The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-09-02
TO REPEL INVADERS.
MAMMOTH AERIAL TORPEDO
THROWERS.
They Are to be Placed at Sandy Hook
to Protect New York from Hostile
Foreign Ships.

Foreign Ships.
Within thirty days, SAYS the New York
Herald, there will be placed at Sandy
Hook battery of guns capable OF throw
ing fifteen tons of dynamite an hour at
any fleet OF hostile foreign ships that
might try to force their way up to New
York. These guns are pneumatic dyna-
mite thro wrs and will be completed
during the present week for the United
States government at the West Point
Foundry at Cold Spring, near Newburg.
There are three tubes in this first battery
10 be placed at Sandy Hook-two rs
inch and one 6-inch aerial dynamite
throwers.
IL this battery proves q success the
United States Government, il is hoped
by those interested in the invention,
will place score or more of these tubes
at Sandy Hook for the better protection
of New York. The manufacturers be-
lieve that large battery of those dyna-
mite throwing tubes could prevent the
combined naves Of the world from enter.
ing New York harbor.
This battery was provided for by the
last Congress. Work on the founda-
tions for the tubes was begun several
weeks ago, and everything is now in
readiness to receive these powerful
weapons OF war, each of which can drop
from one hundred to five hundred
pounds of dynamite into the water be-
tween Sandy Hook and Coney Island, to
distance of from one to two miles.
As the channel for deep water vessels
extends only about one mile from Sandy
Hook, war ships trying TO enter the har-
Dor would be exposed to the heaviest
charges fired by this battery.
WHERE THEY WILL BE MOUNTED.
The three tubes will be mounted at
Sandy Hook temporarily, near the end
of the sand strip from which the place
tai es its name. They will be placed
side by side on the level of the beach,
the S-inch tube being on the right hand
side All three can be trained entirely
around the horizon. II takes two min
utes to make full circuit. On board
the Vcsuvius the tubes are set at a fixed
angle, but those at Sandy Hook can DO
raised or depressed like gun, fifteen
seconds being required for the maximum
change. The time required for loading
|
| proiectile used l. takes three minutes
to load and fire a 800 pound projectile
and only half that time for one weighing
100 pounds.
The pressure by which the projectie
is discharged is ordinarily 1000 pounds
to the square inch 1t is supplied from
II substantial she'd about seventy feet in
the rear of the guns where tho air com
pre>sors are placed. BY an ingenious
system of chambers aud valves the
amount of pressure can be exactly regu-
| lated.
The tubes are smooth bore, made OF
cast iron in small sections provided
with fianges. which nre boted together,
forming pirce having IA length Of fifty
feet and an internal diameter of fifteen
n,hes. The points are provided with
new and veIy efficient packing which
automatically tightens with the increase
,f pressure. The trunnions, which are
| hollow. communicate with an. annular
air space surrounding the barrel between
| them and the brecch. The trunniuns
iurn in boxes which support the barrel
nnd at the same time serve TO convey air
through the trunnions to the firing
CHAMBER in whatever way they may be
placed.
POWERFUL PIECE.
The total weight of the l5-inch tube
is 40 tons. The total weight of the full
ca ibre proj"ciiIe is loo pounds, the
explosive charge alone weighing 500
| pounds. The range of the piece at b
degrees elevation with n large prOjectile
j. 2,4tO yards; with 10 inch subcalibrc
moirctilc weighing 500 pounds IL il
600 yards; with an S.inch subcalibrc
pr" "jectile weighing $40 pounds the range
j.. 100 wards, aud with G-inch sub
calibre projcctie weighing $50 pounds
the range is q, COZ yards. The weight of
the explosive charges in the subca!ibre
pro cctiIcS named would be respectively
q pounds, 100 pounds and 80 pounds.
l'p 10 the present time heavy wrought
iron tubing has been u-cd in the con
structiol OF the storing and firing re'er-
voirs, having "a ameter of six feet will
be used for two of the tubes 10 be placed
at Srudy Hook This will reduce the
number OF joints aud the liability TO
leakage
30 far no plans have been definitely
made for the pro'ection of the tubes from
| IN enemy fire. Placed on level said
spit as they will be at first, no,hin /;
could prevent their being Knocked 10
pieces by vessel far out OF their range.
1t !, probable that after the tests are
over high and wide brcastw' rH of sand
will be build all around them. As they
usually fire at higA elevation. this will
not obstruct their use. but will protect
them almost completely. not only by the
resistance of the sand. but also by con-
ccaling their exact position. There is,
OF course no smoke to betray this.
EXCEPTIONAL ACCURACY or FIRE.
At all ranges the tubes can place
seventy five per cent. OF their rojeciies
within rectangle 90 feet wide by 800
feet long A duplicate of one Of the
tubes was recently purchased and tested
hy the English government for coast de-
fence. The most skilled rife practice
was thrown in the shade by its perform.