New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-20
DISAPPEARING G. CNCARRIAGES
PNEUMATIC AND HYDRAULIC IMPROVEMENTS

TO BE INTRODUCED.
The pneumatic disappearing gun-carriage for 10
inch breech-loadng rife, which built at Boston
under a contract with the Board of Ordnance Of the
ArmyJ has arrived at the Government Proving
Grounds, Sandy Hook, and will be in place. ready
for a series of practical tests about May TO- The
1Oinch steel breech-loading rifle built by the War
Department. which was successfully tested at Sandy
Hook, and which broke the French carriage, made by
the Creusot Works, upon which it mounted, a
year ago. is to be mounted the disappearing car
riage in pit below the surface of the ground The
gun will thus be ont Of sight and the crew secured
from enemy during the process OF loading Then
tho gun Is elevated and when discharged its recol
will force down inclined plane, the recoil being
checked by counter-weght attached TO a chain. 1t
is estimated that the entire operation Of elevatng
the gun into the battery firing 1t and having it reool
back for loading be accomplished in about three
or four seconds.
The gun weighs twenty-six tons; it will be fired
with $50 pounds Of powder, and carry 5OOpound
projectle. 1t is probable that If these tests are
successful the disappearing carriage system will be
adopted in both Army and Naval service, as far
as possible One Of the most essential conditions OF
accuracy Of these tests will be TO secure correct
training of the gun The best protection against the
fire from the enemy must Of course conceal the
target from view. 1t is possible to give both the
lateral train and the proper elevation OF the gun
charge obtains by of the position finder" the
exact bearing and distance of the enemy but these
may be slightly changed in the interval of eevatng
the piece
The latest invention Of Lieutenant Graydon, of the
Navy, is that which, he declares, will supersede the
pneumatic dynamite guns in the projection Of large
masses of high explosives in aerial torpedo form. He
has sent from London to the Navy Department COM
plete description OF his scheme by which, he declares
he can convert all the 8, IL and Is inch guns Of
both the Army and Navy into efficient long-range
dynamite projectors, without alterations to the guns
and in a very short time. The Improvement Is
said to be cheap and efficient gas prOducing agent
having a distingUshable color and recorded accel
Grating pressure from 800 pounds TO the square men
TO 200 pounds pressure 70 the square inch. Ths
when short ranges required the low pressure will
be used, and where great ranges are required the
higher pressure will be selected The gas producing
AGENT is as easy transport the ordinary ammuni
ton of ordnance and Is as cheap and safe as ordinary
powder.
for hydraulic disappearing mount for the 1Onch
breech loading rifles. II IS intended adopt these
on the mont ors, just the pneumatic gun-carriage
Is 10 be used on the dOubletureted monitor Terror
the RSn which, operated by the disappearing mech
ansm is raised and lowered for firing and for load
ing The gun rests On two large arms, the lower
ends OF which are keyed to the two lower ends OF
divided into two equal compartments by fixed dia-
Dhragm Water under d pressure of 800 pounds TO
Inc SQUARE inch admitted Into the compartments, and
the gun is forced into the eepc5d firing position
on the water These plates attached to the hor
aoutai axis, the water being forced through little
grooves ct rate sufficient to bring the gun easy
stop at the loading position.