A range table was a list of angles of elevation a particular artillery gun barrel needed to be set to, to strike a target at a particular distance with a projectile of a particular weight using a propellant cartridge of a particular weight. They were used for several centuries by field and naval gunners of all countries until gradually replaced by computerised fire-control systems beginning in World War II (1939–1945).
Range table for US 3-inch (76.2 mm) field gun, models 1902-1905
This gun used a standard "fixed" cartridge with 15 lb (6.8 kg) shell, hence a single set of tables applied to all its ammunition.
Range table for British 3 inch (76.2 mm) Stokes Mortar, 1917
Different propellant charges were used to achieve required range, angle of descent and flight time. This is typical of mortars and howitzers.
(Provisional) Range Table For 3-Inch Stokes Mortar, Printed in September 1917.[1] Cartridge : 95 gr (6.2 g) ballistite, reinforced with Charges : 5 grains, guncotton yarn
Rings : 110 gr (7.1 g), .3 mm flake cordite Projectile : Bomb, 10 lb. 11 oz (4.85 kg)
Cartridge Only
1 Ring
2 Rings
3 Rings
4 Rings
Range
Time of Flight
Range
Time of Flight
Range
Time of Flight
Range
Time of Flight
Range
Time of Flight
degs
yds
secs
yds
secs
yds
secs
yds
secs
yds
secs
45
240
7·1
420
9·6
550
11·6
660
13·2
800
15·0
50
233
7·6
411
10·4
538
12·5
649
14·3
780
16·2
52
228
7·8
404
10·7
530
12·9
639
14·7
767
16·6
54
222
8·0
395
10·9
518
13·2
626
15·1
748
17·0
56
215
8·2
384
11·2
503
13·5
608
15·4
726
17·4
58
207
8·4
371
11·4
486
13·8
589
15·8
701
17·8
60
197
8·5
357
11·7
467
14·1
567
16·1
672
18·2
61
193
8·6
349
11·8
457
14·3
554
16·3
656
18·4
62
187
8·7
340
11·9
445
14·4
542
16·4
640
18·5
63
182
8·8
332
12·0
434
14·5
528
16·6
623
18·7
64
176
8·8
323
12·1
422
14·6
514
16·7
605
18·8
65
170
8·9
313
12·2
409
14·8
499
16·9
586
19·0
66
164
9·0
303
12·3
396
14·9
483
17·0
567
19·1
67
158
9·0
292
12·4
383
15·0
468
17·1
547
19·2
68
152
9·1
281
12·5
369
15·1
451
17·2
526
19·4
69
145
9·2
270
12·5
354
15·2
434
17·4
505
19·5
70
138
9·2
259
12·6
339
15·3
416
17·5
483
19·6
71
131
9·2
247
12·7
324
15·4
398
17·6
460
19·7
72
124
9·3
235
12·8
308
15·5
379
17·7
437
19·8
73
117
9·3
223
12·9
292
15·5
360
17·8
413
19·9
74
109
9·4
210
12·9
275
15·6
340
17·9
389
20·0
75
102
9·4
197
13·0
259
15·7
320
18·0
364
20·1
Notes
^Range Tables transcribed and supplied courtesy of John Reed
References
(Provisional) Range Table For 3-Inch Stokes Mortar, September 1917. United Kingdom War Office.