Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did a panoramic sight allow artillery to fire at targets outside the gun crew’s view?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Find out what types of artillery were used during the American Civil War — artillery Learn about the types of artillery used in the American Civil War.

The panoramic sight, also known as a goniometric sight, enabled artillery to engage targets hidden from the crew's direct view by facilitating indirect fire.12

Rather than sighting the target directly, the gunner uses the panoramic sight to align the weapon based on calculated angles. The process works as follows:1

Mapping: The positions of both the gun and the target are plotted on a map to determine the required azimuth.1
Aiming Point: A fixed, prominent feature or marker is chosen as a reference point. The azimuth between the gun and this marker is measured.1
Calculation: By subtracting the azimuth of the aiming point from the azimuth of the target, the gunner determines the specific angle needed to point the gun bore toward the target.1
Alignment: The gunner sets this calculated angle on the panoramic sight and rotates the gun until the sight aligns with the chosen aiming point. This action automatically positions the gun bore to face the target.1

This system allows guns to remain concealed while maintaining accuracy through map-based calculations and adjustments provided by forward observers.1