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Mr. Miller,
Good rendition of use of quadrant, except that on a howitzer (105mm, M101A1;
155mm, M114A2 and M198; and 8", M110A2) or gun (175mm, M107), when applying
the quadrant, it's "feet" actually go on pads on the tube; i.e., there is a
specific spot on the piece to put the quadrant. These inlaid spots are
sometimes painted over.
R. S. Rayfield, Jr.
Maj 0802 USMC (Ret)
-----Original Message-----
From: Mel Miller [mailto:nourmahal@worldnet.att.net]
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2000 11:13 AM
To: mil-veh@uller.skylee.com
Subject: Re: [MV] Quadrant, Gunners, M1 - 1943
*This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(tm) Pro*
Howdy Tim,
A Gunners Quadrant is used by the gunner to verify the elevation of the
tube of a mortar or artillery piece. When the Fire Direction Center
(FDC) calls out the deflection and elevation for a fire mission, the
crew sets the data on the gun sight and then cranks the elevation and
traverse mechanisms of the piece until the cross hairs of the sight come
back to the aiming stakes and both bubbles in the spirit level on the
sight are centered between their lines.
The gunner sets the elevation from the FDC on the Gunners Quadrant. He
goes to the piece, checks that the deflection and elevation have been
correctly entered on the sights dials, he then sights through the eye
piece to verify the sight picture, checks the bubbles in the spirit
levels, and places the little 'feet' of the Quadrant on a part of the
tube (usually an unpainted spot). If the lay of the piece is correct and
the sight and mount are undamaged, the bubble of the spirit level of the
Quadrant should be within the center marks.
The Quadrant is used as a check that the mount and sight are OK and
that the operator has done his job correctly. There is no direct check
to verify deflection, other than to verify that the numbers from the FDC
have been correctly placed on the sight and that the sight picture is
correct, but if all other indicators are good to go one can assume that
the sight and mount are probably OK.
The problems with sights getting damaged is quite real, especially when
mortars are mounted in armored personnel carriers, dropped from planes, etc.
I hope that this long winded explanation has helped. I also have the
Gunners Quadrant I used in my last command. I used it a lot as a Range
Safety Officer!
Drive On!
Mel Miller
Former 81MM & 4.2" Mortar Platoon Leader
2Bn 36th Abn. Bde. TARNG
1971 - 1976
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