Q&A · 31:02-31:55

How could loaders keep handling heavy six-inch shells?

Several loaders shared heavy-shell handling so that each man had intervals without carrying a shell while the crew continued working.

Question

How could a gun crew keep moving heavy six-inch shells without exhausting its loaders?

Short answer

Five or six sailors shared the handling work, giving each man short intervals without carrying a shell even while the crew kept moving.

Notes

A viewer's comment raises the difficulty of repeatedly moving a roughly 50 kg six-inch shell, even for someone strong enough to lift one. Five or six sailors share the handling work, so no individual carries every round. After placing a shell, a loader can move into the next position without immediately carrying another. Those brief intervals allow some recovery while the crew continues working and help sustain the rate of fire. This example concerns six-inch shell handling, separate from Monarch's twelve-inch bombardment ammunition.