Gunnery {Rangetaker} branch

[RCN]

Gunnery {Rangetaker} branch:

Rangetakers were members of the Gunnery branch that had previously qualified as a Seaman Gunner, or a higher gunnery rate, then specialized in rangetaking. This branch was very important for Director firing which came into use in 1913, prior to WWI. All calibres of gun had separate rangefinders but were all fed to the central Director control tower.
Rangetakers rec’d their rate badges in 1918 & the rating lasted up to beginning of WWII when they were replaced by the Gunnery Control rate badge.

Badges illustrated are:
Rangetaker 3rd class (no star),
Rangetaker 2nd class (one star),
& Rangetaker 1st class {PO} (2stars)


Bryan