Weapons and their parameters

IN the military, both officers and troops have to be fully familiar with their weapons and equipment. In the case of weapons. it is important to have full knowledge of their operation, performance and parameters.

In the Armoured Corps, there are three trades: driving and maintenance, wireless operations and tank gunnery. In each of these trades, there are four grades — from the first to the fourth. The first grade is the highest and the fourth the lowest. Once a tradesman reaches the first grade, there is no incentive for him to further improve his skill in the trade.

As Commanding Officer of the unit, I decided to introduce the category of master trade within the unit. Anyone who qualified in master trade would get Rs 100 every year from the regimental funds and, in addition, he would wear within the unit a special master category badge. Consequently, I laid down the qualifying standard for each trade.

In the case of tank gunners, one of the qualifying requirements was to score 50 hits while firing 75 rounds from the tank's co-axial machine gum (MG) on a moving target at 600 metres. At the Babina ranges, where we used to carry out field firing practice, the moving target is at 600 metres.

During a function in the JCO's mess, I was told that obtaining 50 hits out of 75 rounds on a moving target from the co-axial MG was impossible. To these JCOs, it appeared that I did not plan to give the master grade in gunnery to anyone. I told them that I would do the firing and if I failed to obtain the qualifying number of hits, I would lower the number of hits for the master category. The JCOs were happy as they felt that the CO sahib had been trapped.

At the ranges, I did one dry run. All the regiment personnel were at the firing point. As per the normal practice, to fire 75 rounds, the target was moved once from right to left and then back from left to right.

On the completion of the firing, I told the troops to run to the target and count the number of hits. They came back and said that there were 71 hits. Never had I seen a more sheepish group than that set of JCOs who had questioned this qualifying standard laid down by me.

What the JCOs and many others do not know is that a co-axial machine gun of a tank, during its firing, does not vibrate, but it slides back and forth on a firm platform and, consequently, there is very little dispersion of rounds. This gun is used to engage targets such as the RCL gun or someone hiding in foliage with a bazooka or in the porthole of a bunker, where all rounds from this machine must hit the specific target.

Military officers must develop skills in the relevant trades to a level above those of their troops.