Also known as: range tables.
| Purpose | Give the elevation for a given range |
|---|---|
| Depend on | Gun, charge, and projectile |
| Use | Laying the gun for distance |
Setting the range
Range tables were the gunner's reference for hitting distant targets. For a given gun, charge, and projectile they gave the elevation needed to reach each range, distilling the results of proving-ground firing into a form the gunner could use in the field.
With a range estimated and the proper elevation read from the table, a gun could be laid to drop its shot on the target, and the tables were printed in the manuals and carried with the batteries.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- United States Army, Ordnance Department. The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the United States Army. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1862.
- CivilWarArtillery.com research archive: patents, manuals, catalogues, and reference pages.