Director Layer
A Director Layer is a sailor who functions as part of a Gunnery Director crew. Much as a Gunlayer (Pointer in American gunnery parlance) is responsible for setting the proper Elevation of the gun barrel and firing the weapon, the Director Layer looks through a sighting telescope and works a handwheel to place his crosshairs on the target before pulling a trigger to cause the ship's guns to fire.
At some early points in World War I, it was reported that the Director Layer would also perform the job of the Director Trainer, as the training and slewing handles were duplicated at both mens' stations.[Citation needed] This was possible as, for some reason, training was not continuous early on, perhaps due to the clumsy hydraulic control equipment or lack of practice by Turret Director Trainer positions. Even so, it was mentioned that resistance to splitting the work was perhaps due to institutional "job protection" on the part of the layers, who wanted all the glory.[1]
However, by early 1918, it appears that continuous training and full division of roles was the norm.[2]
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