Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-09
TO TEST THE vEsUvrus.
Program Recommended by the Naval Ber
which Conducted the Former kxpertmsn

Program Recommended by the Naval per nd
Which Conducted the Former Experiments.
Secretary Tracy has received . report from
the trial board that recently conducted the IN
satisfactory test Of the guns Of the vesuvius
giving their proposals rs TO the coming trial
which was ordered as soon as the former one
was shown to be undemonstrative Of positive
results. The board met at Norfolk. June 4,
and adopted program as follows, subject TO
approval: Suitable permanent sights for aiming
the guns should be fitted. consisting Of Crosse
wires in the peep hole Of the firing tower and
between the muzzles Of the guns, the latter to
be capable of vertical and the former Of lateral
adjustment. The auxiliary firing valve Of the
port gun to be arranged like that Of the star
board gun, which Is considered sufficiently
good for the purpose Of ranging and testing
the gun. The midship gun 10 be fitted
with the best and latest valve made
by the company, as we are reliably
informed that such q valve has in recent tests
given great satisfaction. We are Of the opinion
that no satisfactory results can be obtained with
the middle and port guns with theirprese Mt valve
gear. The vessel to be sent to Annapolis, or
such point as the department may select for
the purpose of accurately ranging the guns. as
follows: Three subcalioer projectiles from each
gun at one mile. three at three-qu quarter mile
and three at one-half mile. three -hots rs above
with largest prcjec tiles to be fred from the
guns, making in all for ranging the guns ffty.
four projectiles. which we believe 70 be .uf-
ncient for establishing accurate range curves
The determination of the range with this
vessel being question of the fret importance
we recommend that she be supplied with Fiske
range Under, 80 fitted Us to give the range in
the gun room, where the valves are set ss well
as IN the lighting tower. We recommend this
as the most available instrument for the pur-
pose. rive weighted subcalibre projectiles 10
DC hred from each gun for accuracy, the firing
10 take place an Chesapeake bay, the targets
10 De arranged at known distances and the
firing TO be done with the vessel underway
In varying conditions OF weather Three pro-
lecuies, nred as above from each gun Of the
largest size designed for the gun. Three sub
caiiber and three full-caliber weighted projec-
tiles fired from each gun, with the vessel
steammg at high rate OF speed at a moving
target Two sub-caliber projectiles. / ,ied
with such high explosive as the dep "a tment
may select, fired from each gum with the vessel
steaming at high rate of speed. at a moving
target Two fuii-eaiiber prolectiles from each
gun, carrying the largest quantity of high ex-
pioslye the guns are capable OF firing, as above
These shots are intended to determine the
vaiue OF the vessel as torpedo thrower, and
should be fired under such varying conditions
Oh weather a. viii make the tests absolute. IL
the tests, MS above, prove satisfactory the board
recommends that the vessel be fitted with n
search light and that further series of tests be
conducted 10 determine her value AZ
torpedo thrower a: night. The board
is OF the opinion that the above
tests VIII thoroughly determine the value Of
the Nesuvlus as an offensive weapon, and give
valuable data for Use in the future construc-
ton OF vessels of this general type. Should
the complete tests AS above prove satisfactory.
the following suggestions are submitted: That
the nring valves he so arranged that the guns
may be fired either from the fighting tower OF
nm as.. -. -