The British have for some time recognized the limitations of voice control of
antitank fire during the din of a modern battle. The disadvantages are:
(a) Orders may not be heard at all.
(b) Orders may not be understood, resulting in delay and perhaps confusion when repeated.
(c) Orders may be misunderstood and wrong data applied to sights.
(d) In any chain of precision operations, the more minds under stress, the more chance of error.
In certain of their antitank guns, the NCO observing the bursts himself applies
range corrections to the sight, and, while leaning over the gunner to do so, shouts
deflection (or lead) corrections in his ear. This method of fire control is
satisfactory when there is no dust. The gunner has only two things on his mind - the
target and the lead - and need never lose sight of his target.
Dust stirred up by muzzle blast, however, has proved a great hindrance to good
fire control during direct fire at moving tanks. Modern high velocities
and muzzle brazes have aggravated this handicap, and it is often necessary for
the chief of section (or other officer or NCO observing) to move to the windward
flank in order to observe the bursts.
Several disadvantages are at once introduced by such a procedure:
(a) Voice control is necessary for both direction and range correction.
(b) The spotter is removed to a greater distance, thereby greatly increasing all the
inherent disadvantages of voice control.
(c) Either the gunner must put on range corrections, taking his eyes and mind
off the moving target, or a third gun-crew member is necessary.
(d) The spotter has a tendency to turn towards the gun while giving orders, taking
his eyes off the target.
With a view to overcoming these difficulties, the British have recently
conducted experimental tests with an improvised remote-control device for
antitank firing attached to a 25-pounder (3.45-in) field gun. The observer (chief
of section) was posted 4 yards to the windward flank. By means of a
small apparatus having two small wheels, one for direction corrections and one
for range corrections, and each connected to the appropriate components of the
sight by a flexible cable, he was able to apply the desired corrections, leaving
the gunner free to concentrate on following his target.
Despite the fact that the experimental equipment was rather crude, inasmuch as it
had been made in one day, the experiment was a success, and there was no
necessity for any shouting of orders. The British are now proceeding with
the development of this remote-control apparatus.