The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-12-04

10 inches Although none Of the ships author
lied TO be built require guns OF 16-inch calibre,
II is believed such guns may be needed, 80 the
necessary plans have been made to authorize
Tue construction OF one Of them. 1t is believed
the difficulties experienced abroad with these
large guns can be overcome
In order TO facilitate an interchange of am
munltion In case of war, it is recommended
mat al prolectlles used by the army and navy
be made OF uniform sizes and weights.
Trials OF smokeless powder are said to have
resulted satisfactorily and it is said within
very snort time the use Of gun powder will be
entirely abandoned in calibres of 6-lnch and be-
low IL, being replaced by some one OF the nu-
merous forms OF so-calIed smokeless powder
An order for $1,000 pounds OF gun cotton the
best known high explosive for naval USE has
been placed with Duponts on condition that a
complete plant be erected. After describing
successful trials OF "emmensite" the repOrt
says: ut is the bureaus intention to recon-
mend the adoption OF relatively
SHORT GUNS OF LARGE CALIBRE
using powder as the propulsive charge and q
hrlng proJectlle containing a charge of en-
menslte or gunicotton, for q feature of the ar
mament of vessels, with a view to utilizing
aerial and submarine torpedo5 at ranges al
which the question of accuracy of fire is abso-
lutely eliminated.
The experience Of European countries is said
W Oe conclusive as TO the merits of the small
cailore smokeless powder rifle, and the navy IS
only waiting the action of the army board o
arm sailors with the new small arms.
The bureau tnclineS to the belief that the
submarine guns now approaching completion,
Will prove valuable and important adjunct to
our defensive armament, particularly when
mounted on vessels intended especially for rum
ming. 1t seems probable the chances for a
ram being able to reach her antagonist with
destructive effect will be quadrupled by the ad-
dltlon OF this weapon to her means OF ofense
Under the head of armor, it is stated negoti-
atlons are IN progress to cause plates TO be de-
llvered by the Bethlehem company for the
double turreted monitors Maine and Texas to
nickel a frOrr
Carnegie is to be of the same material, the de-
partment supplying the nickel, 600 tons of ore
being purchased last year. 1t is said the
vEsUyIUs DYNAMITE GUNS ARE UNSATIsFAC-
TORY,
and it is recommended that she be turned into
torpedo cruiser With view to utilizing the
old single turret monitors now in the James
river, plans have been prepared for new turrets
and modern or 10-inch rifles for them
A long account is given of the armor tests the.
past year and the results summed up. The
results furnished by the nickel steel plate
treated by the Harvey process manufactured
by the Bethlehem Iron company were
most remarkable 1t is unlikely that two of
the shots obtained more than three inches OF
penetration The points OF none OF the prujec-
tiles reached the rear surface of the plates. At
the back OF the plate opposite the two impacts
mentioned above the effects were NIL there
being no rupture Of the surface and no bulge of
greater height than perhaps one-quarter of
| an inch. The cracking Of tbs softer side OF the
plate was unimportant. In conclusion, the
bureau considers
TWO IMPORTANT RESULTS HAVE BEEN
ACHIEVED,
| first, better plate of American manufacture has
been produced than the department was able to
purchase abroad year ago. Secondly, 1t has
developed new principle in the manufacture
of armor of American origin, which there are
| good grounds for believing will furnish greater
| protection to the vital parts Of vessels of war
than any other system hitherto employed. A
| further notable advantage has been developed
by the above tests, the importance OF which to
| the United States at this luncture will
| be easily appreciated. 1t has been
definitely established that armor of excellent
quality may be produced by the roller process,
| and that forging by means of tbs hammmor is
not absolutely necessary, q matter regarding
which grave doubts EXISTED among artfllerists
for years. 1t is probable that within eighteen
months with relatively slight expenditure. the
present producing capacity of the United
| States could be quadrupled in case such an ex-
pense should become necessary. The price at
present paid should be materially reduced for
! the same reasons Of native competition and
! lack Of necessity of extraordinary changes in
| or additions TO plants. In connection with the
! subject of transporting overland heavy guns,
the report strongly urges the establishment o.
! a national gun factory on the Pacific coast sim
| liar to that in Washington