The sun., 1892-03-27
SHOOTING UNDER WATER.
Interesting Experiments to Test the srb-
marine Ordnance and PrcirciiIcs of
Whose Success ErIc~sOn was Con nienf

| whose Success ErIcsson was Con ndeuf
WASHINGTON. March 2G-Two important
| series Of trials OF sub-aquatic projectilee. one
| undertaken by the navy and tho other by the
| army. are now at hand.
Tho torpedo boat Destroyer. built for Capt.
Ericsson to carry his submarine gun. was
towed the other day by the Nina from the Erie
basin to tho Brooklyn yard. whore she will
have tho long expected test OF her offensive
power. For this purpose she Is put into the
timber dry dock. which, when flooded. will
furnish novel appliance and scene for her
performances.
The theory OF the submarine gun. ms orig
inally designed by Ericsson. was that tho most
effective way to attack on ironclad. In hnrbor
defence. is to strike it below tho belt. As Is
well known. the heavy protective plates which
tho big fighting ships carry form only zone
around the hull few feet in breadth above
and below the water limo. The bclt is only
carried as far below as is necessary for con-
tending with another vessel or with n fort. and
1t IL also usually thinner forward and aft than
hmidships. or. perhaps. is wholly confined to,
the latter region. SO as to be thicker over tho
vital parts. Ericsson accordingly proposed to
fire heavy charge OF gun cotton or other
high explosive from n tubc fixed about ten
feet below the surface. which would bring 1t
beneath the armor Of ah ordinary cruiser
The flrst question to suggest itsolf wns OF
course. tho method of keeping water out of
such n sub-surfaco gun. Naturally. for cruis-
inE. and whenever the gun is not in use. there
must be n fixed plug or valve mt the mouth OF
tho tube. but that is only part of tho device
necessary. Besides tho outer and permanent
valve. raised in firing. Ericsson devised thin
and yet capable Of being Broken hy th" fro. tr,.
lectile IN going out This being accomplished.
the next necessity was to guard aga inst hay-
which ignites the explosive chirge Of Iii;
shell. strike the inner valve so hard ns TO
employed for this purpose was Il spiral spring
Dressing against piston connected with tho
nnce Of tho latter to be ovcrcom" md yet not
to explode the charge. Evidently All inner
valve and piston We're to he sacrificed Mt
each shot On being free from tho gun tho
rroject,le was to pursue its way through the
short range for which it was intended and ex-
plnde on striking tho cneny's hull.
-, In this country only dummy shells were
fired from the DESTROYER gun. Ericsson hold
anl risk of using ioaied rrolertiIcs. @ aud ne tie
ACCORDINGLY the device was sent TO Tnsland
tiles were red but did not 2. HE 1as tGa 'sS rist
course. the assertion being made that The
lrctilc was fred which blew up the gun. tho
statement OF the friends Of the wcul on being
ma, in England. had been used. After Erirs.
him revived til" device and ts It was said. "i," ie
veloped it in such n way as to give renewed
in the act Of June, 50. 1890. authorzed tho
Navy Department to contract with the Fries.
son C"ast Defence Company for one 16-inch
submarine, gun and six steel projoc-
thss ths sS placed in on board
the system. The work under this CON |
tract having been greatly delayed by the fail |
Gre OF the suh-contructorst to complete the gun. |
the Ordnance bureau oftho navy undertook il,
and rcsentiy We shall have the result. Tho |
Inattor was spoken Of in Commodore Folgers |
last report:
further onsderation OF the subject of suhna arine
preaching completion of the experimental tvus gun
incline, III. hnr"nn To the bet-t tina, Will prove
valuable aud important ajinct To defensive arma.
Intended especially for ramming. It seems proDahe
lagorst wh destructive effect viii be gln!rp!cd by
Tie addition OF TINS weapon to her offence.
Quite ms interesting in its way may be tho
l:al OF the aerial sub aquatic projectilc. This
Is to DO used from land as well 1s from n ves-
under the supervision ofthe Board
Of Ordnance. and Fortncations. The muZsle
velocity Is described as 54S feet. The pro-
cctie is first thrown into tho mir. and when it
Onward progress beneath the surface. For
his purpose it is fitted with an ingenious +.
irvice. conn"cted with ruddrrs, or fins Tho
'onrse Of the projcctie provided that tho cal
he ironclad at point below the belt armor,
here to be exploded by n percussion cap.
! ne various clements entering into accuracy
= fire; taking together the double course
nigh degree Of ingenuity: but with the sue
'ess that has attended ordinary torpedo war
arc it twoulh be hazardous to say that this
ingenuity will not be forthcoming.