The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-03-15
Dynamite in War.

The experiments just mado at Washington
in firing shells charged with high explosives
arc of much interest and importance. The
popularity OF these trials Is that the pro-
jcctles containing the ntro-gclatine have
been thrown from service cannon with ordi-
nary gunpowder.
The substitution OF high explosives for
gunpowdcr In shells has been attempted in
Russia and eomo other countries for several
years; but the disastrous accidents attond-
ing even experiments made with great care
have hitherto seemed TO preclude the posi-
bilty OF employing such explosives in the
stress OF actual battle, where elaboration
and extra caution cannot DO expected. In this
country similar experiments have generally
pointed to the same conclusions. Dynamite
projectiles have been successfully used In
ordnance OF small bore, with light propelling
charges of perhaps pound or two Of gun
powder; but attempts to increase tho pow
der charge. in order to secure range suit
able for actual combat, have sometimes been
disastrous. In ono such experiment how
itzer which had been enlarged TO a six-inch
calibre was used. and q dynamite shell fired
successfully; but the second she'll exploded
in tho gun and blew 1t to pieces.
These results have turned attention to the
practicability of employing some less sud-
denly expanding agent than gunpowder for
propellinR dynamite shells. Such an agent
has been found in compressed air, and the
protracted experiments with the pneumatic
gun at Fort Hamilton have conclusively
shown that it can project with entire safety
shells charged with any Of the high explo-
sives. YOt its range Is necessarily very
limited. while the extreme length of the gun
or tube required to get the full effect Of the
compressed air. together with tho apparatus
needed for COMPRISING, must restrict Its
field OF usefulness In military operations.
Efforts. accordingly. have been removed of
late to use gunpowder for dynamite shell
firing. and ingenious devices have been ON.
ployed to lessen the shock OF firing by inter-
posing rubber or wooden cushions between
tho powder charge and the dynamite projcc-
tile. In last autumn's experiments by the
Navy Ordnance Bureau twelve rounds OF
shells loaded with gun cotton were sucsess-
fully fired from the twelve-pounder howtzer
and thirteen from the eighty-pounder breech-
loading gun, all with service gunpowder
charges. In the current series OF trials, six
inch shells, charged each with eleven pounds
OF nitro-gelatine, have been propelled dis
lance OF 900 yards across the Potomac, and
there exploded with great violence against
the ledge OF rocks used as q target. The
next trials will be made with eight-inch
shells, containing thirty-tlve pounds of OK
plosive geletine.
1t should be pointed out, however, that the
amount OF the explosive in the shell Is
probably of less importance just now than
tho amount OF powder In the propelling
charge. Tho pneumatic gun can doubtless
throw n hundred pounds OF dynamite as
safely as ton. and ERICSSON proposes to use
three hundred pounds of gun cotton in the
projectile of his submarine gun, which is
practically a torpedo. But the Destroyer's
weapon Is to be employed mt extremely short
range, and the range OF the pneumatic gun
Is thus far too limited. With ordinary powder
guns tho practicability of safely using
dynamite shells under the conditions OF
actual combat cannot yet be said to
have been demonstrated. Nevertheless,
tho gain achieved in less than n year has
been marked and suggestive. From the
first timid experiments with few ounces of
dynamite propelled by few ounces of pow
der, an advance has already been mado to |
eleven pounds OF tho shattcrlpg explosive, |
projected by the regular service charges of |
guns Of ordinary calibrcs The dynamite, |
also, at first employed was OF a low grade;
but now the shells are filled with nitro |
gelatine, the most powerful OF all explosives.
At such rate OF progress 1t is highly prob |