What does 'Super Elevation' compensate for?

Super elevation is a concept used in naval gunnery to compensate for the downward pull of gravity on a projectile as it travels through the air. When a projectile is fired, it does not travel in a straight line due to the Earth's gravitational pull, which causes it to arc downward. Super elevation refers to the adjustment made to the angle of the gun barrel to account for this effect, ensuring that the projectile can reach the designated target at a specific range.

By elevating the gun barrel more than the straight-line angle to the target, the crew ensures that despite the downward trajectory caused by gravity, the projectile will have enough vertical distance to reach the intended target location. This adjustment is vital for accurate targeting over longer distances where gravity has a significant impact on the projectile's flight.

Understanding the influence of gravity is crucial for effective gunnery operations, as it ensures that projectiles have the necessary trajectory to hit moving or stationary targets, especially over varying distances.