Range-Finder Training: Introduction to the Series

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Richard Fisher, Oct 9, 2020.

  1. Richard Fisher

    Richard Fisher Machine Gunner

    In this video, we introduce our new series of videos: Training the Range-taker. These are going to be a 'fly on the wall' documentary-style set of videos that show the replication of the training syllabus for the range-taker during the Second World War. A range-taker was a key member of the Vickers machine gun section during it's entire service so the Barr & Stroud rangefinder has become a strongly associated, but rarely understood, piece of equipment. Many people will have them in their collections and, hopefully, this will explain how they're used correctly.

    This is the start of a series that will hopefully develop into different types of training (including the likes of the Bren light machine gun, the bayonet and the rifle) eventually culminating with the full Vickers machine gun training series. This needs serious funding so please do come and support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/vickersmg

    More information (and a 1949 copy of the training syllabus - we're using 1942) is available here: Training the Range-Taker

    If you want to see a copy of the manual we're using, then it's available here: Small Arms Training Manuals

    For more information on the Machine Gun Training Centres, go to: Machine Gun Training Centre

     
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  2. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Used one of those while laying moorings off the North American coast in the 1960s, funny using 'yards' as a measurement at sea!. No training offered!
     
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  3. Richard Fisher

    Richard Fisher Machine Gunner

    The introductory lesson is now available to watch. Only 13 minutes on this one but the later lessons are longer and full of much more detail.

    Please do subscribe and support the Association.

    Small Arms Training, Pamphlet No. 10, Range-Finder No. 12, 1942: The first lecture in the Range-Finder training scheme. This outlines the content of the course, main definitions, how the training will work and what's expected of the new rangetakers. These series will hopefully develop into different types of training (including the likes of the Bren light machine gun, the bayonet and the rifle) eventually culminating with the full Vickers machine gun training series. This needs serious funding so please do come and support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/vickersmg

     
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  4. Richard Fisher

    Richard Fisher Machine Gunner

    Lesson 1: General Description, Packing and Unpacking.

    Small Arms Training, Pamphlet No. 10, Range-Finder No. 12, 1942: The first numbered lecture in the Range-Finder training scheme. This is one of the longest as it involves the learning and naming of parts of the rangefinder as well as some of how it functions. Then there's packing it into the case! These series will hopefully develop into different types of training (including the likes of the Bren light machine gun, the bayonet and the rifle) eventually culminating with the full Vickers machine gun training series. This needs serious funding so please do come and support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/vickersmg

     
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  5. Richard Fisher

    Richard Fisher Machine Gunner

    Small Arms Training, Pamphlet No. 10, Range-Finder No. 12, 1942: The second lecture in the Range-Finder training scheme. This covers how to care for and clean the instrument, including if it's exposed to gas.

     
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  6. Richard Fisher

    Richard Fisher Machine Gunner

    Lesson 3: Setting up and focussing is now available. Please do got an watch it, like it and subscribe to the channel. These videos are building nicely and this is the first field activity we did.

     
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  7. Richard Fisher

    Richard Fisher Machine Gunner

    In Lesson 4: Making coincidence, we get to look through the rangefinder and see actually how it works in the field. This is what it's all about really. Hopefully those with rangefinders can start to learn how they work and others can start to understand how something very complex was being taught to private soldiers. Being in the infantry could be far from a simple task.

     
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  8. Richard Fisher

    Richard Fisher Machine Gunner

    Next video is up: Halving Adjustment. Don’t know what that means? Watch the video. It’s a really complex piece of equipment when being used properly.
     
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  9. Richard Fisher

    Richard Fisher Machine Gunner

    Appendix V and Lesson 6 from the Range-finder training series (Small Arms Training, Pamphlet No. 10, Range-Finder No. 12, 1942). Here is where the maths start to get a little more complicated and we learn about 'little r' which many veteran rangetakers talked about.

     
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  10. Richard Fisher

    Richard Fisher Machine Gunner

    At the end of each stage of the rangefinder training, the students got out for several hours and take additional ranges in their pairs to practice what they've learnt in that stage. This is a short clip showing some of the practice range-taking at the end of Stage 1. We really hope you've found this stage interesting and want to see more.

     
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  11. Richard Fisher

    Richard Fisher Machine Gunner

    In this next lesson from the Range-finder training series (Small Arms Training, Pamphlet No. 10, Range-Finder No. 12, 1942), we talk about accuracy charts and how they were used by each rangetaker to continually assess their accuracy throughout their career.

     
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