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Standing Orders - Annex B to Chapter 9
Gun Drill for 32 Pdr Model Guns
General
1. This precis is written primarily for detachment commanders and instructors.
2. The following summary of principle duties is not a comprehensive list, but is intended as a guide to detachment commanders and instructors. Duties
3. The Saluting Battery is commanded by a Battery Commander (BC). The guns are manned by a two-man detachment as follows:
- a. No 1 - Detachment Commander; and
b. No 2 - Firing Number.
Equipment
4. The following equipment is required (see Appendix 1 for layout):
- a. water container;
b. vent pick (non-sparking);
c. vent brush or cleaning device;
d. thumbstall;
e. heavy leather welders gloves;
f. rammer - marked to show the amount of shaft which should be sticking out of the muzzle when the cartridge is fully home;
g. wet sponge;
h. stop watch;
i. ammunition; and
j. WAD HOOK (non-sparking) Note - WAD HOOK may be fitted to opposite end of rammer or come as a separate tool.
Safety
5. The guns are to be lined up in a straight line, five to 10 feet between guns in an open area (never inside a building).
6. The muzzle blast area is to be kept clear of spectators, obstacles/ buildings. A crooked “U” shaped rammer, if available, is to be used. If not, a plain shaft or one with a smooth tapered ‘’Mississippi’’ head is to be used so that it will force the hand open should a premature firing occur.
7. Do not pound the rammer against the round. At no time should more of the body than absolutely necessary be forward of the muzzle and “never in front of it”. Ensure that all detachment members are thoroughly familiar with safe ammunition handling and misfire drills.
Portfire Sticks
8. With the introduction of the igniter friction device, port fire sticks are no longer required to fire the gun and will not be used under any circumstances. Great care must be taken when firing the friction tube as the device has a tendency to rocket upwards from the vent when it is fired.
Positions
9. Prior to the salute, the BC takes up a position of command. The gun detachments should be in their Stand Easy approximately 15-20 feet to the rear of their guns.
Take Post
10. On the appearance of the VIP, the BC orders “Fire Mission... Guns”. The Nos 1 acknowledge and order “Take Post” and the detachments double to their positions as follows:
- a. No 1 - two paces to the right rear of the gun breech. He will stand to attention, holding the rammer horizontally beneath the left arm (head of the rammer to the front); and
b. No 2 - one pace to the left of the gun breech, kneeling on the right knee in line with the vent and so located that he/she remains behind the muzzle, yet is able to work in the muzzle area with some degree of comfort.
Protect
11. No 1 will order “Protect”, No 2 will cover the vent with his/her right thumb properly covered by a thumbstall and report “Finger in, Sir”.
Fire Orders
12. Under the command of the BC, the Saluting Battery will fire a salute, using the following procedure. Each order will be individually acknowledged by the Nos 1 by raising the right arm to its fullest extent over the head:
- a. The... (officers) of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery will fire a Royal/General Salute:
- (1) Fire Mission 4 guns,
(2) Charge Blank Load (see paragraph 18),
(3) Converge 0,
(4) At My Command,
(5) Elevation 800,
(6) Battery Right - 10 seconds,
(7) The No 1 - Reports his Gun “Ready”,
(8) BC orders “No 1 Fire”,
(9) The No 2 pulls the lanyard to fire the gun, and
(10) (10 seconds later) BC orders “No 2 Fire” (and so on).
- (1) Care must be taken to avoid passing any portion of the body over the igniter friction tube when firing, and
(2) The lanyard must be pulled with a constant pressure and at right angles to the axis of the bore.
Empty Guns
13. On the order “Empty Guns”, Nos 1 will report in turn “Number... Empty”. If a gun has misfired, no report is made. Detachments Rear
14. On the order “Detachments Rear”, Nos 1 place their rammers on the ground to the right of the gun, with the head of the rammer to the front. The detachment falls in two paces to the rear and facing the gun. Nos 1 order “Stand at Ease”.
Inspection
15. The BC will report to the VIP and ask if the VIP wishes to inspect the Saluting Battery.The detachments are inspected in turn from the right, each No 1 bringing their detachment to“Attention” as the inspecting party approaches.
16. After the inspection, the BC will order “End of Mission”. The Nos 1 call their detachments to “Attention”, “About Turn” and “Quick March” to the rear and “Fall Out”.
Loading Drills
17. Prior to loading and firing of the guns, the No 1 must carry out a thorough preliminary check of the vent and bore to ensure they are clean and clear of obstructions. The No 1 must also check that the ordnance is securely mounted to the carriage, and that all stores and ammunition required are serviceable and laid out in sequence which will reflect the highest standard of gun drill and safety.
18. On the command “Load”, the No 2 will remove a ball charge from its safety container and insert it into the muzzle with his left hand and immediately return his/her thumb to the protect position.
19. The No 1 will double forward and smartly adopt the kneeling position facing No 2. TheNo 1 will remove the rammer from beneath his/her arm, insert the rammer in the muzzle and with a single constant motion ram the ball into the bore until the scribe line on the rammer is in line with the end of the muzzle. The No 1 then reports loud and clear “Round Up, Sir”.
20. The No 1 will then return the rammer to the position under his arm, double to his/her position in action, remove an ignition friction tube from its safety container, attach the lanyard to the wire loop provided on the top of the friction tube. The end result will portray the No 1 at his/her position in action, holding the friction tube in his/her right hand connected to the firing lanyard with the excess lanyard passing through and supported by the left hand.
21. The No 2 will remove his thumb from the vent, retrieve the ventpick, insert the tool in the vent and with a downward push pierce the ball charge, remove the pick tool and immediately return his thumb to the protect position over the vent.
22. Note. If the ball charge is properly seated, a noticeable resistance will be felt when the pick tool is pushed downward.
23. The No 1 then orders “Get your finger out”, moves forward to the gun, inserts the igniter friction tube into the vent ensuring it is fully home with the wire loop facing the No 2, and the lanyard laying over the left side of the breech.
24. The No 2 will then grasp the firing lanyard in his/her right hand, and report “Ready” to the No 1 who in turn reports the gun ready to the BC.
25. Note. If after the initial round has been fired, and there is to be additional firing, the bore must be swabbed and the vent cleared before the next round is fired as there is a danger of hot residue being left in the bore and vent after firing.
26. After the round is fired, the No 1 will order “Load”. The No 2 will place the firing lanyard beside the friction tube container, then ream the vent with the tool provided.
27. The No 1 will move forward to the gun, wet the sponge, and clean the bore using the WAD HOOK tool, then sponge to ensure live or smouldering bits of residue are thoroughly extinguished.
Misfires
28. This drill is designed to disclose the cause of failure to fire and to indicate the correct immediate remedy.
29. Failures to fire can be divided into four main classes:
- a. Poor Ram (ball charge not fully seated to rear of breech areas, causing the pick tool and igniter friction tube to bypass charge on insertion);
b. Over Ram (ball charge completely compressed to rear of breech area, causing pick tool and igniter friction tube to miss ball);
c. Jerking the lanyard, causing the igniter friction tube to be pulled from vent; and
d. Malfunction of the igniter friction tube.
Drill
30. If all drills are carried out properly by members of the detachment, misfires will not occur. The malfunction of this type of system is at less than 1% of the total number of charges fired.
31. If the gun fails to fire, the No 1 will report “Number... Misfire”. The BC will immediately order that gun to “Check Firing” and the next gun to fire (i.e. “No 1, Check Firing” - “No2, Fire”).
32. Friction Tube pulled from Vent
- a. The No 2 will report “Misfire, Tube Out”. The No 2 will put on the heavy leather gloves and goggles and check the friction tube for damage - insert into vent, attach the firing lanyard and report “Ready” to the No 1; and
b. The No 1 then reports “Number... Ready” to BC and awaits further orders.
33. Friction Tube Fires but Gun does not Fire
- a. The No 2 will report “Misfire - Tube Only”. The No 2 will put on the heavy leather gloves and goggles, with the vent pick again pierce the ball charge, place a new friction tube in the vent, attach the firing lanyard and report “Ready” to the No 1;
b. The No 1 then reports “Number ... Ready” to the BC and awaits further orders;
c. Note
- (1) At no time after an igniter friction tube has fired will the charge be rammed due to the danger of Hang Fire, and
(2) If, after a second attempt to fire the gun is unsuccessful, wait 5 minutes. No 2 will then douse the vent with water, remove the barrel, submerge in water for 30 minutes, remove barrel from the water and remove the charge.
34. Friction Tube does not Fire
- a. The No 2 will report “Misfire”. The No 2 will put on the heavy leather gloves and goggles, remove the friction tube, replace it with a fresh friction tube, attach the firing lanyard and report “Ready” to the No 1;
b. The No 1 then reports “Number ... Ready” to the BC and awaits further orders; and
c. Note
- (1) If after a second attempt to fire the gun is unsuccessful, you must consider the igniter friction tube lot number to be at fault. Replace lot number or, if not possible, remove igniter and place in safe area, submerge barrel in water for 30 minutes, then remove barrel from water and remove charge from bore, and
(2) Wet or broken charges and non-functional igniter friction tubes are to be returned to ammunition storage areas in separate containers accompanied by an ammunition malfunction report.
Maintenance
35. Before firing, check the bore and vent to ensure they are free of dirt, grit, rust and propellant fouling; also, excessive oil is removed and the bore is dried.