River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-04-15
THE HorCHkIss REVOLVING GUN.
A Formidable Weapon for Naval or
Land Usc..lts Utility Proved by Ex-
pertinent.
pertinent.
London standard .


Experiments with machine-guns are
now in progress both at Portsmouth and
Shoeburyness, a fact which serves to
show the Importance attributed to that
particular kind of arm, rs also the pos
sibility that England is not yet pos
sessed of the most efficient weapon OF
this class. One particular form OF the
machine gun which has found consider
able favor abroad, and is now COM
manding renewed attention at home, is
that which bears the name of Mr..
Hotchkiss, and is usually designated the
Hotchkiss revolving cannon. This
weapon is distinguished from NIT
railleuse by the circumstance that 1t
fires explosive bullets or small shells,
and has range approaching that OF
modern field artillery. Its penetrative
power against thin plates, such as are
designed to protect torpedo-boats, gives
it an especial value. To such an extent
is this carried in the Hotchkiss gun that
the new rapid steel cruisers and dis
patch-vessels which are now being In
troduced into the Britain and other
navies will not be able to keep out the
projectilies of this seemingly insignlh-
cant weapon. The form of gun en-
ployed for this purpose has a calibre
slightly less than two inches, and dis
charges either a steel shot or a shell
weighing two pounds and half, with
bursting charge of an ounce and half.
Its projectiles are capable o. piercing
steel plates nearly an inch thick at
distance Of more than n mile. The rate
OF fire would be about 20 carefully-aim-
ed shots per minute, increased to 60
rounds when the object to hit was near
at hand. The gun is, in fact, small,
rapidly firing cannon. A still larger
weapon has been constructed. having a
calibre slightly exceeding two inches,
and firing 80 rounds per minute, the
weight of the shell being four pounds,
and the initial velocity 1900 feet per
second. The former weapon, firing the
protective of two pounds and half, was
made at the request OF the French naval
authorities, and successful trials are now
being carried out with it. These larger
specimens of the Hotchkiss gun are as
yet exceptional. The type most ex-
tensively adopted is one with calibre
of an inch and half, firing an ex-
plosive projectile weighing pound,
with an initial velocity of ], 400 feet per
second, or a steel shot nearly ope-third
heavier, with a velocity of about 200
feet. This gun is mounted on a swivel,
with species of universal Joint, and Is
trained and worked from the shoulder
by one man, q second man at the side
being employed in feeding the gun with
cartridges. So satisfied are the French
as to the value of this weapon that they
have already more than 800 of this pat
tern afioat in their navy, and the num-
Der is undergoing rapid increase from
the Hotchkiss factory at st. Denis.
Each of their larger ships will be
equipped with at least 10 of these guns,
sockets being fitted both along the
bulwarks and in the maintops, to
which the guns may be readily shifted,
as required, so as to concentrate the
fire in any given direction. The maxi
naum rapidity of fire with this gun is
about 80 rounds per minute; but where
accurate shooting is required the rate
would be from 80 to IS rounds per min
ute. Experiments made with this
weapon in England, France, and Au-
stria showing that this projectiIe is cap
able of penetrating the.steel-plating of
torpedo vessels of the Lightning class at
a range exceeding 300 yards, when
striking fair, or about 1000 yards, if
striking within an angle of 30 degrees.
This steel shot will penetrate a steel
plate an inch thick at rather more than
200 yards. The French experiments
showed that steel plates quarter of an
inch thick were penetrated by the per
cussion shell at a distance of g. 90
yards. Some valuable experiments as
to the accuracy of fire with this naval
gun have been made in Holland, and
the result was deemed to be thorough
ly conclusive as to the efficiency of the
gun in encountering torpedo-boats,
however swiftly the latter might make
their approach.
The Hotchkiss revolving cannon; in
its general form, consists of five barrels,
made of Whitworth fuid-compressed
steel. These barrels are grouped round
common axis, and are made to re-
volve in front of solid, immovable
breech- block This breech-block has
an opening in the upper part 10 intro
duce the cartridges, and an opening
underneath for the exit of the empty
cartridge cases, which are thrown out
by means of an automatic extractor.
The cartridges are fired singly as they
present themselves 10y the rotation of
the barrels to the blow of the firing-pin,
and while resting for an instant motion
less in front of the solid portion of the
breech. The turning of crank causes
the automatic loading, firing, and ex-
traction Of the empty cartridge cases.
The metallic casing of the cartridge
prevents the escape of powder gas at
the breech. The mechanism is remark
| ably simple and strong. There is only
one spring in the entire machine
namely, that which projects the firing
pan into the cartridge. The barrels are
rified on the polygroove system, and
the arrangement by which the barrels
are at rest just before the cartridge is
fired permits the gunner to take &C
curate aim, while at the same time he
continues to turn the crank. An extraor-
binary form Of the weapo has been de-
vised for Ranking the bitches of modern
Notifications, and has been tried in
France with remarkable results. This
gun is specially constructed to fire can
| ister shot as we'll as explosive project
| lies. Each of the five barrels compos-
ing the gun has different pitch for Its
riding. The result is that the cone of
dlsparison in which the bullets distrib-
ute themselves varies, and dense hail
missiles sweeps along the works. no
spot being missed. Thus in one min
ute, out of 800 dummy soldiers, ali
but three were hit, the ditch being swept
by more than 1900 bullets, flying at
every possible angle. The military
men, therefore, as we'll as to the naval
service, the revolving cannon may be
reckon.d to possess more than ordina-
ry interest. In the United States con-
siderable attention has been given to
the Hotchkiss gun in its form as field
piece, and a formidable weapon OF an
inch and half calibre has already been
adopted in the service,
A ROYAL RECEPTION.
Lady LOnsdale Carries Off the HonOrs--