New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22
TESTING ERICSSONS SUBMARINE Gun,

| SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENTS AT TIE NAVY YARD
The second test OF the Ericsson improved subma-
rne gun, which is mounted the experimental YES
sci Destroyer, made at the Navy Yard yesterday
afternoon, under the supervision and direction OF the
torpedo board. Of which Commander George y. Con
verse is chairman. 1t said by Commander Con-
verse TO be the most successful submarine gun test
ever made in this any country. The vessel is the
one built by Captain Ericsson several years before his
death and used upon several experiments In the
North River of Weehawken. The gun Is an improve
ment upon the original gun, for the tests OF which
Congress made appropriation of 10000 two years
ago and it is steel gum thirty three feet long, made
at the bethlehem Works. The projectilc IS - feet 4
inches long and 10 inches In diameter. weighing
1.525 pounds. with a steel point and copper cham
Der for the explosive charge. The fun firing charge
IS 40 pounds of powder. and the explosive charge
is 300 pounds OF powder or gun cotton. The IN
itia pressure is 1000 pounds, the pressure ut the
muzzle s95 pounds. and pressure 1862 pounds,
with velocity at the muzze OF j4S feet per second.
The vessel is moored by hawsers 100 feet from the
end Of the timber dry dock, and In the dock which Is
800 feet long, submerged wire nets, 100 feet
apart. test the accuracy and force of the pro
jcctile. AT the test Friday afternoon only -
pounds OF powder We're used as Ii1ng
charge The projecte weighted at It's after-end
SO that when ii should leave the gun the tendency
would he TO throw the point upward, The gun being
seven feet below the surface. The pIojectle went
through the first 1t out OF the water Just
ahead OF the second net and went over it. After that
the projectiles trajectory carried ii below the sur
face and ii sank 10 the bottom Of the dock. tnlt
il is taken out 1T cannot be learned whether 1t was
injured or not.
Tile test Yesterday was made with the same weight
of firing charge but with the aftcrend OF the pro-
iecc cbtened of It's weight. The projcctilc passed
,hrourh the first net nine feet below the surface;
through the second net nine feet three Inches below
and through the third net, 800 feet from the muzze
Of the gum nine feet six inches lelow The surface.
The projcctile struck the end OF the dock Win con-
siderable force but did no material INJURY 10 IL.
The speed OF the projectle 80 feet for The FIRST
second and ii travelled 800 feet in two and ohciil'h
seconds. The projcctile Is advanced IN inc gun :"
that its point proiludes from the end OF inc gun
and ,hrouch the bow Of the boat. This gives Il
larger explosive chamber than could otherwise be
obtained.
The object in adjusting weights In the pFol'c'He
N tho dar,, tests have the iiringS nj different
elevations the gun being fixed platform III Inc
;,,tom OF the vessel. The gun VIII be hr7i t"i,c
a. morrow The first OF the tests VIII De Win ue
s1mo firing charge and with the prnlrcuh Ncl-,,,,,
dins,o d a. nj Fridays The second IlihS VIII
he with The trim of the prolcculc leN"I I'M 'o''
- tho hoat with the twenty five pound cH"r-e ""H
live feet but II the boat had hOt D'rn Ill
I'D no The case in actual engagements, thc recon-
w"u h greater The tests will ultimately o.
made with a forty pound firing cinrec. Wh.h "a u,u
calculated will send the pIO!ccuie ~ ~ co,,icd
a twenty-five pound charge the POIecuie j. ''i'ON
about 200 feet.