Free Trainer Sight

A Free Trainer's Sight is a sight whose optical device can be freed in pitch so the operator can keep the target continually in view even if the motion of own ship and elevation of gun would sweep it off the field of view.

The sight would not be useful in gunlaying, but might prove quite helpful in keeping the mounting on for training so it can be fired when the horizontal wire of the layer's scope next crosses the target.

The British turret gunsights often had free trainer sights on one or both of their centre sighting position's sights. Similarly, the British tripod director system had a free trainer's sight.

Bibliography

• Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1916). The Sight Manual. 1916. O.U. 6026 (late C.B. 1243). Copy No. 1749 at the The National Archives. ADM 186/216.
• Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1917). The Director Firing Handbook. O.U. 6125 (late C.B. 1259). Copy No. 322 at The National Archives. ADM 186/227.