Here's an interesting article from the Fort Bliss Monitor. But this is not aiming.
A Paladin crew normally takes firing instructions from its fire direction officer, who has received firing coordinates from forward observers on the battlefield, but with direct fire the crew chief opens the breech of the cannon and looks down the barrel to make visual contact with the target before giving the order to fire.
The result is a nearly instantaneous verification of the artillery round’s hit, and another sight adjustment for the aiming of the next round.
Paladin crews are trained to use direct fire as a defensive tactic when enemy targets have advanced too close for the howitzer’s traditional, indirect firing.
Source:
http://fbmonitor.com/2011/11/30/pala...t-direct-fire/
Cross