railway mount M1A1 11-14
■ 11. Elevation Setter. — The elevation setter is charged
with the duty of laying the piece in elevation. He is re-
sponsible to the gun commander for the proper operation,
care, and adjustment of the trunnion quadrant, elevation
indicator, and the elevating mechanism. For the detailed
duties of the elevation setter, see the drill table, section X.
■ 12. Chief of Breech. — The chief of breech (noncommis-
sioned officer) is responsible to the gun commander for the
efficiency of the personnel of the breech detail; for the con-
dition and serviceability of the breech mechanism, chamber,
and bore; for the observance of safety precautions that per-
tain to his detail; and for the proper loading of the piece.
He pays particular attention to the seating of the projectile
and sees that the igniter is on the rear end of the powder
charge. He attaches the firing cable if firing electrically or
the lanyard when the lanyard is used. For the detailed
duties of the chief of breech, see the drill table, section X.
■ 13. Battery Commander’s Telephone Operator. — a. The
battery commander’s telephone operator is charged with
the duty of receiving and transmitting all messages passing
between the battery commander and the officer in charge
of the emplacement, and the keeping of such records as may
be directed.
b. At the command details, posts, he procures a tele-
phone with headset and handset and takes post as directed.
He reserves the handset for the use of any person to whom
the battery commander may wish to speak.
c. At the command examine gun, he connects his tele-
phone and establishes communication with the battery com-
mander’s station, reporting to the gun commander in case
of failure to obtain satisfactory communication.
d. He relays all commands and messages until properly
relieved from his duties.
■ 14. Display Board Operators. — a. The azimuth and ele-
vation display board operators are responsible to the gun
commander for the proper operation of the display boards
and for the recording of all data received from the fire-con-
trol car.
9
14-15
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
b. At the command details, posts, they procure display
boards, chalk, blackboard erasers or waste, and telephones.
The azimuth display board operator places his equipment
on the ground to the left of the piece, and takes post at the
display board. The elevation display board operator places
his equipment on the ground to the right of the piece, and
takes post at the display board.
c. At the command examine gun, they clean their display
boards if necessary, put on the telephone headsets, test the
telephones, and report to the gun commander, “Azimuth
display board in order,” or, “Elevation display board in
order,” or report any defects they are unable to remedy
without delay.
d. At the command target, they relay the azimuths and
elevations received from the fire-control car and post the
data on their display boards.
e. At the command cease firing, they continue to post
data received from the fire-control car until the command
cease tracking is received.
■ 15. Aiming Rule Operator. — a. The aiming rule operator
is responsible to the gun commander for the proper opera-
tion, care, and adjustment of the aiming rule.
b. At the command details, posts, the aiming rule opera-
tor, assisted by No. 9, procures the aiming rule sight and
cross bar, places them near the aiming rule stakes, and
takes post behind the aiming rule stakes facing the piece
when the aiming rule is to be used. When the aiming rule
is not to be used, the aiming rule operator takes post on the
ground to the left of the piece.
c. At the command examine gun, the aiming rule operator
places the aiming rule cross bar in position on the stakes
and places his sight in its bracket on the cross bar. He
sets the data determined during orientation of the aiming
rule on his sight, moves the sight along the cross bar until
the vertical cross wire is exactly on the center line of a
targ placed on top of and centered on the gun sight, and re-
ports, “Aiming rule in order,” or reports any defects which
he is unable to remedy without delay.
10
8-inch gun on railway mount M1A1 15-16
d. At the command target he keeps the vertical cross
wire on his sight exactly on the center of the targ on the
gun panoramic telescope by sliding his sight along the cross
bar without changing the azimuth set on his sight.
e. At the command relay or cease firing, he continues to
perform the duties prescribed under the command target
unless otherwise directed.
■ 16. Chief of Ammunition. — a. The chief of ammunition
(noncommissioned officer) is responsible to the chief of sec-
tion for the —
(1) Efficiency of the personnel under his charge.
(2) Care and preservation of the ammunition and the
ammunition car or magazine, including the equipment
contained therein.
(3) Camouflage discipline and gas discipline at the am-
munition cars or shelters pertaining to his section.
(4) Observance of all safety precautions in the care and
service of the ammunition.
(5) Security and careful handling of the ammunition and
its protection against water, dampness, fire, and the direct
rays of the sun.
(6) Uninterrupted service of ammunition during action.
b. He keeps a record of all ammunition received and
ammunition used by his gun, exercising particular care that v
projectiles and fuzes are listed under proper name and type.
c. He keeps the chief of section informed regarding am-
munition on hand, checks the weights of projectiles, and
reports defects found in the ammunition.
d. He keeps a thermometer in a selected powder con-
tainer and reports the temperature of the powder when
required. Where powder has been stored for at least 2 weeks
in a service magazine, the temperature of the magazine
may be taken as the powder temperature. This temperature
should be taken immediately upon opening the magazine.
e. At the command details, posts, he opens the ammuni-
tion car or magazine and posts the members of the ammuni-
tion squad.
11
16-18 COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
/. At the command examine gun, he inspects the materiel
under his charge, gives the necessary instructions for pre-
paring ammunition and equipment for firing or drill, and
reports to the chief of section, “Ammunition service in
order,” or reports any defects he cannot remedy without
delay.
g. At the command load, he directs and supervises the
service of ammunition.
h. At the command replace equipment, he supervises the
replacing of equipment, sees that all materiel is properly
secured, forms his squad, and reports to the chief of section.
■ 17. Ammunition Squad. — a. At the command details,
posts, the ammunition squad (Nos. 10 to 17, inclusive) takes
post in the ammunition car or as directed by the chief of
ammunition.
b. At the command examine gun, the squad prepares the
car equipment and the ammunition for firing or drill.
c. At the command load —
(1) Nos. 10 and 11 stationed outside the car receive in
turn the powder charges and deliver them to No. 3 on the
gun platform.
(2) Nos. 12 and 13 remove the powder charge from the
container and stand ready to deliver it to No: 10 or 11.
(3) No. 14 is responsible for the proper fuzing of pro-
jectiles.
(4) Nos. 15, 16, and 17 stand ready to refill the projec-
tile table on the car platform as opportunity offers.
d. At the command replace equipment, the ammunition
squad secures all materiel.
■ 18. Artillery Mechanics. — a. The artillery mechanics
are members of the executive officer’s detail. They make
minor repairs and adjustments, assisted by members of the
gun section. The chief artillery mechanic is the custodian
of supplies pertaining to the gun emplacements to which
his battery is assigned. He is responsible for the condition
of the store cars assigned to the battery and for the sup-
plies contained therein. The chief mechanic or his assistant
12
8-inch gun on railway mount M1A1 18-19
issues such equipment, tools, oils, paints, and cleaning ma-
terials to the members of the gun sections as may be neces-
sary for the service and care of the guns and accessories.
b. Under the supervision of the gun commander, the ar-
tillery mechanics will perform daily the following duties —
(1) Check the level of the oil in the recoil cylinders at
zero degrees elevation, and add more oil if necessary.
(2) Check the position of the intensifier rod. The index
should point to a graduation between 1 and 7. If not, more
oil must be pumped into the intensifier by operating the oil
pump on the cradle. The valve in the oil pipe near the in-
tensifier must be open before pumping.
(3) Open the needle valve at the air end of the intensifier
and note the reading on the air pressure gage. If the pres-
sure is lower than the pressure indicated by the red mark on
the gage (1,600 pounds per square inch), a cylinder of com-
pressed air must be attached to the maneuvering valve filling
hole and the air pressure in the recuperator system in-
creased to 1,600 pounds per square inch. After testing, the
needle valve at the air end of the intensifier must be closed.
Section IV
NOTES ON THE SERVICE OF THE PIECE
Paragraph
General 19
Service of ammunition 20
Opening breech 21
Closing breech 22
Loading 23
Changing powder charge 24
Pointing, case III 25
Elevation, case III 26
Firing, case III 27
Firing, case II 28
Drill during simulated firing 29
The command re-lay 30
The command stand fast 31
■ 19. General. — a. The service of the piece will be con-
ducted with dispatch and precision and with as few orders
as possible. Except for the necessary orders, reports, and
instructions, no talking will be permitted. Cannoneers will
13
19-20 COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
change positions at a run, except those men posted on the
carriage who will change positions as rapidly as practicable.
b . Commands will be given in the prescribed forms (see
FM 4-5). Signals may be substituted for commands when-
ever practicable (see FM 4-20) .
c. Loading with dummy ammunition and pointing the
piece as for firing is the normal practice at drills.
d. When there is a lull in the firing or drill, each member
of the gun section will inspect, clean, and place in the best
condition possible, the materiel under his charge. Prior to
and during lulls in firing, Nos. 5 and 6 and the ammunition
detail place as many projectiles as practicable on the am-
munition table.
■ 20. Service of Ammunition.— When action or target
practice is imminent, the ammunition car loaded with pro-
8 -INCH CUN ON RAILWAY MOUNT M1A1 20-21
jectiles and powder charges will be placed immediately be-
hind the gun, or on an adjacent parallel track, unless there
is a field magazine at the emplacement. Primers and
point detonating fuzes will be stored in a convenient place
away from the projectiles and powder charges and protected
from the weather.
■ 21. Opening Breech. — a. No. 1 turns the breech operating
crank handle counterclockwise until the breechblock clears
the breech opening (fig. 4) . The breechblock must be held
in full open position; otherwise, the loading trough will
strike the mushroom head.
b . After each round, No. 1 opens the breech, extracts the
used primer, reams the vent, and wipes off the mushroom
head with oily waste.
Figure 5. — Breech closed.
15
ZZ-A6 COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
■ 22. Closing Breech. — No. 1 turns the breech operating
handle clockwise until the breechblock is locked tight in the
breech recess (fig. 5) .
■ 23. Loading. — The ammunition table on the car platform
should be filled with projectiles prior to the command load.
At the command load. No. 7 fastens the shot tong, attached
to the cable of the ammunition crane, to a projectile on the
ammunition table. When the shot tong is fastened, No. 7
calls, “Ready,” whereupon No. 5, assisted by No. 6, hoists the
1 1 mlg iS
»v-;j
&
Vis*
fMtt
■Kf
■net
No. 2 shove the projectile home.
6
25-28
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
and mechanical pointers are matched, calls, “Azimuth set”
and keeps the pointers matched at all times, except when it
is necessary to traverse the piece for loading.
(2) When the azimuth indicator is used without the data
transmitter, the gun pointer traverses the piece until the
mechanical pointer indicates the azimuth received over his
telephone headset or posted on the azimuth display board,
and calls, “Azimuth set.”
■ 26. Elevation, Case III. — a. Using elevation quadrant . —
The elevation setter sets on his quadrant the elevation re-
ceived over his telephone headset or posted on the elevation
display board and assisted by No. 4, he elevates the piece
until the level bubble is centered and calls or signals, “Ele-
vation set.” He must keep the cross level bubble centered.
b. Using elevation indicator. — (1) When using the eleva-
tion indicator with the data transmitter in the fire-control
car, the elevation setter, assisted by No. 4, elevates the
piece until the electrical and mechanical pointers are
matched and calls, “Elevation set.” He keeps the pointers
matched at all times except when it is necessary to depress
the piece to the loading position.
(2) When the elevation indicator is used without the data
transmitter, the elevation setter, assisted by No. 4, elevates
the piece until the mechanical pointer indicates the eleva-
tion received over his telephone headset or posted on the
elevation display board, and calls, “Elevation set.”
c. The elevation setter should set the elevation in the
same manner each time by depressing to the proper setting
rather than setting sometimes by elevating and sometimes
by depressing, except when matching the pointers.
■ 27. Firing, Case III. — After the chief of breech calls,
“Primed,” the gun commander commands or signals: FIRE
(fig. 7), at the sounding of the proper time-interval signal,
and presses the gun commander’s push button. The chief
of breech may be detailed to press the gun commander’s
push button at the gun commander’s command or signal.
■ 28. Firing, Case II. — The gun pointer sets on his sight the
deflection received over his telephone headset or posted on
18
Figure 7. — Ready to fire.
the display board and traverses the piece, keeping the verti-
cal cross wire of his sight on the target. The elevation
setter sets the elevation as in paragraph 26 and calls or
signals, “Elevation set.” The gun pointer centers the cross
level bubble, traverses the piece to keep the vertical cross
wire of his sight on the target, and when the gun com-
mander calls, “Ready,” he commands: FIRE, and pulls the
trigger of the firing switch.
■ 29. Drill During Simulated Firing. — For simulated firing
using dummy ammunition, the following procedure is recom-
mended:
a. For the first and succeeding odd-numbered rounds, the
operations of loading, pointing, and firing, are as given
above for service ammunition.
b. For the second and succeeding even-numbered rounds,
the operation of unloading is substituted therefor. As soon
as the projectile is removed, No. 1 closes the breech, and the
operation of pointing and firing proceed as for service am-
munition. The dummy projectile must be removed slowly to
prevent burring the threads in the breech recess.
19
30-33
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
■ 30. The Command re-lay. — At the command re-lay, the
gun pointer and the elevation setter continue to point the
piece in direction and elevation as at the command load and
the display board operators post the new data on their dis-
play boards as they receive it.
■ 31. The Command stand fast. — If it is desired to halt all
movements of materiel and personnel, the officer in charge
of the emplacement or the chief of section commands:
STAND FAST.
Section V
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Paragraph
General 32
The command cease firing 33
Firing mechanism 34
Lanyard * 35
Primers 36
Fuzes 37
Service of powder charges 38
Sponging powder chamber 39
Cover for gun section 40
Poor visibility 41
Misfires 42
■ 32. General. — The following safety precautions are pre-
scribed for peacetime conditions. They indicate as well the
principles to be followed under war service conditions, but
should be interpreted by the battery executive according
to the circumstances existing at the time of any particular
emergency. Further instructions concerning safety pre-
cautions are prescribed in AR 750-10 and FM 4-20.
■ 33. The Command cease firing. — a. Any individual in the
military service will command or signal cease firing if he
observes any condition which makes it unsafe to fire.
£>. At the command cease firing, given when the piece is
loaded, the lanyard will be detached if the gun is being fired
by use of the lanyard.
20
8 -INCH GUN ON RAILWAY MOUNT M1A1 34-36
■ 34. Firing Mechanism. — a. The firing mechanism is a
Navy firing lock, Mark VIII, Modification II.
b. The firing mechanism will be inspected and tested at
frequent intervals. It is essential that the firing mechanism
be checked immediately before firing to insure proper
operation and functioning of the safety features.
c. To test the safety features of the firing mechanism,
a combination electric percussion primer will be inserted
before the breech is rotated. With the gun commander’s
push button pressed, the trigger of the firing switch will be
pulled, while the block is being rotated, to ascertain if it is
possible to fire the primer before the breechblock is locked.
■ 35. Lanyard. — The lanyard will be pulled with a quick,
strong pull (not a jerk) from a position as near the rear of
the piece as is convenient. There is no safety device on this
gun that operates when it is fired by the lanyard; therefore,
the greatest care must be exercised in hooking the lanyard
to the firing mechanism, and in handling the lanyard there-
after, to avoid firing before the gun is elevated. The firing
lock must not be cocked until after the lanyard is attached.
■ 36. Primers. — Precautions in the care and handling of
primers will be observed as follows :
a. Prior to firing, the primer pouch will be examined to
make certain that it contains live primers only. Each
primer of a new lot will be tested electrically prior to fir-
ing and also to check the fit of the primer in the primer
seat. If the primers do not fit, the primer seat will be ex-
amined to see that it does not contain any foreign particles
which would interfere with the seating of the primer.
b. Care must be taken not to drop the primers.
c. Primers will not be inserted until after the breech-
block has been closed and locked excepting when primers
are used to test the safety devices.
d. No. 1 places fired primers in his pocket after extract-
ing them and discards them at the first opportunity.
e. Necessary precautions will be taken to prevent any at-
tempt to use a primer that has failed.
21
36-38
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
/. Any primer removed after an attempt to fire will be
handled with great care because of the possibility of a
primer hangfire.
■ 37. Fuzes. — a, Normally, projectiles equipped with base
detonating fuzes will be received properly fuzed for firing.
The high-explosive shell is fitted with Fuze, P. D., M51-Mod.
1, w/Booster M21. The fuze, as received, is arranged for
delay action. Delay action requires that the delay head
(inert) be used. Superquick action is obtained when the
superquick head is used in place of the delay head. The
superquick head, which contains a firing pin and primer, is
shipped in a separate container, but in the same packing box
as the shell. The delay head is made of solid brass, whereas
the super quick head is closed with a disk of aluminum,
crimped in places The delay action is always operative;
hence, if the fuze is arranged for superquick action and this
action should fail, the fuze will still function with delay
action.
b. A retaining screw, packed in the box with the high-
explosive projectile, is intended for use only with the delay
head when the Fuze, P. D., M51-Mod. 1, is replaced by a
time fuze. The time fuze does not have an extended flash
tube. Therefore, it requires the retaining screw to secure
the delay head to the end of the windshield.
c. To arrange the fuze for superquick action:
(1) Unscrew the delay head from the point of the pro-
jectile with the fuze wrench provided for that purpose.
(2) Assemble the superquick head in place of the delay
head and tighten with the fuze wrench.
d. For further instructions on the care and handling of
fuzes, see FM 4-20 and appropriate Technical Manuals.
■ 38. Service of Powder Charges. — In the ammunition car
(or in the field magazine) all powder charges will be kept
in their containers except the charge which is to be served
to the piece for the next succeeding round. The powder
charge for any given round will not be brought near the
breech until the preceding round has been fired, the powder
chamber sponged, and the face of the mushroom head wiped.
22
8-inch gun on railway mount M1A1 39-42
■ 39. Sponging Powder Chamber. — After each shot the
powder chamber will be sponged and the face of the mush-
room head wiped with the liquid provided for that pur-
pose (see par. 48) .
■ 40. Cover for Gun Section. — When firing high-explosive
ammunition and cover is prescribed, each member of the gun
section will be required to take adequate shelter each time
the piece is fired (see AR 750-10) .
■ 41. Poor Visibility. — During target practice, firing will
be stopped at once, if visibility becomes so poor as to en-
danger the tug or shipping in the field of fire.
■ 42. Misfires. — a. General . — A misfire occurs if the piece
fails to fire when desired. In case of a misfire all personnel
must remain clear of the path of recoil, and the piece is kept
pointed at the target or at a safe place in the field of fire.
b. Primer heard to fire. — If the primer is heard to fire, it
will not be removed nor the breechblock opened until 10
minutes have elapsed since the primer fired.
c. Primer not heard to fire. — If the primer has not fired,
at least three attempts will be made to fire it. If a special
device, by which the primer can be removed by an individual
standing clear of the path of recoil, is available, the primer
may be removed 2 minutes after the last attempt to fire.
If the primer has not fired a new one may be inserted and
firing continued. If the primer has fired , a new primer will
not be inserted nor the breechblock opened until at least
10 minutes have elapsed since the last attempt to fire. If
a special device for removing the primer is not available, the
primer will not be removed nor the breechblock opened
until 10 minutes have elapsed since the last attempt to fire
(see FM 4-20) .
Section VI
CARE AND ADJUSTMENT OF MATERIEL
Paragraph
General 43
Recoil mechanism 44
To fill recoil cylinder 45
Obturator 46
Navy firing lock, Mark VIII, Modification II 47
Sponging solution 48
Care of bore 49
23
43-45 COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
■ 43. General. — a. Officers will be held strictly responsible
for the proper care and preservation of all artillery materiel
in their charge.
b. The methods prescribed for the operation, care, and
preservation of materiel are those described herein and in
other publications issued by the War Department (see Ap-
pendix), a thorough understanding of which is required on
the part of all officers and others having materiel in their
charge.
c. Major repairs will be made by the services concerned.
Adjustments and minor repairs will be made by battery
personnel.
■ 44. Recoil Mechanism. — The recoil mechanism is con-
tained in two recoil cylinders, one long and one short, fitted
into the lower section of the cradle below the gun, and one
recuperator cylinder located between the two recoil cylin-
ders. The length of recoil (approximately 27 inches) is
uniform for all elevations. The recoil cylinders should be
kept filled with oil at all times. The recoil cylinders should
be drained, flushed thoroughly, and refilled once in each
6 -month period.
■ 45. To Fill Recoil Cylinder. — The recoil cylinders are
filled with recoil oil, heavy, as follows:
a. Set the gun at zero degrees elevation and lock the gun
to the cradle with the recoil parts locking device. Inspect
the draining plugs, recoil cylinder heads, stuffing boxes, and
other parts of the mechanism to see that these parts are
securely in place.
b. Remove the plugs located at the top rear of both the
long and short recoil cylinders, and insert a funnel in the
hole.
c. Pour heavy recoil oil (specification 2-96A) into the
funnel until the level of the oil reaches the top of the filling
hole. Allow any air present to escape, then pour in more
oil until it is level with the top of the filling hole.
d. Insert plugs and screw up tight.
24
8 -INCH GUN ON RAILWAY MOUNT M1A1 46-47
■ 46. Obturator. — a. With the breechblock in open position
the obturator spindle with split rings and gas check pad
assembled on it is inserted into the block. The obturator
spindle spring is placed on the spindle and the obturator
nut is screwed on until the rear end of the nut is flush
with the spindle shoulder at the rear of the threads. With
the rear of the nut flush with the shoulder, the keyway in
the nut is lined up with the key way in the obturator spindle,
and the nut is given one complete turn. The obturator nut
key is then driven into place. The proper amount of com-
pression of the obturator spindle spring is obtained with the
nut in this position. If the obturator gives indication of
being loose after long use, the obturator nut should be
tightened one additional turn.
b. Before tightening the obturator nut, the gas check
pad and the split rings must be centered. If they are not
centered properly, the front edge of the front split ring will
strike the rear face of the tube which may injure the ring or
burr the gun when the breechblock is closed.
c. The hexagonal portion of the obturator spindle fits the
hexagonal hole in the breechblock. This arrangement forces
the obturator to rotate with the breechblock.
■ 47. Navy Firing Lock, Mark VIII, Modification II. —
a. Combination percussion and electric primers are used in
the Navy firing lock, Mark VIII, Modification II.
b. The firing lock housing is screwed on the rear end of
the obturator spindle (fig. 5) and is secured by the housing
latch which enters a square slot in the spindle. A primer
is supported in its seat in the spindle by the wedge which
closes behind it. The wedge is raised and lowered to its open
and closed positions by rotating the hammer.
c. To cock the firing lock, grasp the hammer and pull
gently to the rear about 1/16 inch. Then turn the hammer
to the left about 45 degrees, keeping up a pull to the rear.
When the hammer begins to move directly to the rear, keep
a slight pressure tending to revolve it to the right. When the
25
47-49
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
hammer has reached its rear position, it will revolve 45 de-
grees to the right, bringing the hammer contact piece in line
with the firing pin and the sear will engage the hammer
stem.
d. To uncock the firing lock, grasp the hammer and pull
it about 1/16 inch to the rear and revolve it about 45 de-
grees to the left. Ease the hammer forward until it reaches
the forward limit of its travel. Then revolve the hammer
45 degrees to the right to its closed position.
e . To reprime the firing lock, grasp the hammer and pull
it about 1/16 inch to the rear. Then rotate the hammer to
the left until the wedge is in its lowest position, insert
primer, and revolve the hammer to the right until the ham-
mer contact piece is in line with the firing pin.
/. Care should be used to prevent breaking the firing
lock by attempting to cock it by pulling the hammer directly
to the rear without rotating it in the manner prescribed
in 47c.
■ 48. Sponging Solution. — a. The sponging solution is a
solution of water and castile soap. Its purpose is to provide
a sponging liquid that will extinguish burning residue in the
chamber of the gun and also serve to lubricate the breech
recess. If the soap solution is not available, plain water may
be used.
b. The solution consists of 1 pound of castile soap in 4
gallons of water. Yellow soaps should not be used as they
are liable to leave a gummy residue in the breech recess.
The soap is shaved from the bar to facilitate dissolving.
Then it is added to the water and the water heated until
the soap is dissolved. The water should be stirred with as
little agitation as possible to prevent foaming.
c. To avoid the necessity of handling large receptacles, as
much soap as will be required may be dissolved in one bucket
of water. This concentrated soap solution will be added to
water in other receptacles in the prescribed proportions.
■ 49. Care of Bore. — As soon as possible after firing and
every day thereafter until all “sweating” has stopped, the
26
8-inch gun on railway mount M1A1 49-51
bore of the gun will be cleaned, dried, and oiled. The clean-
ing solution is made by dissolving y 2 pound of soda ash in
each gallon of boiling water. The bore is washed with this
solution, using a bore sponge wrapped with burlap. Then
the bore is wiped thoroughly dry with new burlap. Finally,
the bore is coated with medium or heavy rust-preventive
compound, depending on local conditions.
b. Care must be exercised to prevent the staves of the
sponges and the slush and cleaning brushes from rubbing
against the lower portion of the bore, as excessive wear of
the lands will result from such practice.
Section VII
EMPLACEMENT FOR FIRING
Paragraph
General 50
Precautions 51
Lifting jacks 52
Outriggers 53
Site 54
Preparation of position 55
Locating mount 56
Elevating and leveling mount 57
Assembly of outriggers and floats 58
B 50. General. — a. The method of emplacing described in
this section permits firing through 360 degrees of traverse
and from 0 to 45 degrees of elevation (see fig. 8) .
b. Specific duties have been assigned to individual mem-
bers of the gun section; however, the chief of section may
find it necessary to reassign duties in accordance with the
physical qualifications of the men.
c. The end of the gun car which carries the muzzle of
the gun when it is in its normal traveling position is the A
end of the car; the opposite or breech end is the B end of
the car.
fl 51. Precautions. — a. The traveling lock pins must not
be withdrawn until the gun has been leveled approximately;
an unleveled gun on uneven track has been damaged be-
cause it traversed by itself when the traversing lock pins
were withdrawn.
27
8-inch gun on railway mount M1A1 51-53
b. The mount should not be jacked at either end a suffi-
cient distance to disengage the body bolster plates out of
the center plates of the car trucks. Under this condition
the male and female parts of the center plates are liable
to be thrown out of alinement during firing.
c. The gun should never be traversed 90 degrees unless
the pedestals are in position under the base plate and one
side outrigger is in place on the muzzle side of the mount to
provide stability.
■ 52. Lifting Jacks. — a. Four built-in jacks are located in
the corners of the base plate directly above the rails of a
standard gage railroad track. The jacks should be operated
semimonthly to lower the mount and return it to its normal
firing position when the gun is emplaced, or to raise the
mount off its trucks and return it to the traveling posi-
tion when the gun is not emplaced. When the gun is in
traveling position, the locking pawl near the inside end of
the pinion shaft must be in place on the ratchet wheel, to
prevent the ram from moving downward while the gun is
being moved.
b. For the proper operation of the lifting jack mechanism,
it is essential that the rotating and sliding surfaces be well
lubricated and free of dust, dirt, and grit. All setscrews and
bolts must be kept tight and locked securely in place.
■ 53. Outriggers. — a. There are eight outriggers which act
as braces to prevent the mount from tipping over or from
sliding on its foundation during firing. The outriggers are
made of steel tubing with adjusting screws on one end and
a clevis and pin on the other. The adjusting screws have
ball ends that contact the sockets in the footplates, which
distribute the load over the wood floats. The upper ends of
the outriggers are hinged at the sides of the car. Chords or
tie rods are fastened to the car below the outriggers and
act as braces to support the outriggers. When in traveling
position, the outriggers and chords are folded against, and
secured to, the sides of the car.
b. The floats are constructed of two layers of white oak
blocks bolted together. Two pieces of angle iron are bolted
29
53-56
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
to the upper surface of each float and act as a guide to the
footplate. When not in use the floats and footplates are
stored on the car floor.
c. To insure freedom of movement of the outrigger
struts and chords, the hinges and other fittings by which the
outriggers are attached to the car body must be kept clean
and lubricated. The locking devices for the outriggers and
chords must be inspected to see that they are in good con-
dition, particularly those devices that retain the outrigger
parts in traveling position.
■ 54. Site.' — The site selected should be on straight level
track with the level of the ground not much below the top
of the ties. Deep ditches and swampy or extremely rocky
soil should be avoided (see FM 4-5) .
■ 55. Preparation of Position. — a. Defective ties or any
that do not give a good bearing surface outside of the rails
should be replaced. The spacing of ties should not be
greater than 24 inches, center to center. If time permits,
ties should be relocated with a spacing of 16 inches, center
to center. The track should be leveled both longitudinally
and laterally with the ballast well tamped under the ties.
b. A spike is driven in a tie to mark the position of the
gun pintle center. An area about 17 feet on both sides of
the rails and 25 feet along the track in both directions from
the pintle spike is then graded to the level of the top of the
ties.
c. (1) Excavation work, supervised by the chief of section,
can be completed prior to the arrival of the gun (see fig. 9) .
(2) Cannoneers numbered 1 to 9, inclusive, work on the
right side of the mount under the direction of the gun
pointer; the ammunition handlers numbered 10 to 17, in-
clusive, work on the left side of the mount under the direc-
tion of the chief of ammunition.
■ 56. Locating Mount. — a. When the mount arrives at the
position, the pintle center of the gun is located directly over
the pintle spike. The location of the mount and the spacing
of the ties must be arranged to provide at least two ties for
the support of each pedestal.
30
Figure 9. — Location of outriggers and floats in firing position.
56-57
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
b. The air brakes are released by pulling outward on the
two release valve rods projecting from the side sills.
■ 57. Elevating and Leveling Mount. — a. Nos. 1, 2, and
3 raise the outriggers on the right side of the A end of
the car high enough for No. 4 to remove the lifting jack lever
that is stored under the ammunition table, after which they
replace the end of the outrigger on its clip. They remove
the lifting jack lever from the B end of the car on the right
side in a similar manner. At the same time No. 13, assisted
by Nos. 10, 11, and 12, removes the lifting jack levers from
the left side of the car.
b. While the operations in a are being performed, Nos. 7,
8, and 9 remove the four footplates from the right side of the
A end of the car and place them on the ground near the ap-
proximate positions at which the four outrigger floats will
be located when in firing position. No. 7 stations himself on
the car, unlocks the footplates, and hands them to Nos. 8
and 9 on the ground. The footplates on the left side are
removed in a similar manner by Nos. 14, 15, and 16 with
No. 14 being stationed on the car.
c. Cannoneers take posts at the lifting jack positions as
follows:
(1) Nos. 1 and 2 at right front lifting jack.
(2) Nos. 3 and 4 at right rear lifting jack.
(3) Nos. 10 and 11 at left front lifting jack.
(4) Nos. 12 and 13 at left rear lifting jack.
d. Nos. 1, 3, 10, and 12 unlock their respective lifting jacks
by raising the inner pawls from the ratchet wheels. After
releasing the pawls, they lower the jack plungers to the rails
by spinning the jack lever socket. Nos. 2, 4, 11, and 13 insert
the jack levers into the sockets.
e. The lifting jack details simultaneously elevate the gun
mount by raising and lowering the jack levers under the di-
rection of the gun commander, who sounds the cadence, UP,
DOWN. The gun mount is raised sufficiently to permit the
pedestals with the screws run completely down to be placed
under the base plate. One inch should be the maximum
height to which the car body is raised off the car trucks.
32
8-inch gun on railway mount M1A1 57-58
/. The gun commander checks level of the base plate
by the four built-in levels located on the base plate near
each lifting jackscrew. If the mount is not provided with
the built-in levels, then gunner’s quadrants placed on the
four machined surfaces on the base plate must be used to
level the gun.
g . While the gun mount is being jacked and leveled, the
elevation setter releases the wing nuts on the locking devices
holding the firing pedestals in place on the right side of the
B end of the car. Then, assisted by the display board opera-
tors on the ground, and Nos. 5 and 6, operating the right
ammunition Grane, the elevation setter removes the four
firing pedestals, placing them on the ground near the base
plate. The chief of breech, assisted by the aiming rule
operator and the battery commander’s telephone operator on
the ground and Nos. 15 and 16 at the left ammunition crane,
removes the firing pedestals from the left side and places
them near the base plate.
h . When the gun mount is level, the same cannoneers who
removed the firing pedestals from the car, place them in
position on the ends of the ties and run the pedestal screws
up until they seat uniformly against the underside of the
base plate. All pedestal screws are then adjusted by No. 17
using the pull of one hand on a 3 -foot lever. When all ped-
estals are carrying the load evenly and the mount is level,
the lifting jack plungers are raised y 2 inch above the rail
head. The level of the mount is rechecked and, if not level,
the lifting jacks are used again and the pedestal screws are
readjusted. The pedestal screws must not be used to raise
and level the gun mount.
■ 58. Assembly of Outriggers and Floats. — a. To remove
the side outriggers from their traveling positions, the gun
must be traversed slightly; therefore the gun must be first
prepared for traversing. The elevation display board opera-
tor lowers the muzzle support, using a lifting jack lever
to turn the muzzle support screw, a sufficient distance to per-
mit the elevation setter to depress the gun. The gun pointer
retracts the plungers of the breech support into their re-
cesses in the recoil band by use of the crank located under
33
58
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
the breech counterweight. After this operation the locking
pin in the crank must be engaged in its hole in the recoil
band.
fc>. The outriggers are swung to their approximate em-
placement positions and the chords assembled to them by
Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the right side, and Nos. 10, 11, 12, and
13 on the left side in the following sequence:
(1) Side outriggers hinged at A end of car.
(2) Side outriggers hinged at B end of car.
(3) End outriggers at B end of car.
(4) End outriggers at A end of car.
c. The excavations for the floats must be completed as
shown in figure 9. If the excavations have not been pre-
pared by an advance party prior to bringing the gun into
position, the work must be detailed by the gun commander
to the cannoneers as they complete their assigned duties in
performing the preceding operations.
d. When the float excavations are ready, Nos. 7, 8, and 9
remove and emplace the floats located on the right side of
the B end of the car, assisted by Nos. 5 and 6 operating the
right ammunition crane. The chief of breech traverses the
gun so the loading platform clears the floats located be-
neath it. Nos. 14, 15, and 16, assisted by Nos. 13 and 17
operating the left ammunition crane, remove and emplace
the floats located on the left side of the B end of the car.
When these floats are in position and the outriggers have
been assembled to them, the gun is traversed 180 degrees
and the floats at the A end of the car are unloaded and
emplaced in a similar manner.
e. In assembling the main outrigger tubes and the chords,
the length of the chord is adjusted so that the ball end of the
outrigger screw is level with the bottom of the ties. When
emplaced, the thrust surface of the float should be perpen-
dicular to the main outrigger tube, with the footplate cen-
trally located on the float. The ball-end screws are ad-
justed to seat firmly in the sockets of the footplates and
must be kept firmly seated during firing. Too tight an ad-
justment must be avoided, as it may lift the car and affect
34
8 -INCH GUN ON RAILWAY MOUNT M1A1 58-60
the level of the mount. The ball-end adjusting screws should
project as little as possible and never more than 10 inches.
If an extension of more than 10 inches is required for proper
tightening, the screws should be run completely in and the
floats relocated.
/. The earth behind the floats must be packed after each
10 shovelfulls of earth. Earth is piled level with the top of
the floats for a distance of 10 feet behind them. Two rows
of sand bags are placed on top of the earth immediately in
back of each float. The excavation in front of the float
should be filled with earth to a point level with the bottom
of the sockets in the footplates.
g. All dirt must be cleaned from the footplate sockets and
adjusting screws. These parts should be greased and the
threads covered with burlap.
h . A final inspection of all floats is made by the gun com-
mander, who also makes a final check of the level of the
mount.
i. The azimuth indicator and the panoramic sight are
oriented and the gun clinometered.
The gun is prepared for drill or firing.
Section VIII
PREPARATION FOR RAIL MOVEMENT
Paragraph
General 59
Loading and securing equipment 60
■ 59. General. — Members of the gun section handle the
same elements of materiel in preparation for movement that
they handle in preparing the emplacement. Float holes must
be filled and the roadbed and track left in good condition.
■ 60. Loading and Securing Equipment. — a. Four of the
floats are placed on the B end of the car in a recess below
the loading platform, and the remaining four are placed on
the A end of the car. All floats are secured by the retaining
forks provided for that purpose. The footplates are stacked
on end, immediately in front of the ammunition table, at the
A end of the car and secured with the locking bars. The
35
60
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
pedestals are stored on the B end of the car, in back of the
ammunition table, and secured in place by the locking bars.
b. The lifting jacks are raised to their highest positions,
and the locking pawl near the bevel gear is dropped into
place. The lifting jack levers are placed in their traveling
positions under the ammunition tables.
c. The outriggers and chords are swung against the sides
of the car to their respective traveling positions. The ball
ends of the side outrigger tubes attached to the B end of
the car are supported in sockets. The other main outrigger
tubes are held in place on the supports provided for that
purpose by pins which are locked in place with cotter pins.
The adjusting screws on both the outriggers and the chords
must be secured by wire to prevent the screws from turning
while the car is en route.
d. The ammunition cranes are locked together by a pin
inserted through the fittings located at the top of the crane
masts for that purpose.
e. The traveling lock pins are inserted in the flange of the
racer, locking the racer to the base plate. The breech
traveling support handle is rotated until the breech travel-
ing support plungers protrude from the breech band, locking
the gun in elevation.
/. The muzzle ’ support screw is run up until it supports
the muzzle and then locked in place. The gun is now in
traveling position (fig. 10) .
g . The gun commander makes a final check to see that all
equipment is properly secured and does not project over the
sides of the car. He inspects the journal boxes for proper
lubrication and to see that the boxes are free of dirt or grit.
He inspects the gun position for proper police and sees that
all equipment and tools have been loaded. He makes cer-
tain the gun is in locked position. He tests both the hand
and air brakes, checks the position of the retainer valve
handles, or makes certain that they are tested and checked
before the gun is moved out of position.
36
ITJNT M1A1
60
60-62
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
Section IX
STATISTICAL DATA
Paragraph
Gun 61
Ammunition 62
Mount, railway, M1A1 63
■ 61. Gun. —
Diameter of bore between lands.
Diameter of bore between
. inches
8.00
grooves
. inches
8.14
Length of bore
. calibers
45
Length of rifling
Weight of gun with breech
. inches
288.79
mechanism
.pounds
42,000
Type of breechblock
Interrupted screw
Type of firing mechanism
. . Electrical and percussion
■ 62. Ammunition. — a. Projectiles . —
Shell, High-Explosive, 240 pounds, M103
Shell, Armor -Piercing, 260 pounds, Mk. XX
Shell, Target-Practice, 260 pounds, Mk. XVIII
b. Muzzle velocity . —
Shell, H.-E., 240 lbs., M103
(normal charge)
. feet per second . .
2,150
(supercharge) . .-
Shell, A.-P., 260 lbs. Mk. XX
. feet per second . .
2,840
(normal charge)
. . feet per second . .
2,100
(supercharge)
Shell, T.-P., 260 lbs., Mk. XVIII
. feet per second . .
2,750
(normal charge)
.feet per second. .
2,100
(supercharge )
. feet per second . .
2,750
c. Fuzes . —
Fuze, Point Detonating, M51, Mo'd. 1
Fuze, Base Detonating, Mk. X
38
-WAY MOUNT M1A1
62
39
Figure 11,— General dimensions of gun and mount.
63
COAST ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
■ 63. Mount, Railway, M1A1
lion . —
(see fig. 11).—
-a. Eleva -
Maximum
. degrees
45
Maximum firing
. degrees
45
Minimum (loading)
. degrees
(— ) 5
Minimum firing
b. Traverse . —
. degrees
0
Continuous
c. Recoil mechanism . —
Initial air pressure in.
. degrees
360
recuperator
Final air pressure in
.lb. per sq. in.. . .
1,600
recuperator
Initial liquid pressure in
.lb. per sq. in
2,683
intensifier
Final liquid pressure in
.lb. per sq. in.. . .
1,828
intensifier
Recoil distance with super-
. lb. per sq. in. . . .
3,065
charge (normal)
. inches
27
Recoil distance (maximum)
d. Railway data . —
. inches
28.5
Total weight at rail
(approximate)
Weight on front truck (muzzle
. pounds
. 230,000
end)
Weight on rear truck (breech
. pounds
. 125,850
end)
. pounds
. 104,150
Height (traveling position)
.feet-inches ....
13-10
Length, between couplers
Length, over-all (traveling
.feet-inches ....
42-2
position)
. feet-inches
49-4
Width (traveling position)
.feet-inches
10-3
Diameter of wheels
. inches
28
Journals, diameter and length
(plain bearings)
. inches
. 5y 2 xio
Maximum operating speeds for mounts with plain bearings:
Main line passenger tracks . .
.miles per hour.
50
Main line freight tracks . . .
.miles per hour.
40
Branch line tracks .... governed by local track condition
40
8-inch gun on railway mount M1A1 63
Maximum operating speed for mounts with roller bearings:
Maximum freight train speed for trackage on which
operating.
Limitation of track curvature on movement:
By pinch bar over track with radius of curvature of
approximately 60 feet.
At 5-10 miles per hour over track with radius of curva-
ture of approximately 270 feet.
Appendix
LIST OF REFERENCES
TM 4-205
TM 9-900 (now
published a s
TR 1370-D)
TM 9-1900
(FM 4-5
(TM 5-265
Care and maintenance of materiel
Commands !
Examination for gunners
Fire control and position finding
Gunnery
Organization of the battery
Reconnaissance, selection, and occupation
of positions
Safety precautions in firing
'FM 4-20
FM 4-51
- TM 9-463
TM 9-850
TM 4-245
FM 4-5
FM 4-150
FM 4-15
FM 4-10
(FM 4-5
|T/0 4-47
FM 4-5
(AR 750-10
/FM 4-20
Ammunition, Coast Artillery
Ammunition, drill
Ammunition, general
Camouflage, cover, protection against air
and chemical attacks, local security,
machine gun defense
41
64
Section X
DRILL TABLE
Service of the piece, 8-inch gun, Mark VI, Modification 3A2, on railway mount MlAl
Details
DETAILS, POSTS
(a) EXAMINE GUN
(b) REPORT
Gmi pointer (non-
com missioned
officer).
Procures sight and telephone head-
set, places sight in position on
sight mount, uncovers azimuth
indicator; takes post on loading
platform in rear of traversing
handwheel, facing it.
(а) Examines sight, sight mount,
and azimuth indicator; tests
traversing mechanism and
telephone to fire control car.
(б) Reports to gun commander,
“Traversing in order,” or
any defects he is unable to
remedy without delay.
Elevation setter ....
Procures telephone headset, un-
covers elevation indicator and
elevation quadrant; takes post
at elevating handwheel, facing
to the rear.
(a) Examines quadrant and eleva-
tion indicator; tests elevating
mechanism; makes sure gun
is unlocked from traveling
position.
(b) Reports to gun commander,
“Elevation in order,” or any
defects he is unable to remedy
without delay.
Chief of breech
(noncommissioned
officer).
Procures firing mechanism and
cable, primer pouch containing
primers, and pair of pliers; takes
post at left of loading trough,
facing to the rear,
j
(а) Assists No. 1 to remove breech
cover. Examines firing
mechanism, places it on
obturator spindle, and at-
taches firing cable; tests firing
circuit; supervises work of
breech detail.
(б) Reports to gun commander,
“Breech in order,” or any
defects he is unable to remedy
without delay.
Battery com-
mander’s tele-
phone operator.
Procures telephone with headset
and handset; takes post to right
of piece.
(а) Connects and tests telephone to
battery commander’s station.
(б) Reports to gun commander,
“Battery commander’s tele-
phone in order,” or any
defects he is unable to
remedy without delay.
42
64
Section X
DRILL TABLE
Service of the piece, 8-inch gun, Mark VI, Modification 3A2, on railway mount MlAl
LOAD
FIRE
CEASE FIRING
Keeps gun traversed to azimuth
received from fire control car. If
data transmitter is used, keeps gun
traversed so that pointers on azi-
muth indicator are matched. When
firing case III, calls or signals,
“Azimuth set.” When firing case
II, sets deflection on sight, calls,
“Deflection set,” keeps cross ^level
bubble centered, and tracks target.
Calls or signals, “Fire.”
Presses trigger
Continues receiving and
setting data until ceask
tracking is received.
Depresses to loading position. When
breech is closed, sets elevation by
quadrant or by elevation indicator;
if data transmitter is used, matches
pointers. Calls or signals, “Eleva-
tion set.”
After piece has been fired,
depresses to loading
position as rapidly as
possible.
Continues receiving and
setting data until cease
t hacking is received.
Lowers loading trough, places right
hand on base of projectile and as-
sisted by No. 2, pushes projectile
into chamber, then shoves powder
charge into powder chamber so that
it will be pushed into place by
mushroom head when breechblock
is closed, and raises loading trough.
When breechblock is closed and
locked, inserts primer, signals or
commands; ELEVATE, calls,
“Primed.” If lanyard is used,
hooks it, cocks firing lock, signals
or commands; ELEVATE, and
calls, “Primed.”
Listens for the explosion
of primer which may
be audible if powder
charge fails to explode.
Supervises work of unload-
ing and assists in with-
drawing projectile when
dummy ammunition is
used, inserting extractor
in base of projectile.
Transmits the command.
Stands by
Transmits the command.
Continues to transmit
all commands until
relieved.
43
64
Section X— Continued
DRILL TABLE
Service of the piece, 8-inch gun, Mark VI, Modification 3A2, on railway mount M1A1
Details
DETAILS, POSTS
(а) EXAMINE GUN
(б) REPORT
Aiming rule oper-
ator.
Assisted by No. 9 procures aiming
rule sight and cross bar, places
them near aiming rule stakes;
takes post behind aiming rule
stakes, facing the piece. When
aiming rule is not used, takes
post at left of piece.
(а) Places aiming rule cross bar in
position on stakes; mounts
sight and sets data on sight;
moves sight along bar until
vertical cross wire is centered
on gun sight targ.
(б) Reports to gun commander,
“Aiming rule in order,” or
any defects he is unable to
remedy without delay.
Azimuth display
board operator.
Procures telephone headset, dis-
play board, chalk, and black-
board erasers or waste, placing
them on the ground to left of
piece; takes post at display
board.
(а) Cleans display board; connects
and tests telephone to fire
control car.
(б) Reports to gun commander,
“Azimuth display board in
order,” or any defects he is
unable to remedy without
delay.
Elevation display
board operator.
Procures telephone headset, dis-
play board, chalk, and black-
board erasers or waste, placing
them on the ground to the right
of the piece; takes post at the
display board.
(а) Cleans display board; connects
and tests telephone to fire
control car.
(б) Reports to gun commander,
“Elevation display board in
order,” or any defects he is
unable to remedy without
delay.
No. 1 (breech de-
tail).
Procures cotton waste, lubricating
oil, and vent reamer, placing
them convenient to breech; re-
moves breech cover, assisted by
chief of breech, placing it on car
platform; takes post to right of
breech at breech crank, facing
breeeh.
(a) Examines, cleans, and oils
breechblock in breech mecha-
nism.
( b ) Reports to chief of breech any
defects in breech.
No. 2 (sponging
and ramming de-
tail).
Assisted by No. 3 procures sponge
and sponge tub containing
sponging liquid, placing them in
right rear corner of loading
platform; removes loading
trough cover; takes post at
right of loading stand, facing
to the rear.
(а) Examines sponge.
(б) Reports to gun commander,
“Sponging in order,” or any
defects he is unable to remedy
without delay.
44
64
Section X — Continued
DRILL TABLE
Service of the piece, 8-inch gun, Mark VI, Modification 3A2, on railway mount M1A1
LOAD
FIRE
CEASE FIRING
Keeps vertical cross wire on center of
gun sight targ without changing
the data set on aiming rule sight.
Continues as under load .
Continues as under load
unless otherwise di-
rected.
Relays data received to gun pointer,
then writes data on display board;
continues by using reverse side of
board and erasing old data.
Stands by
Continues as under load
Until CEASE TRACKING
is received.
Relays data to elevation setter, then
writes data on display board; con-
tinues by using reverse side of board
and erasing old data.
Stands by
Continues as under load
until cease tracking
is received.
Opens breech, and holds breechblock
in full open position; stands by
until piece is loaded, then closes
breech and faces to rear.
As soon as piece is fired,
opens breech, ejects
primer, reams vent
hole, and wipes off
mushroom head.
Opens breech for purpose
of removing dummy
ammunition or cleaning
gun.
Places left hand on base of projectile
and assists chief of breech to push
projectile into chamber.
As soon as piece is fired,
sponges powder cham-
ber with drained
sponge fully saturated
with sponging liquid.
When dummy ammuni-
tion is used, assists in
withdrawing dummy
projectile.
45
64
Section X — Continued
DRILL TABLE
Service of the piece, 8-inch gun, Mark VI, Modification 3A2, on railway mount MlAl
Details
DETAILS, POSTS
(a) EXAMINE GUN
(b) REPORT
No. 3 (powder de-
tail).
Assists No. 2 in procuring sponge
and sponge tub containing
sponging liquid; takes post at
rear center of loading platform
directly in rear of loading stand.
Stands by
No. 4 (elevating
detail).
Removes muzzle cover; takes post
by elevating handwheel, facing
to the rear.
Stands by
No. 5 (ammunition
crane detail).
Takes post at right ammunition
crane, facing to the rear.
(а) Examines and tests right am-
munition crane mechanism.
(б) Reports to gun commander,
‘‘Ammunition cranes in
order,” or any defects he is
unable to remedy without
delay.
No. 6 (ammunition
crane detail).
Takes post at left ammunition
crane, facing to the rear.
(а) Examines and tests left am-
munition crane mechanism.
(б) Reports to No. 5 any defects in
left ammunition crane.
No. 7 (projectile
detail).
Procures grease for projectiles,
brush, and shot tongs; takes
post at right rear of ear plat-
form.
Inspects and tests shot tongs, re-
porting any defects to No. 5.
Nos. 8 and 9 (out-
rigger detail).
Procure tommy bars. No. 8 pro-
cures extractor. No. 9 assists
aiming rule operator. No. 8
takes post near left rear float,
No. 9 near right rear float.
(а) Examine outriggers on respec-
tive sides, adjust them so
each has firm bearing on foot-
plates.
(б) Report to gun commander,
“Outriggers in order,” or any
defect they are unable to
remedy without delay.
46
Section X— Continued
DRILL TABLE
Service of the piece, 8-inch gun, Mark VI, Modification 3A2, on railway mount MIA1
LOAD
FIRE
CEASE FIRING
Receives powder charge from No. 11
of ammunition squad and places it
on loading stand as soon as pro-
jectile has been pushed into cham-
ber, pushing the powder charge
toward the breech.
When dummy ammuni-
tion is used, assists in
withdrawing projectile,
then passes extractor to
No. 9.
Elevates piece at command of chief of
breech as rapidly as possible to ap-
proximate elevation and faces to
the rear.
Stands by
Stands by.
Assisted by No. 6, hoists projectile
from ammunition table to loading
stand, removes shot tong from pro-
jectile; lowers shot tong to No. 7
in preparation for next round.
When dummy ammuni-
tion is used, moves pro-
jectile from loading
stand to ammunition
table, assisted by No.
6.
Assists No. 5 in hoisting projectile
from ammunition table to loading
stand.
Stands by
Assists No. 5.
Greases bourrelet and rotating band,
then fastens tongs on projectile.
Stands by
When dummy ammuni-
tion is used, guides pro-
jectile onto ammuni-
tion table as it is lowered
by Nos. 5 and 6.
Inspect and adjust outriggers after
each round.
Stand by
When dummy ammuni-
tion is used, duties are
as directed by gun
commander. No. 9
passes extractor to No.
3 and receives it after
use.