United States Naval Academy - Lucky Bag Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

Top Row: Skinner, Van Cleave, Cunningham, Doolin, Pearson, Osborn Middle Row: Buchanan, Hibbs, Rooks, Palmer, Cooley, Corn, DeLong Seated: Parr, Smith, Howard, Hedrick, Hall Ordnance and Gunnery TO train officers whose sole purpose in battle is to hit the enemy quicklv and continuously with destructive gun fire to sink or permanently disable his ships, that is the major work of the Depart- ment of Ordnance and Gunnery. Practice and training in small arms opens the way into the field of powder and shell. The ascent to the large caliber guns is rapid, and on the first cruise the midshipmen are members of gun crews whose military machine sends the huge mass of destructive steel beyond the horizon to hit the target invisible. The Naval Academy course in this interesting and valuable sub- ject provides a solid foundation for the professional and working knowledge that is required in the tleet. The Navy is proud of its gunnerv. Since the days of the romantic frigate with its queer- looking guns our ships have led the field in speed and accuracy in the destruction of the enemy. We have these traditions to uphold and there is one way to do it: We must gain knowledge of Ordnance which will never fail, however, unusual the odds and circumstances may be. Comdr. D. L. Howard MI ' IIIIMIIIlllMlllll ' IMIIHIIlf 37