The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-14
A RAPID-k1RE GUN MATCH
Three American six.pounders to Contend
for the SuDre macy.

Three American Six.pounders TO CONTEND
for the Supremacy.
WASHINGTON. Aug. l3.-Ths enterprise OF tho
Ordnance Eurenu OF the Navy Department
will soon manifest itself in new com petitive
trial. that OF three Of tho leading rapid-fre
guns used In the secondary batteries OF war
ships. Tho competitors IRE tbs Hotchkiss. the
briggs Schroeder. and the Maxim Nordcn-
fsldt Tho trials will be with the six.pounder
calibres. Not only reputation is TO be gained.
but substantial reward In this competition. the
promise of contract for Nifty guns being tho
prize held out for the hest results In service
requirements.
The rapid IRE system OF ordnance has made
great progress since It's introduction a few
years ago. 1t followed tho Invention Of the
machine gun which, properly speaking. Is
collection OF small calibro gun barrels. as in
tho Calling the Gardner. the Mont!rny, and
other weapons. The Hotchkiss revolving can
non advanced 10 the use OF heavier shot aud
ofoxplosive shells on tho machine principle.
But the nocd Of repellinS the attacks OF tor
pedo tonts called for q weapon which. with
rapidly Of manipulation. should niso have
greater range and penetrative power. This
brought out tho single barrel gun. loaded by
hand at the brooch. and aimed by shoulder
piece. which thtee or four men can servo in a
fire practically continuous. The Ho,chklss
and Nordenfeldt rupid.ilre guns then appear
cd and developed to larger and larger callbros.
For several ysnrs they practically had no
rivals, but about i've years ago othor inventors
entered this important nsld. We now find
among quick guns the Maxim, the briggs
Schroeder the Armstrong. tho Engstrocm. the
Krupp. the Canct the Gruson. the Dandetau.
and the Skoda.
The Ho.chkiss however. IL moro used IN
modern navies for secondary batteries than
all the others rut together. and is found oil
over tho world. The Armstrong auick-nre
guns, cnployei in Btitish and Italian vessels.
they were carried With m T enterpri.s. the
G-inch guns OF this type being long ago In
hs ane sS as so. TO e.:
5!.inch CALI re-. is famous for its enormous
initial velocity and muzalc energy. produced
by the use OF the smokcieSs powder. The Grn-
son has ilred nfty shots In minute. Oiher guns
included in tho list Just mentioned have also
Our Board Of Orinancs and For,idcn,i S Si las
made prspnt ntions 10 have competitive u ial
o. I ar eaIie,e Armstrong md Time. snns
men! to tho contest lo,ween tue three Amsrl-
can Inventions 10, OF tho 4. pouncor ra!ibie ar
VI these three connecting guns the Hotchkiss
was introduced Into our navy several years
ers, ,wenty-two H.nounders and ten i-pound-
srs besides thirty.,wo revolving cannon. Ihis
this country they having been previously made
only in Europe. although the invention OF IN
about $40 pounds nnl the crnoline mount, as
the support on when it rests Is called adis a
over eight feet long nni the charge ahont a.
pounds Of powder. -Four men work it. the Cap.
tai tain aiming ". and firing by means Of stock
tends TO the breech block and sight bnr. a
third loads the piscs and the fourth pusses
shell. ShrNpnel OF case shot. The O. FOUNDER
has fred 4: many as thirty shots IN one min.
ss Ss sa r wSG "ad.y
all sorts OF conditions. But this reduction
from pnnn rapidly to service p5%s:
Of steel and four more Of oak backing at 100
The briggs schrosder Eun was the inven-
ton q t.. two officers Of our nayy and has been
department having given an order Tor forty
c;.roanders and ten 3;nomrders. It was found
work the gun md third TO russ he ammnpi;
twenty seconds. which Inter would give TWEEN
was with What may be- called an nnpracticsd
sSs rna its n Sssis t5sE 8
less Than nnlf that Of the Hotchkiss.
The Maxim. Nordenieldt gun: the third com.
range. in England. against 4.inch plate. at q
distance OF 100 feet. With charge OF little
it schieved muz7s veiority Of 2.i21 foe T psr
second. and with thirteen ounces Of Maxim
smokeless powder q velocity OF 1900 feet Be-
has its we'll known and distinctive automatic
or semi. AUTOMATIC principle. using the force OF
the recoil to hsp load and fire.
1t will be evident. theref' re. that each Of
these three guns can go into the contest with
some points OF superiority insured. and this
will make oil she moro teres'in0 tho question
OF how their respective merits will count w
toward all-around excellence.