The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-23
DISAPPEARING GUN CARRIAGES.
Their Advantages shown In the Current
Trials at Sandy Hook.

Trials at Sandy Hook.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 22.-During the past week
another OF tho carriages for heavy guns, pro-
nosed for our system OF coast defence. has
been tested.
For many years it has been evident that for
forts situated at low elevations an enormous
advantage would be gained by such a con-
struction OF tho batteries as would permit the
guns TO be loaded and fired out OF sight and
out OF range OF the enemy. appearing above
tho parapet only long enough for the discharge.
Guns mounted on high bluff do not need
such system. because the ship Is itself com
PEELED to fire at a very high angle: but great
portion OF the defensive sites on our coast are
low shores and the advantage OF the
disappearing carriage in such case Is
obvious. Gen. FlaGler. In testitying before q
Congress committee expressed the views OF
the ordnance authorities in the following Ian
guage: Take a l0-inch gun. for example. 1t
weighs thirty tons. and Is set up high enough
to overlook..the parapet When it is fred tho
pressure OF recoil on the breech OF tho gun is
about 100000 pounds-if you can compre-
bend that. Then We have. in addition. the
weight Of thirty tons. plus the weight OF tho
carriage, and the problem is to restore that
pressure OF 5000 900 pounds and the falling
weights by machinery so devised that it
will allow the gun to GO down to the loading
position without shock: and in going down
means must be provided for storing up enough
OF the power developed in dropping to permit
Of raising the gun again to tho firing position.
Such must DO the mechanism OF O disappear
ing carriage A disappearing carriage will
cost two and half times as much as q plain
1t was decided that disappearing carriages
must be provided Tor large part OF the g. inch
and nd, jo i en- guns, As for the l2.inch which
weigh % tons and have pressure OF about
4.OOu.O0O pounds to the rear. they are said to
be- too heavy, for disappearing carriage and
will be raised and lowered on gun lift Mean
while the first question to DO settled Is that OF
the best type Of carriage.
More than year ago the pneumatic disap-
with promising results. 1t was used with a To-
Inch gun. Weighing 80 tons. and discharginG q
pFoyI eS weighing HI 573 pounSs with charge
neeted with the carriage by two arms. and
When t 1ts to firing position was feet
ground. The proIectile being put upon a tray
the turning Of wheel carried it to the breech
o. the gun. The loading and making ready for
6y one man. The gun. after firing. was brought
down to the loading position with ease and
During tho past week tho device which has
6een tried Is a carriage invented by Capt Cor
Goa OF me ordnance DEPARTMENT In this type.
principle Is used. the gun being raised by
weights suspended in pit. An earlier appli-
caliSn 81 this principle was found in the Mon
S StieI disappearing gun carriage. which was
used IN Eng land many years ago. while tho
"a sSTe PRINCIPLE was represented in this country
name indicates. is that OF causing the recoil.
while carrying the gun down an incline to the
p pnyse ioaung position. to raise counter
"uesceHd IN turn, carries the gun above the
Eatapet Tor firing; But an American invention
improves upon the original counterpoise, in
I'd Far tC 1n-
scent TO tho rear has been effected This Sc
iSres greater E protection by the parapet.
I fatlon IN the gun during the recoil. The re-
ntl9n between the downward and rearward
t hbsrTn oil me gun on tho long crank arms and
TotaEao on the short arms Is perfectly adjusted.
brn sSk tba up the energy. at the end. SO as to
AMI an air chamber are provided.
tb th IN me Tapidty tests Of this carriage during
six s psSs WEEK ten rounds we're fred in thirty
sShteaecn-!oating steel rifle with full service
s ar;iE OF 2oQ pounds the weight OF the pro-
hard the no sa poWse Wns
Sss OF my kind being used. and the result
ra aS JHsenei most gratifying Previous TO this
t nGe charges. and 1t was particularly noticed
s@ sS ne stroke Of the pistons., being nearly
and h"a 1t Brought shs to E
e eth on tho mechanism, the mir pressure be-
SS n,n NJ 80 pounds and ending at about 275
c. Alier the various systems Of disappearing
sS Sr'.ag"' have been fully tested by COMPARE
the the e SEs or more OF them will be adopted. and
i %e s Gun which are beginning to accumulate
h h. noaHt defence can be- mounted. 1t has we'll
S SvGh sad Tint the Importance Of tho modern
s sLn carriage 10 the System OF defence 10 not
mSsG5 UNDERSTOOD. II may cost half as
mSch a ne gun and weighs about half as
AMI Sp ~, uy!raulic and pneumatic apparatus
viii HriouS lovers and machinery connected
rs .i tne WORKING OF the gun add 70 It's COM
ss,,mt, while the disappearing appliance con-
yer ruC oI an nportant additional feature 1t is
hoys J,'ar tiht ms appliance must add enor-
snsm sn u the defensive power OF fort An
and s 10 10, longer has works to batter down.
du,ins .mit"i to direct fire against the guns
AND SDdt'.E ne brief period when they are exposed
Pin 70 REP angle Are for the purpose OF drop
TIL nr6 ne!s into the fort. SO important has
bean protection OF h"th guns and the artillerists
eSn"trG,a,,i ea that plans have been made for
disa,TNl,ln. harbor defence vessels on the
6ayin D'fHiinG gun principle. tho suggestion
tors ~ VI en- made that the ngle-turret mont
ever II ,Pnt De altered for that purpose. How
tests M may turn out. it is certain from the
win OF soma systems Mt Sandy Hook.
eatr,a",.n ""rs TO follow, that tho disappearing
''aE' WI! he adopted for the forts