IMPORTANCE OF ARTILLERY SURVEYING

"Effective fire needs concentration and surprise. Predicted fire is impossible without survey!
The purpose of survey is to enable guns of a unit to be used as one fire unit. All guns must be on a single survey grid as close as possible to theatre grid (map grid)."
Artillery Training, Vol. 3, Pam 9

PURPOSE

The primary and over riding purpose of the surveyors of 131, was to present theatre grid accuracy in coordinates and bearing to proposed FSB positions, prior to the arrival of the respective Gun Batteries. The guns needed immediate access to accurate positioning before engaging in fire missions. Our job was vital in that it enabled close fire support for our Infantry. Our job entailed a huge responsibility. There was no room for error!

ACCURACY

Coordinates were expressed in Eastings and Northings. Ordinary map reading could express position as a 6 figure number. ie 434 675. This figure placed position roughly within a 100m square on a typical 1:50,000 map. The coordinates 131 surveyors passed on was a 14 figure number, ie 434512.7 675254.4. This figure represented a cm square on the 1:50,000 map. Theodolite round of angles had to close within a 10sec tolerance.

GRID TYPES

The Artillery worked on 3 grid systems:

• Battery Grid meant that all guns of a Battery were locked together in line and could place a “locked” shot pattern
• Regimental Grid meant the guns of a Regiment were locked in line together
• Theatre Grid. This was the preferred grid for Battery or Regiment, for not only were they locked together but they were also locked to map grid.

Being locked to the map, allowed far greater accuracy for Infantry support. In effect there should be far less “firing for effect” to gauge shot accuracy.