The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-23
SHOOTING UNDER wArEn.
The Tests OF the Submarine Gun aud
Herewith Of the Torpedo Nets.


| WASHINGTON. May 22-The trials Of the sub.
marine gun begun ut tho Brooklyn Navy Yard
| on Friday, and to DO continued this week. will
determine by actual demonstrations the degree
| OF effectiveness that con be expected from
| this novel weapon. 1t does not seom prema-
ture to say that tho results already achieved
in Saturdays tests go far to bear out tho m en-
ton made OF the gun in Commodore Folgcr's
annual report: "A further consideration OF
the subject Of submarine artillery. which has
| been rendered possible by tho approaching
| completion OF the experimental typo gun. in
| clines the bureau to the belief that 1t would
prove valuable and important adjunct to our
| defensive armament. particularly when
mounted on board of vessels intended espe-
claily for ramming. II seems probable that
tho chances of the ram being able to.rcnch
her antagonist with destructive effect will bo
1uadruplcd by tho addition Of this weapon to
her means Of offence"
What has been shown thus far Is that tho
projectic torpedo can at short ranges easily
he fired through tho ncttngs which war ships
now employ as II protection against the auto
mobile torpedocs. Subsequent experiments
may disclose the full range Of the gun for the
penetration Of nets. and also the degree Of capa-
blity which tho projccte possesses for cx-
ploding against the ships side. In spite OF tho
net. which Inter is intended to cause tho cx-
rlosion to tnko place against itself. II at all.
At all events. We shall now probably have n
thorough and exhaustive test of a system Of
harbor defence in which Ericsson thoroughly
believed. but which he was not to liv. to SEQ
accepted. His plan started with the PROPOSE
ton that II modern armorclad should DO at
tackled beneath its heavy protective water
line belt. He accordingly devised u gun for
shooting un der water. to be fixed in the ship
,tany rcIuired distance below tho surface.
opened and shut BY steam power while the
ycssel was running at maximum sneod: and
which had to be frasi" enough to be easily
broken 10y tho prolcctile in passing out, and
yot strong enough to keep back tho water that
rushed in Whenever tho outer or sen cnlve was
opened. This inner valvc was attached to a
piston. and Of course IL piston and valve had
system was shown to work perfectly. other de-
Ti istSn OF n an SXrmmilyc metallic ring for tho
ans tho work Of hs Ges enVss H Mho ,"c
pin to b% prev e@ "xpod ah in f tns
avoid this danger Ericsson deviscI IL spiral
s spr,lg pressing aEainst tho niston already
ertcd against the latter as to carry it aud the
valve ont OF the gun without exploding tho
m ON Mh mi DT5 rthrs it may fS
the Navy after trial of tue Destroyer about
nine years ago:
therx.sNe charge OF The proj.ctilc. carabl, OF prne
mn Resistance of the waters The lock referred to be-
ih2 patented. and rs construction. therefore. vel!
known. II Will suffice - mention that the spiral spring
which 'estrains the Inward motion the pin ad
lustcu 10 overcome an "utwa pressure of JoundR
IT'S maximum ressting power being twice great. II
VIII Do proper I" add Gt. owing 10 the great velocity
OF INC PROTECTIVE tie RESISTANCE OF the winter is upward
OF 400 pounds per square inch against the emf OF the
nring pin Now IN order to prove practically its capa
bity to 0r'rrOai" tie aid resistance, besides the
needed energy TO penetrate the rubber which cav
.rs the central hoe Of tho inner sea valve. tho
firing pin was coated with paint just before the in
sertion OF tie rrnJ"cte in the gun Careful
unIis' ured thus proving that the power the spra,
spring although set to only half Its tension Is
TO overcome the resistance encountered by the riny
pin IN piercing tn valve When the proecti.e
counters ixed or very heavy movable body. whi,e
advancing at the rate o eight feet per second about
hve miles an hour the firing pin Is instantly pushed in.
the resisting OF the spiral spring
within the lack til. internal chanism being such
that triple decorating fuse is exploded.
Tho submarine gun Of the Destroyer was
never fired with loaded projectiles in this
country. and in England n gun taken there for
experiment burst Mt the first test with u loaded
she II. 1t was said that tho failure was duo to
an imperfect firing apparatus: but at all events
nothing more was done with tho device there.
After Ericsson death Congress appropriated
tho liberal sum of $4,000 for renewing tho
experiments with what was said to he n much
improved gun: and now the results OF this APP
preparation are to no seen. incidentally it
should he noted that tho test is one also OF tor
pedO nets for our ships,