The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-01-01
TREMENDOUS RAPID FIRING.
A Six Inch Gun Pours Out Shot Ate
Shot at Enormous Speed.


A Six Inch Gun Pours Out Shot After
Shot at Enormous Speed.
Some important experiments were car
ried out at the artillery range of Sir w.
G.. Armstrong, Mitchell G. Co. The
principal object of trial was six inch
quick firing gun of 40 calibeIs Of length
on q mounting of new design, specially
arranged to be suitable for either the
upper decks or the between deck bat
teries of our new cruisers. Another
feature of this trial was the use of cord
ite, the new snokeless gunpowder.
which has been the subject OF extensive
trial during the last twelve months and
seems likely to make complete revolr,-
ton in artillery warfare. The proof of
this gun was carried cut by the Wool
wich authorities at Silloth, when the
remarkable velocity of 2,G69 f. s. was
obtained with a charge of cordite pow
der
The programme began by firing five
rounds with charge of e X Il powder
and service projectile for rapidity. The
total time of firing these five rounds was
sixty-one seconds. The saLie experiment
was then carried out with charge of
| cordite, but after three rounds the firing
was stopped for a few minutes to remove
burr in the threads of the breech ac-
ton, caused by sand getting into the
| gun. The first three rounds of this series
were fired in twenty-four seconds, and
the second two in fifteen seconds. Five
rounds were then fired with E X E
powder (non-smokeless) and service pro-
jectile at target which consisted of two
casks lashed together with a flag above
them, at 900 yards range.
There being W wind the smoke hung
great deal and the firing was there
fore directs, by an observer who stood
clear of the smoke. The five rounds
were fred in sixty-one seconds, the tar
get being struck twice, the other three
shots just missing.
To show the advantage of cordite over
the E x E powder five rounds were then
fired with the former at the same target,
the flag and staff of which still remained
upright, as the tide being low the target
rested on sand. 1t was found quite feas.
ible to fire with the utmost rapidity, and
yet, on account of the smokeless quality
of the powder, to aim each shot deliber.
ately. The result was that out of the
five shots the target was actually struck
four times (Which completely destroyed
the casks and perforated the flag severa
times), and the last shot was only five
yards short; and these FIVE rounds will
the above remarkable accuracy were go
off in the surprisingly short time of fifty
five seconds.
fired, changing from one target to an
other, three targets being placed a
ranges 900, 1,4O0 and 1900 yards, ant
spread out SO that the gun had to b
traversed through considerable arc o
training in going from one to the other
The results were as follows: 1, 900 yards
hit target; 2, 500 yards, hit target;
1,4O0 yards, fifty yards over; 4, 1,4O
yards, hit target; s. 1900 yards, hit ia,
get. cutting flagstaff.
The total time of these five round
. was minutes and 43 seconds, bu
few seconds delay was occasione
} by the cap of cartridge case, whic
was only temporarily secured for thes
experiments. falling off in the gu
during loading, which necessitated II
}. loading. Five rounds of cordite, unde
similar conditions to the last series, wer
now fired at the 900 and 1,4O0 yards tai
gets, the 1900 yards one being no longe
/, visible. The results were as follows
y 1, 800 yards, hit target; 2, 900 yards, hi
target, cutting flagstaff; 8, 1,400 yard.
ten yards over; 4, 400 yards, five yard
}. over; 8, 1,400 yards, twenty yards ovel
The total time for these five rounds wa
1 minute 81 seconds.
, The gun was then fred with degs
10 degs., 10 degs., 10 degs. and 20 deg
elevation, with charges of E X E an
4 cordite, to test the mounting, and excel
' for little difficulty in running out whe
at 90 degs. elevation everything wer
perfectly.-London Times.