The New York herald., 1879-08-25
THE KRUPP CANNON.
AN ENGLISH OPINION OF THE TwENTY-FoUR
CENTIMETRE GUN.


cENTIMETRE GUN.
From the London Daily Telegraph
1t is peculiarly interesting to turn to the trial
which the Germans have just concluded with
Krupp's guns. and to deduce therefrom
Briefly speaking. the great questions which
English artillerists have to decide are these
Are breech-loading guns superior inferior
to muzzle-loaders? OF what material may a
gun be most satisfactorily made and how should 1t
be built? How may the maximum of power be oh
tained with the minimum of weight in the weapon.
its projectile and its powder charge? And lastly.
what system OF gun is best for the rough usage Of
service. when the element of efficiency has been
fully taken into consideration? Upon ali these
points the experiments conducted at Meppin throw
considerable light The results obtained have
been mathematically computed and openly dealt
with. and the exact nature Of the conclusions
arrived at precludes the possibility Of mistake By
a somewhat complicated arrangement Herr Krupp
has succeeded in closing the vent at the instant
after discharge to afford absolutely perfect
protection against the escape OF smoke to the
a fact OF the greatest importance to men who might
be called upon to work such guns in 3 turret.
Again, the plan of wedging obviates the chances of
accident, either in the nature OF double loading
or losing the breech plug. while much superior
length Of bore is atsinabe in these weapons. which,
to be run in, and are. therefore, available
for ships of comparatively small size.
fop pon the ensss sdvantaaes which they signify ~
strike the mind of any who recollects the dis
aster of the Thunderer. or who is aware Of the diff
Guilty which is experienced with that
ought Tor many reasons to be much longer in the
tube but cannot be SO heightened on account of the
narrowness of the turret or deck upon which they
may chance to be placed. As regards the material
from which such ordnance may be made, it has been
fairly shown again that steel outrvals all competi
TOR Irue a EXPLOSION
guns has thrown slur upon the ordnance he makes
but the rarity Of this class OF accident renders such
u costreteups the remarkable. With respect to
power OF penetration obtained another very serious
subject presented for investigation. According to
data given, Krupps twenty-four centlmetre gun,
weighing eighteen tons only, sent chilled steel
shell of 352 pounds weight with 165 pounds OF pow
sr0h to Of se Ss
initial velocity 1t impaired to the projectile
1.91O feet per second. with total energy Of
S.755 foot tons. or 2s7 tons. for every inch of
its circumference Our thirtyeight ton gun, made
Woolwich can do but little more, for. though it
sends out y shot of 8l2 pounds by means or 200
pounds of powder with energy OF $40 foot tons
per inch of circumference, 1t has only shown
capabty Of passing through three plates of six and
one-ha inches thickness an1 has failed to pierce
fully fourth. The experiments further go to show
that the Krupp gun is handy weapon. easy to load
and quick to fire. and that the work to which 1t has
been subjected should be taken into considers
ton when the relative value OF these and other sys
tens Is decided upon. Such, At any rate some
of the thoughts which the investigation just finished
suggests We cannot afford to continue making guns
interior to those manufactured 81 Essen The work
men ut Woolwich must be utilized in turning out,
not ordnance which Is good in its way.
put the finest it is possible to pro.
duce; and in their efforts to keep ahead
of the times they must be carefully guided by those
who Responsible. Apparently. the days of
muzz-eioading cannon, as of the old-fashioned
rihe are numbered. pardonable pride has long
welded us to the massive instrument of war known
| as the woolwich gun, and nothing but hard facts
| has decreed its extinction. Henceforth progress
| must not be hampered by prejudice, but so stmu-
lated by research that shall longer lie under
| the stigma OF wasting the undoubted mechanical
| abilities which, as nation. we possess upon b
| weapon which is recommended to our favor chiefly
| by the fact that it is