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Naval gunnery--Study and teaching

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Gunnery Lecture No. III.

Gunnery Lecture No. III.

Captain Percy Scott introduces a paper about training ranges and long-range firing by Lieutenant Commander William Sowden Sims. Scott believes the paper should be studied by officers interested in gunnery training and in towing targets. In the extracts from Sims’s paper, he addresses current misconceptions in teaching men to aim, as well as examining the proper methods of training. Sims believes it is important to train with firearms that are accurate, as well as to train men under circumstances that will test their skills and nerve. Sims concludes his paper with a summary of his points. He says, “You must first train your pointers always to aim accurately, then train your ‘ship’ to get the maximum results from their skill.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-21

Creator(s)

Scott, Percy, Sir, Bart., 1853-1924

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Moody

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Moody

Theodore Roosevelt is returning William S. Sims’ report. Roosevelt appreciates Sims’ report and asks William H. Moody to also get reports from Sims’ on his suggestions about the gunner and officer training and the sights. Roosevelt would like Sims to report on whether or not specializing gunnery officers would leave ships “helpless” if “considerable slaughter is made among them.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William Sowden Sims to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from William Sowden Sims to Theodore Roosevelt

Lieutenant-Commander Sims addresses recent conclusions A. T. Mahan drew in an article on the battle of the Sea of Japan during the Russo-Japanese War. Sims contends that while Mahan’s conclusions may have been correct given the facts he was working from, the facts were inaccurate. Addressing each argument, Sims refutes Mahan’s arguments prioritizing gun-power over speed, asserting that all-big-gun ships are mistakes, and saying that the size of ships should not greatly increase. Sims illustrates how the converse of each of these would lead to a stronger, more modern navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-27

Creator(s)

Sims, William Sowden, 1858-1936

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George von Lengerke Meyer

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George von Lengerke Meyer

Theodore Roosevelt sends New Year’s greetings to Secretary of the Navy Meyer and his wife Marian Alice Appleton Meyer. Roosevelt recently discussed Meyer’s physical test work with Cameron McRae Winslow. Roosevelt believes William Sowden Sims has done more for the marksmanship of the Navy than anyone else, regardless of his indiscretions.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1910-12-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919