Ranging Poles???

Redleg, you were the one person I was expecting;Thanks.

I dont know anything about Big guns. I used to know about Sten guns, Bren guns, mk IV Lee Enfield,

Sterling and the 9mm browning pistol. Oh! and the 36 grenade. Bit ancient I know...cheers....Kenny

OK....first. they are Aiming Posts

Next, yes they were used and are still used today. Once a gun is surveyed or "laid" into position, the aiming post is put out as a sight reference point. This is used to traverse the gun left and right. The sight or "panoramic telescope" is set to the needed azimuth or "deflection" and the gun is traversed until the aiming post is centered in the sight.

The M14 aiming post is in two parts. Each half is one meter long, yeilding a two meter tall pole when employed.

Today, the primary reference point is the M40 Infinity Colimeter (another discussion) but the aiming stakes are used to designate secondary aiming points which would allow the gun to traverse "6400 mils" or 360 degrees in a complete circle.

For more artillery modeling info see

http://www.redleg2scale.com/RBMI%20Info/Artillery%20Modeling.pdf

Hope that helps

Rounds Complete!!

Go for it.  I'm just amazed that I could provide useful information.

Have at it buddy,no copyrights filed that I know of.

Tony lee

Tony and Maj Mike, thanks for the prompt reply. This is the place for answeres and advice!.

Tony, I like your M7; don't be suprised if I do show mine and you see that I've "pinched" some of your ideas...cheers....Kenny

They would have to.  That's how you orient your piece for indirect firing.  Each gun has a set of poles and the entire battery is then oriented off of the center gun that has been oriented via an artillery aiming circle (rather like a surveyor's transit). 

I never mastered the aiming circle (being a former 11Bravo, I was more into direct engagement of targets).  Now with GPS and all sorts of computer gizmos, I'm not familiar with how the current cannoneers do it.

Will this help:

This is my M-7:

Tony lee