New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-10
ANOTHER TRIAL OF THE VESUVlOS'
THE BOARD lays DOWN PROGRAMME OF rhf
CONDITIONS

THE BOARD LAYS DOWN PHo"nA t
CONDITIONS.
,,n,~,or June o-secrctary Tracy has receiver
ot from the trial board that recently conducoeu .o
unsatisfactory test OF the guns OF the Nesu'uS'
their nroposals as to the coming trial. "inon W." -
dered as soon as the former one was sio"h W W -
nrodrct,ve Of positive results. The board met az NOT
folk June a. and adopted programme rs ioio"'' ''O
tect TO approval: A., r
Suitable permanent sights for aiming the gun
should be fitted consisting Of cross-wires In tne peep
80 :, .ho er,ng tower and between the muzzles OF
tho INNS the latter TO be capable OF veruca' anu "o
former OF lateral adjustment. The auxiliary hine
valve Of the port gun 10 be arrahseo Inc U''O VI 80
starboard gun, which is considered suinciehuS so M
the purpose of ranging and testing the gun. Ai'o ~
sMn gun TO be fitted with the best and moes' Vni'o
made by the company as we are reliably nio'neu
suoh valve has IN recent tests given great shOsi"
tion. We are of the opinion that no Satisfactorily
results can be obtained with the middle and porC guns
with their present valve gear.
"1De vessel to be sent to Annapolis, or such point
AZ the Department may select, for the purpose VI
accurately ranging the guns, as 1ollows' 1.-TWO SUI
caNbre proiectes from each gun at one mle' "iioo
at three quarters of mile and three az han 'o
three shots as above with largest projectles 10 DO
fired from the guns, making in all, for ranging the
guns fftv-four procctiles, which we believe 10 DC
sufficient for establishing accurate range curves Inc
determination OF the range with this vessel Deine
question of the first importance, we recommend tiSO
she be supplied with Fiske finder so lifted as
10 dve the range IN the gun-room, where the waves
arc set as we'll as in the fighting tower. We recon-
mend this as the most available instrument for this
purpose.
alive weighted sIb-calbre prOjectiles to be hred
from each gun for accuracy, the firing to take place
IN Chesapeake Bay the targets TO be arranged al KNOW"
distances and the firing done with the vessel unoer
wav in VARYING conditions Of weather. Ihree Pro
,ectiles fired as above from each gum, OF the ases'
Size designed for the gun. Three subcal0re ana lreo
fulcalibre weighted projectiles fired from each gun
With the vessel steaming at high rate OF speed at
moving target Two sub-calbre pro1ectiles, loaoeo
With such high explosive as the Department may select
fred from each gun with the vessel steamng al
high rate of speed at a moving target. The null
caI,hro proeces from each gum carrying the largest
quantity of high explosive the guns are capaDe Oh
airing as above These shots intended TO determine
the value Of the vessel rs torpedo thrower' ana
sbond be fired under such varying conditions %
weather as will make the tests absolute.
aft the tests prove satisfactory, the board recon-
mends that the vessel be fitted with search light and
that further series Of tests be conducted TO deter
mine her value as a torpedo thrower at night. Ihe
| hoard is of the opinion that the above tests viii
thoroughly determine the value of the Vesuvus as an
offensive weapon and give valuable data for use In the
fpture construction OF vessels OF this general type
shId the complete tests prove satisfactory, the fol
InyS1nS suggestions are submitted: That the trina
| valves be so arranged that the guns may DC neu
either from the fighting tower or nom tne gun toV th
in case of the dlsablement OF the former tnat Ine
steering gear be altered TO give greater turning
| power, which is at present defective , - r,ons
The board Is composed OF Commander ~ ~. E ts
Lieutenant Commander A. Il. COnden and AeuOehah
| T. r. Megs,