Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-31
rur WORLD, BIG GUNS.
Tho Bixxest II no fops. aud Belongs
10 ltaly.
London Tim es. ]

The Big xest n no fops. ana Beiopgs
10 Iiaiy.
London Tines
Sir Frederick Bramwell recently in
The Town Hall, Birmingham, delivered
bis inaugural address as president OF
the Birmingham and Midland Institute,
his subject being "Our Big Guns"
Having dwelt at length, and with great
mnuteness, on the technical branches
of his subject-tbe construction Of
guns, the form and velocity of shot,
and the relative value Of steel and
other metals-he referred to the great
increase in the size Of the guns which has
taken place Fithin the last few years,
and asked how it had arisen. The an
swer, he said, was from the struggle be-
tween the guns and the armor-plates--
the attack and the defence. 1t was
from the continued efforts of the attack
and of the defence that the dimensions
of our big guns had gone on increasing
and increasing, until their weight had
reached ITO tons, their length Al feet,
the weight Of their projectiles 800
pounds, and that of their powder charge
$40 pounds. Sir Frederick then pro-
ceeded "You are probably saying to
yourselves that no proper progress is
made in English guns that they are
behind those Of other nations. Let US
see how the facts are.
"In 1874 the l2.inch 3S-ton muzzlc-
loading ri1ed gun, having shot-trayel
of fourteen calibers, composed OF
steel tube with wrought-iron coils
around part Of it, was the foremost
piece Of ordnance we possessed. The
proiectile Of this gun weighed 700
pounds, its extreme length was three
calibers, its velocity on leaving the
muzzle was l,4l0 feet per second, and
its muzzle energy was $3.50 foottons.
Let us take our present gun Of the same
caliber. 1t is 10 inches bore, weighs
IS tons, is breech-loading, is riied with
multiple grooves, taking rotating ring
and not gas.check ; it is made entirely
of steel, and has shot-travel of
81 18th calibers. The projectile of
this gun weighs ia pounds; it has an
extreme length Of three calibers; its
velocity on leaving the muzzle is 1000
feet per second, and its muzzle energy
is $4,000 foot-tons. You will see that
in these few years we have converted
muzzle velocity Of LILO into one OF
1000, and have done so with the same
prolectile, and that we have all but
doubled the muzzle energy, although
the addition to the weight Of the guu
does not amount to more than twenty
per cent. | call this progress, andyery
good progress.
"Again, as regards dimensions OF
weapons, whereas, in 1874, the 3N-tOn
muZzle-loader was the largest gun We
had ever made, we are now making
llO-ton guns, entirely Of steel and
breech-loading, having a shot-trayel of
% calibers, a weight Of projectile of
l,SO0 pounds, q muzzle velocity OF
2.l00 feet per second, and a muzzle
energy of 5000 foot-tons. call that
substantial progress. With respect to
progress in construction, | may remind
YOU that we are continuing our expert
ments with steel-ribbOn guns. You
may, however, say : 1t does not SUI
fee to have our present guns compared
with our former guns, although, no
doubt, that is one test of progress
they should be compared with the pre-
sent guns Of other nations The facts
as regards France, so far as know
them, are that their largest steel guns
are Of ) tons weight, and Of IL! inches
bore, firing a projectile weighing l,12O
pounds, with muzzle velocity of l,139
feet per second, giving an energy of
$4,000 foot-tons. The gun is breech-
leading, and is rihed on the increasing
twist system, as the English guns are.
AS regards Germany, do not believe
that the Germans have in their service
any guns larger than If indeed they be
so large as the steel guns have men
toned IS belonging to France, although
no doubt the great German gunmaker is
prepared to manufacture for them, as he
has done for the Italians, guns up to 10
tons. The facts as regards Italy are
that, except two lotion guns just men,
toned, her other big guns of 100 and
l0j tons have been manufactured in
this country.
with respect to the lotion guns,
| am informed their ballistics are as
follows: Weight of charge, ~ pounds
weight Of shot, 2,3l4 pounds; muzzle
velocity, LIP feet per second ; aud
muzzle energy, j0.324 foot-tons. 1t
may be interesting to compare the bal
listics Of the l0j-ton guns, which are
Weight of charge, 300 pounds ; weight
of shot. 1000 pounds; muZze velo-
city, 2,0l9 feet per second; and muz-
zle energy, G,547 foot-tons. think
you will agree am justified in saying
that the position OF Italy as regards big
guns is TO more than ON par with our
own. Now, think the foregoing state
ments should satisfy you we are not
tagging behind other nations, but are
well to the front, while with regard to
wire. gun experiments, | believe we
have done, and are doing, more than
has been attempted by any other ma
ton.
In concluding, Sir F. Bramwell a.
luded TO the cost of testing guns and
projectiles, and observed, until nations
ceased to covet, a country like England,
with itsgreat seaboard, its colonies, and
its enormous commerce, must be pre-
pared, as fulfilling the dictates of ordi-
nary prudence, to spend annually very
large sums; yet, after all, not very
large when considered as premiums of
insurance.
PICTURE OF AN OLD PAILOR.
Something that May Bring a Smiis OF