, 1877-01-25
GREAT GUNS.
More Experiments with the Italian
fO0.Ton Gun.
Remarkable and Satisfactory Results
with "Fossano Progressive
Powder"

Tcrc Temporarily suspended because some OIL
tic targets had not arrived. fhc series has
stnfc been continued, anu brought to all end bY
Tho complete destruction ono after another OF
all targets opposed 10 tho 100.ton gun. This
WAS only 10 bc expected after tho proofs given
during the carly trials that gun and carriagc
were more than equal to tho task set before
them. But The later scr!es ot experiments has
been so Interesting on account vi tie variety u
the targets nnd the use of reduced charges in
some cases, that wc arc glad to hare the oppor.
tunity Of presenting the results to our renders.
It wttl bo remembered that, tlurIng tho fret
series, f0rty-two rounds had been fired with
various charges, but all exceeding the guarantee
uf tho manufacturers; anu that In 6omc cases.
lie guarantee was so orcrpassed That tho italian
Government declared themselves satisfied, and
accepted the gun, 80 That they might 1nakc tho
best use OF the experiments by trying different
charges Of different kind. Of powder The pow
der used throughout the sc"ond series was tilat
manufactured expressly by The Italians, and
called progressive powder Of Fossano." The
result las been hTgly satisfactory 10 tho sc!en-
sltic designers nf tic powder. for, though murc
than in the ease OF English powder, high
vcIocitics tan bc obta|nud with d very
moderate pressure OIL the interior Of the
gun. Tho manufacture OF tho Fossano powder
stagca o. manufacture, mid oeinE brought 70
thG condition OF ''meal-powdcr," 1t Is pressed
Into cakes which iaaro q .lclislty Of LII. The
caxc Ia then broken up Into irregular grains oi
about an eighth TO quarter OF m inch in
thickness. The grains arc then mixed with a
certain quantity Of fuc.graiu powder, and tho
Whale mass is pressed into caku which has n
density Of l;.'t; In's secon;l cake Is tlen
two md onc-c:ehth inches square by ono nnti
thrcc-quartera thick. These grains, Il they ran
so be eall,d arc therefore, ctil,poacd or num-
nes q snail plcfes VIII hEhsr asn;ty PLACED
eOtlEtutnerntc poNder'lnatcTtnl OF q lower dcn-
stty. Tho intention Of tho inventors Of tlt!s
powder was to brlng about condition Of affairs
time wncu the powder has Been partly Gurt Than
ut tho commencement OF It's jgnltiou.
On tho l4th Ut December tic first ro,lul OF
tho new scsics, or forly.third ronnl frDm the
l0tton gun, was fred with Charge VI 100 kilos.
t2lo pouAds) Of Fossano progressive powder,
unl tho usual :. O00.pounl Pallscr shell uEalnst
the Calnnell Sandwich target, which presents
front twclyc,fneh platc, then twclre ilchcs Of
tenEnch plasc. Tli!s charge was a very small
one, u,ld gavo velocity Of ouly 1,050 feet per
second. Tho object Of the Committee Was to
nutl the actual penetration III different forms Of
targets under conditions whlch would prevent
tho c.,Aiplctc penetration Of the structure. for
The previous experiments hasl shown TINT to fro
tho full charges would Ia every case bo to r,tin
tho target. and prevent anything like Judgment
VI comparat!vs results US tar - penetration was
e.,tIccried. The shell passed through tho flrst
plate aud CRACKED It through from top to bot
tul,, passed. through tho wooden Interior, a,il
entered j.S invhes Into tho scconI plate. Tho
base Of tho shell broke up and thu remainder
wus starred. Judging from past experiments
with gun-rotton s4els, tie Italian Committee
consider TINT, hal this shell been loaded, It
s TSa y' Il mesnp'tfhy th IN 1Gw1 81 Of to sS hin ESs
cracked, aud 4 vertical iron bcam behind WIS
considerably doubled up.
The gun wns thrn luadctl tor tho forty fourth
sG sa, tG oc sscs s ,tsst ssE fea
Thls time tho target was Of tho snmc dimensions
as that used ~ tie old experiments, but with n
bgown's solid plate twenty-five inches thick.
The sea was rough, and the tuntnun nlovrd yst-
bly alter tto gun was laid, % that tho shell, In
stead Vi striking tho point uitncd At, hit thu
pluto on IL lover edge and brokc into several
picccs, which were dutiectcd downwarls Snl
eight feet deep in 2 slantIuE direction unacr tho
tnrgcs. Though lbst for tic immediate object
Of tho experiment. this round was of great In
tcrcst, for 1t showed TINT a shell striking tho
| edge OF tho narrow belt OF nFtnor, which will
soon 10 ail that ships tan a1Iord to carry, will
| teas through the bottom OF tho vessel with
furco enough to pierce enGinc-rooms uutl boilers
side.
Round fortY-Gye l,al been looked forward 10
With great Interest. Previous experiments with
guns IT smaller cailbrt had gtscn reasou to be-
llcsc TINT plate cf chilled cast-iron, by pre-
scouting an EXTREMELY !lortt surface to the point
Of ttae projcctlle, might break It, and SO prevent
Its penetration. The charge was 40O pounds OF
Fussano powder. and gaYu velocity Of l,+0I
IT, T. the ,nad p, III ,ns w., ar! s}aI 10 te
Tho targct bud IN clght-lnch plate III frun.,
t1,tn strong layer Of wood, and behind tl[s 4
fourscen-lnch plato ot Chilled Iron from the
| Grcgorlnt works, near Como.
| fThtS ri fr,,th ~