The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-07-21 00:00:00

TRIAL OF THE EIGHTY.ONE TON
GUNS AT DOVER.

The experiments with the two fileton guns placed
some time since in a turret at the end of the Admiralty
Pier, Dover, were successfully made on Monday. For
the last three weeks residents at Dover had been in
considerable trepidation lest the discharging of these
huge ordnance should be followed by a fall of the cliff,
with the probable loss of many lives. In answer to the
request of the Mayor of Dover, General Newdigate,
commanding the garrison, and Colonel Geodenough,
commanding the Royal Artillery in the South-Eastern
District, took every precaution for the safety of the
lives and property of the people of Dover. The al,
rangements were admirably carried out by the Royal
A west wind being a favourite trading wind for ships
ua and down Channel, added to the fact that the wind
had been blowing for several days from the smith,
which filled the Downs with shipping, the proposed
range was during the early part of the morning,
ob,tructed by craft going up and down Channel.
At 10.30 a slight mist came over from the French
coast, and the way was thought to be clear. It was well
that the Artillery officers were not too precipitate in
firing the gun, for by the time the loading of one of the
guns had been completed it was seen, the mist having
cleared off, that a three•master was right in the line of
fire. By the time the range was clear again two hours
and a half had elapsed. The loading of one gun, which
was only half a full charge of powder, viz.. 2251 b.,
occupied a very few seconds. Four men loaded,
The rammer, being of huge dimensions, took three
men to manipulate it. A few minutes after one
o'clock all those who had been during the morning
walking about on the top of the turret precipi-
tately withdrew down the ladders to a safe pod-
Lion. At five minutes past one a huge volume of
smoke, preceded by a great flash, informed the many
thousands that had congregated on the different situa-
tions, from whence a good view of the proceedings could
be had, that the greatly-feared gun had been dire
charged. The gun had an elevation of two degrees,
ard three seconds after being discharged, the huge
projectile, seventeen cwt., with which it was loaded,
struck and ploughed up the water at a calculated die'
tan, e of a mile, ricochetting it fell again at a short
distance. The effect of the discharge was barely felt
in the town and neighbourhood, although the report
was loud and reverberated to an alarming extent off
the cliffs, On examination of the gun carriage gear it
was found that the recoil was indicated as seven feet,
the runners had acted well, and the carriage and aim-
ing apparatus had worked admirably,
The succeeding trials were as follows :—Second round
(fired at 2,10) : Charge 3361b5, of powder, projectile 17
cwt., elevation three degrees, distance before projectile
striking water four miles, recoil with greater pressure
on the brake than at the preceding discharge five feet.
i
The effect of this shot n the neighbourhood was
alarming, With a loud crash one of the large panes
in the lighthouse was blown out, and fell within a few
feet of the many officers watching the experiment. In
expectation of such a mishap, the Trinity House Corn.
mittee had had a temporary mast erected in close
proximity to the lighthouse, whereon a light could be
displayed.
Third round (2.50 o'clock) : Full charge, 450 lbs. of
powder, projectile 17 cwt. ; elevation point blank;
projectile struck water half a mile from pier ; recoil
of gun, five feet. The rush of air to the vacuum
caused by the tremendous explosion that took place,
blew out two more of the panes of the lighthouse
lantern, the g' ass of which WAR over a quarter of an
inch in thickness. The effect in the town and on the
cliffs was impressing. No material dameees could be
seen, but doors and windows rattled, while some of the
older houses shook.
Fourth round (3.10 o'clock) : 225 lb. of powder; pro-
jectile, 17 cwt. ; elevation, 3 deg. ; recoil, 41t. ; pro-
jectile struck water after travelling four miles; the
report had little effect,
Fifth and last round (3.30 o'clock); full charge,
450 lb. powder; projectile, 17 cwt. ; direction of gun,
lowest possible depression ; recoil, 5 ft. ; projectile
struck water almost immediately after being die'
charged, 150 yards from the turret, whence it
ricochetted out to sea. The report of this discharge
was louder than any preceding, and shook to a con-
siderable extent the ground surrounding, No daecage
was done beyond cracking one of the remainieg win-
dows of the lighthouse.
Colonel Goodenough and the many officers who had
the experiments in hand were perfectly satisfied with
the result of the trials.

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