Q. Should oil or grease ever be applied to the surfaces of electrical contacts on a gun or carriage?
A. No. Grease or oil acts as an insulator and prevents the current from passing the contacts.
Q. Point out or describe the following parts of a battery: Emplacement, parapet, traverse, parados, exterior slope, interior crest, interior slope, superior slope, interior wall, gun-platform, truck-platform, loading-platform.
Q. Explain how to adjust the firing mechanism.
A. Insert the safety bar in the safety-bar notch of the slide housing. Slip the slide housing over the spindle, at the same time inserting the safety bar in its recess in the breech block. Press both home firmly. Slip on the yoke, pressing down until the notch above the ring is just visible. (In this operation it may be necessary further to adjust the spindle if the yoke does not go on completely, and the gas-check pad may have to be flattened for this purpose.)
Put the ejector in place with the ejector raised and the slide stop pulled out. Place the slide in position.
Q. When the weather is freezing what should be done to the recoil-cylinders before firing service charges?
A. A small amount of oil should be taken out and a reduced charge fired, then fill the cylinders and fire full service.
Q. Where should primers and fixed ammunition be kept?
A. Separate place from powder: never in the magazine. Primers should be kept preferably in the ammunition-chests, and fixed ammunition in the shot-room.
Q. How is the weight of a cored shot or plugged shell brought to standard weight?
A. By adding sand mixed with iron filings, water, or sawdust, according to the degree of increase required.
Q. How should throttling-bar bolts be adjusted?
A. First loosen them slightly, scrape away any paint that clogs them, and then tighten them to full limit.
Q. What is a priming-charge, and where is it placed?
A. A small charge of black powder in both front and rear of every section of cartridge.
Q. Should the trunnion-seats of sight-standards be polished? If not, why not?
A. No. Polishing wears away the brass and throws the sight out of adjustment. They should be wiped clean, however.
Q. Is the removal of the name-plates or sight-brackets authorized at any time?