The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-02-12
A SUBMARINE GUN.
Captain Ericsson Attempt to Establish a
New Principle in Gunnery.

Captain Ericsson Attempt to Establish
New Principle in Gunnery.
The special wonder at the royal ar
senal at Woolwieh is a monster weapon.
intended to fire projectiles or torpedoes
under water. 1t is the invention of
Captain Ericsson, the well-known scien-
tific American, and it was made in the
United States, partly under the super
vision of Lieutenant Gladstone, of her
Majesty's navy, who was sent over for
the gun, and has now brought it to Eng
land. 1t reached the arsenal only this
week, and now lies at the inspection
branch OF the royal gun factories,
whence, after some preliminary tests. it
will be sent on board ship, probably
at Portsmouth, for trial at sea. The
cannon and the projectile are almost
of equal length, and, as they lie side by
side, painted bright red, are formidable
objects to look at. No fewer than forty
tons of steel are used in the construc-
ton of. the gun, which is thirty feet
long, and has bore of eighteen and
half inches. . 1t is a breech- loader, and
closes at the stern by an arrangement
of very simple and effectual character
much resembling that of the great guns
which were displayed at the inventions
exhibition. The vent, which is axial, is
sealed, and said to be efectual in pre-
venting the escape of powder gases.
The projectile measures twenty-five
feet, which is only five feet less than the
gun. and is ganged to pass freely along
the bore, which is unrified. 1t is hol-
low, and Notwithstanding its great
length weighs only one ton. The pro-
posal is to fit the gun in the bow of a
ship nine feet under the water line, so
as to fire straight ahead from the cut
water. A diaphragm of india-rubber
is fixed over the muzzle to exclude the
water, but is blown away at the first
puff of the discharge. The projectile is
inserted from the rear and is stopped by
pin a few inches short of the dia-
phragm, for it has short rod projecting
from its nose, which is to act by percus-
sion on the charge within, and must be
protected from all risks of premature
explosion. Its safety at this stage is, how
ever, to some extent guaranteed by the
action of strong spring which prevents
the rod from being driven back by any
force short of thousand pounds. a
charge of twenty pounds of powder is
| all that is thought necessary for pro-
pulsion, and this being placed behind
| the proiectile, the breech is closed, and
the gun is ready for firing. The only
other requisite is something to aim at
and whcn hostile ship can be got
within convenient distance, the mon
ster gun let's fly. 1t is asserted that 6
range three hundred yards under water
may be relied upon, but it is considered
doubtful whether the shot can overcome
the resistance of the water and retain
an effective striking power for half the
distance. The inventor, however, ha;
tried his device. and he says he ough
to know. 10 preserve the laternal po
sition and uniform depth of his sub
marine missile he has weighed it to thu
gravity of water, and, while he keep
one side under by the preponderance o
weight, he has steering plate on th,
upper side which opens only after leav
ing the mouth of the gun, and acts as
rudder in keeping the projectile in it
course. Until the gun is tried the au
thorities are loath to express an opinion
upon it, but it is regarded at least as al
honest attempt TO establish new prln
ciplc in gunnerysS in which.it is quite un
like the wonderful breech-loaders whicl
were obtained from America during th
Crimean war, which were contracte,
for at so much per pound and sent il
with such mass of metal piled upol
them that they were too heavy to b
moved or to work, and have never beel
tired to this day.--Londom Nesos.