New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-10
IMPROVEMENT IN NAVAL GuyyERy
REPORT OF CAPT. DAHIysRgS.
TrSIrgp STATES OEDNaxcr sptp pvs.....

he arrival tf this ship in the Uni.ed ssis. ana -
# having in course Of the cruise toacked a. Rer,
Lisbon. Amsterdam ard SOlthanp,op, in parsssscs
OF your orders.
zion given 10 visit other ports OF E0gsnd and frs.ea
The Plymou.h a. directed by your orders, reesiysl
I'D June LETT Washington the following day, sad pxt
10 sea ait.r completing necessary SUPPLIES IRAN he
Norfolk Navy Yard.
The chip has been absent lSi days AID wss u dau
Of that time in the ports above famed.
TIE operations of r vessel employs ed on the dusyh
which the Plymouth has been assigned would ilsuds
Great variety Of objects. but the sbort1ess Of thu
er.iIg sesson upavodably restricted my attention b
snch issues as alone determiasole tysss prsc-
,e and which from their Importance, demanded the
esrlies Il Consideration.
OF these none are of more con,equesee thaa thar
which has for is object 10 ascertain the c.bs,s aod
weights Of ordnarc pest fitted TO give the greaaaa
power to the broadside for no error IN thu the fands
mertal principle, could be compsnssted ey excellence
IN the mere accessories. ...
The constant attention which the question nssives
from tie srlerists Of her naval powers, lrkcssss
the interest they feel in its proper settlemen.. l.
Having been led 10 investigate the subject suA
wears eli CO. the results induced me, IN ls TO pcPo
esss is changes in our Naval batteries, by ne sub
s.uiop of other ordnance, for which pwpoee l sab
mi,ted drafts of guns having inch and IL ncheaAbsrs
fer osdside sra pivot.
Comm odore Warrington then Chief Of the Bnsesuef
&c was 80 avorably in pressed 70 recommend
10 the Depsrtmtpt the casting Of cannon Of thh
DESCRIPTION which were made Il el OF 40 1850 sod N
,ubseGueni years. The asserted strength Of model the
newer and accuracy Of fire. were fully msinsined BY
Inc oct thorc ugh course OF espsnmsni on record eH
tending through 1850 81, u &c.
The often repeated objection, however, 10 the u-
vieldinsss Of slch ordnance prevented tbek evee
being tested at sea until the arnameLs OF the new
screw frgstes came der Consideration, when u ~O
made manifest that no power OF bsttery proportional:
70 the enormous size Of these ships ooad b developed
by any OF the existing cannon, such % 39posndeH
and irCh shell guns.
The Bureau then adopted the 9-iuch .hel gun fer
the gun decks Of these vessels, but uAflahnediy re-
fus ed the pivot lIreh designed for the spar decks,
MT uniting lieu thereof inch Of % aud pivot ~ ince
And there the matter might have remained Tor tus
OR accident to decide, go long a. the que.ton Wa
limited ID its pcation to our owl navy out otox
powers have prompt follow the example ses By ~
trited States ard 10 improve on III they have eonaeist
n. Lager md sS ssa n sns Ct SsssS Ss
therefore imperative on US 70 oe "s 90 our
eIisn'ion ,.,. y,-,., 49,.
reference sanrent Of stsc,oy Whereby
might be ssceran.dto what extent ne vcsai q he
Ordnar &c er nteIefed Tf'h arrangement
well es the discovery OF TN best esaLAssd ~
The practice in the Ordnance sp has ssocdsa f sppor.
tunities for some conclusions on the subject. a..
Beside the customary d every day that erscs:css pr
ntted there were fred under various 81 cs
and 2l shells omhe inch pvotsBn, and 30 sssn'iron
the inch guns in brossside. .,.
til. 1s' entail Bss.sy tie sosiSs tas1s in
First: When the ship he's motion, bu. m;e, andh
without the sinoh sun DO worked aud fred
sy, il not quite AZ RAPIDLY the lons onnde OF ne
n m piece Of s description mosnted 81 the Experimental
Battery and msnred BY II men the crew OF siponnaet
Intervals Of 40 secon6sa CELEBRITY not sahy supposed VIA
eosd: wh.rs there motion inclination Of the dsca.
The e.ey Of FIRE du i,hed yet u.
Of inclination s. and reaching to ~ a the s.s..
Of IS seconds ard IS seconds Geners quarter. :, tess ts
time in which TIE battery Of the Plymouth could Be erous
7h1d: When the .hip sil and even keel the II
inch san connot BE- tired 9; rapidly a. The sns yssaAs ~
ship that spces TO the quick working ofe ench
PoTOn.y colIosbs under such cresustssces ssa b
msneuveiDg be aimed much more rapidly On occs
two adjoining sDch guns together only fssd II sSss the
inch suD being at the dssdvantase Of having 20 pivot
srs. under FIRE In tb. insSee te Vi. VS. s. 81 The
twe considerable that the chip rolled y 10 % and pchet
Fou, No discnlty Occurred during the cruise IN making
n. and nch guns perfectly in the 'ousess sea
Il boerous wes.her c.cssonsy increased to sas saodsa
the meet 'atisi.ciory evidence in this respect
pivot gun the Iiinch 10 every way manageable the
spounde. which have been 80 long and are so~ used ~
And this be correct there should be Obsc,on
rs sis e. s e q s1 q the :s m
too there be imperative In the fast that an
ony be GSS ss an oss. ., %
foreign Gsgotes Of inferior dinessisas Certsiny
s,tbsr unworthy Of being placed there.
%sy be Observed With regard to the retsa.. inaasnes q
the ships incl the heavier ordnance that n genera
.redOeed 70 minimum before sons into acton o.ssa.e J,
s,S SI - t. n ID s sae AZ
may look for further abatement of the ell To- the Intro
hSefwsr in battle No moe sad VII then y sSrssd ih.s
will be required Eve stesdness 20 the vessel and the No.
AD th. until. Of sfna With coee ss sss - i,
delayed By the interpretive OF smske and the constant noos
as. 4 question W" fall to be prepared when those
To insure the comparative suit. fr.t stated with ordnsn
?. heavy " the Sinh ard ilines more csef d, ana mt
sent di.ctea ar. required than sith lighter s1ns To-
IN doing so viii yodsby be experienced IN propsoa n
tie car non ate heavier
"eishfer ordnance undo, AZ pos'ibl- ercanssase.s ~
deyoIye upon The ordrsnc. bipat bsisrg u ne Sa'
gre hoads ne gun. eesres may scSsvs i:' s;noss q
are deficient in shD and practice better with afebcs
~f;I' ny s ,:, ..s, IL, gs aToer,. s .,.
instruction captains The importance Of daes n
stt. can hardly Be valued They direct the details .s1ss
berg then They also s,d.. % n,uet the sns' ere.
teeapse re rect accord in psnp.fop 10
src TO attain Il the more thorough drJ srqeSiH ropios
81 o. Ssn snh me sS ss
in regard 10 the difficulty Of esstr men haey 70 sesvef TIE
b. ii sLeS !. 1S s.,s the ease v.ss. Of va. sa
bein, hpyed urd favorable circuesrs may ~ .eepts
i1,o Vel qa.s.d ssp spsin. i. s1e,. Indy hn.e
The fun influence Of The department VII probably be intis
10 r. % I'M, !,
,ee,tou fem the receiving ships and SHIPS IL conmsslon
w. BY special recruitment aud induced 10 esify them
'e,es by rats pay &c. Tie ybners aud sanasS stss
iktud sppobe from them In shor ;sa.,ve snistsd
mat pfotefly he offered.
TIE dcis. Ina: attend the undertaking. Asy. xs.a saa
continue IN fahe and sant bat peseysnsy and sue
eessfuy 81 &C unt.ied Some h>s bssa 81
TsitDcec non the anticipation thai many who eater cod
esly usy subseqnenty cline to r.eoter acuh
wiihsPp>n But So Ter fiom viewing .hs sbleetan,
convenience which had lie ul.eror adysaases AAasins
s@ops cor ,.smsn skill In their peculiar which mess
EVENTUALLY te TO The benefit Of maritime power vfese asove
pty has been 70 recruit ss Il wU from NE
Ann NJ rsa Isol4f. .l.....s.