Coast artillery targets and accessories, February 27, 1908, revised June 15, 1909, revised October 29, 1913

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No. 1991

COAST ARTILLERY TARGETS
AND ACCESSORIES

( THREE PLATES)

FEBRUARY 27, 1908
REVISED JUNE 15, 1909
REVISED OCTOBER 29, 1913
REVISED AUGUST 21, 1917

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

1917

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2007 with funding from

Microsoft Corporation

No. 1991

COAST ARTILLERY TARGETS
AND ACCESSORIES

( THREE PLATES)

FEBRUARY 27, 1908
REVISED JUNE 15, 1909
REVISED OCTOBER 29, 1913
REVISED AUGUST 21, 1917

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

1917

A3

War Department,
Office of the Chief of Ordnance,

Washington, August 21, 1917.
This manual is published for the information and government
of the Regular Army and National Guard of the United States.
By order of the Secretary of War :

William Crozier,
Brigadier General, Chief of Ordnance.

6288—17 (3)

365261

LIST OF PLATES.

Drawing

No.

Plate I. Seacoast target, small, model 1917 39-2-3

II. Seacoast target, pyramidal, model 1917 39 1-3

III. Seacoast target, triangular, model 1917 39-4-11

(4)

COAST ARTILLERY TARGETS AND ACCESSORIES.

Plates I, II, and III.

The seacoast target, small, model of 1917, is to replace the smaller
target, model of 1910.

Two pyramidal targets are provided, the one shown on drawing
39-4-3 is to be used for the greater ranges and more severe weather
conditions ; the triangular target is intended for use at lesser ranges,
especially where the maximum towing speed is desired.

All three targets were designed in accordance with results obtained
from a number of experimental targets made up originally in Long
Island Sound and later given exhaustive tests by the Coast Artillery
Board at Fort Monroe.

It is not thought to be expedient to specify the conditions under
which each target is to be used but to allow the coast defense com-
mander the greatest latitude in the solution of the problems which
confront him.

SEACOAST TARGET, SMALL, MODEL OF 1917.

This target has a base of two running timbers 3 by 12 inches by
29 feet braced by three cross planks 2 by 10 inches by 10 feet notched
into the running timbers. A prow cleat 1 by 12 inches by 2 feet is
attached to the front end of each running timber by means of two
prow-cleat brackets. The two towing irons are attached to the
outside of the two running timbers at the prow.

The superstructure is a vertical rectangular frame 10 by 24 feet
consisting of three upright masts and two longitudinal boards.
Each mast consists of two 1 by 4 inch boards nailed together at right
angles and supported on the cross planks in pillow blocks. The top
of each mast is braced by four guy ropes two of which are attached
to each running timber. All guy ropes are made of one-eighth inch
diameter flexible wire sash cord and are supplied with 4 inch turn-
buckles. The center mast is extended 6 feet above the rest of the
superstructure in order to provide a sight rod which is painted in
alternate bands of white and red, each band 1 foot 6 inches wide.

A twine net, 0.5 square mesh, of No. 15 twine, is strung between
the three masts. This net is bound with a 15-thread 0.625 diameter
manila rope on four sides, and is secured to the masts and longitu-
dinal boards by means of screw hooks. A piece of vermilion bunting
will be issued with each target to be fitted to the target at the post.

(5)

The wood work is spruce or yellow pine, and is given two coats of
red-lead paint, except that the white bands of the sight rod are
painted with white-lead paint.

SEACOAST TARGET, PYRAMIDAL,, MODEL OF 1917.

The base of this target is composed of three parallel running tim-
bers, two cross planks notched into the running timbers, and a prow
cleat. Two mast boards are bolted to the middle running timber and
are nailed together at the top. They are braced with 1 by 4 inch
boards to the middle running timber. Guy ropes made of one-eighth
inch flexible wire sash cord run from the mast boards to the front
and rear of each of the outside running timbers. These guy ropes are
supplied with 4-inch turnbuckles, and should be kept taut in order to
prevent straining or dislocating the mast boards. The cover of
the target extends to within 3 feet 8 inches of the base and is made of
vermilion bunting. It is tied to one-half inch diameter manila ropes
which lead from the front and rear ends of the outside running
timbers to the top of the mast where they pass through a hole in the
mast boards. Two towing irons are supplied at each end of the tar-
get to permit of towing two or more targets at once.

All of the woodwork of the pyramidal target is of spruce or yellow
pine painted with two coats of red-lead paint.

SEACOAST TARGET, TRIANGULAR, MODEL OF 1917.

This target has a base of two running timbers 3 by 12 inches by
14 feet, braced by two cross planks 2 by 10 inches by 10 feet, the
cross planks being notched into the running timbers. The super-
structure consists of two target legs, one of which is attached at the
center of each cross plank by means of target-leg blocks. The target
legs are set at angles of 22° with the vertical and are nailed together
at the point where they cross. The superstructure is braced by two
guy ropes made of flexible-wire sash cord, which are attached by
nut eyebolts to the target legs near the point where they cross and
to each of the running timbers. Each guy rope is supplied with a
4-inch turnbuckle. The right target leg is made 4 feet longer than
the left target leg and has the part above the point of attachment
of the left target leg painted in alternate bands of white and red,
each 12 inches broad, to furnish a suitable aiming point. A piece
of vermilion bunting is attached to the two target legs by tacks and
leather washers and extends from 15 inches below the bottom of the
sight rod to 5 feet above the running timbers. The towing irons are
attached to the outside of the running timbers at the prow.

The woodwork is spruce or yellow pine, and is given two coats of
red-lead paint except that the white bands on the sight rod are
painted with white-lead paint.

PRESERVATION AND CARE OF TARGETS.

When not in use the targets should be placed on skids about 1 foot
from the ground and, if practicable, out of the wind.

The towline, nets, and the bridles will be removed from the targets
when out of use.

Care will be taken to see that the targets are painted with sufficient
frequency to preserve them from deterioration.

TOWLINES, BRIDLES, ANCHORS, ETC.

The towline is not a part of these targets. The length of the tow-
line varies for different districts. (See current target practice circu-
lar for allowance of towlines, targets, etc.) For attaching the tow-
line to the targets, bridles of manila rope are used. The bridle is
made of 0.75-inch diameter rope and has two branches of 20 feet
each. A thimble in the middle is provided for the attachment of the
towline to prevent the target from towing sideways.

The anchor furnished is 100 pounds in weight.

Two streamers, made of scarlet woolen serge, are authorized for
each post where target practice is held ; one for use on the towing tug
and one for use on shore. (See drawing 39-5-1 for streamer.)

CARE AND PRESERVATION OF TOWLINES AND BRIDLES

Great care is necessary to preserve rope that has been wet with
salt water from rapid deterioration. All rope should be removed
from the targets and coiled when not in use. Before coiling it should
be dried, and after coiling should be stored in a dry building.

SUPPLY OF TARGETS, ACCESSORIES, SPARE PARTS, ETC.

The allowances of spare parts of targets are given on Plates I, II,
and III.

The permanent equipment is liable to change from time to time by
War Department orders.

The upkeep of the articles forming the permanent equipment in
and the supply of the spare parts to the various coast defenses will be
attended to by the commanding officers of the following ordnance
establishments, to wit :

Watertown Arsenal: All in the Northern, Central, and Sandy
Hook Armament Districts and the Canal Zone.

8

Augusta Arsenal : All Coast Defenses of the Southern Armament
District.

Benicia Arsenal : All Coast Defenses in the Western and Hawaiian
Armament Districts.

Manila Ordnance Depot: All Coast Defenses in the Philippine
Armament Districts.

Requisitions for target material will be forwarded to the com-
manding officers of the above ordnance establishments by department
ordnance officers for action.

Was Department,

Office of the Chief of Ordnance,
Washington, August 21, 1917.

February 27, 1908.

Revised June 15, 1909.

Revised October 29, 1913.

Revised August 21, 1917.

Form No. 1991.

Ed. Aug. 21—17—2,000.

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