Abstract: A novel pre-quench zone is provided between the soak section and the water quench section of a continuous annealing line. The pre-quench section has multiple passes, and each pass has gas jet cooling tubes and heaters disposed along the path of movement of the strip. By selective operation of the gas jet cooling tubes or the heaters or both, the pre-quench zone provides a wide range of cooling capabilities and cooling rates so as to achieve a quench temperature ranging from 455.degree. C. to 955.degree. C. (850.degree.-1750.degree. F.) using either light or heavy gauge strip and without changing the normal line speed.