The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-31
7HE NAvY,s GREATEST oUN
Interesting Ordnance Work -Armor Plates
OF the Maine and the Puritan.


interesting Ordnance worh-Arnor Plates
OF the Matte and the Puritan.
WASHINGTON. July 90 The 13-inch gun. .he
largest rifle ever male for the navy and the
largest that is likely TO be made for some time
to come. is soon to be tested at Indian Head
Twelve Of these guns are needed for vessels
now under construction. four each going to tho
battle ships Indiana. Massachusetts. and Ore
gon. But the Iowa. which Is still larger. 10 to
carry 12-inch rifles as her heaviest calibre.
Our Naval Bureau Of Ordnance has asked to
build 1G-inch gun. but since no ship is under
construction or in contemplation which is
designed for such q weapon. II lie not lik ely to
be built The various mishaps which have
attended the firing OF 1l0-ton guns in tho
British naval service, and the browning
disaster to the Victoria which was armed
with them. will not give them much
further favor here or there. although
Italy uses them on her vessels. But the
decision OF the British Admiralty in favor Of
smaller maximum calibres. was based on the
consideration OF handling guns to advantage.
il being considered advisa BILE not to be wholly
dependent for operating them on machinery.
which might be disabled at u critical moment
The same views have prevailed in our own
service. and accordingly the Iowa's largest
guns were reduced to the 12-inch calibre
although some experts considered this to be
mistake.
Certainly the interest In the 13-inch guns
will not be diminished 10y the knowledge that
no more OF them are to be ordered for the
present. The greater part are in various stages
OF construction. two being practically COM
pleted. Their carriages are lot yet ready. and
it is said that their armor-piercinG proiectiles
are also yet to be furnished But important
conclusions in regard to the firing Of the gun
can be reached with ordinary shells and tenn
porary mounts
Tho 13-inch gun Is nearly 40 feet long. and
has a diameter OF little over 4 feet at the
breech and Of u inches at the muzzle 1t is
constructed on the built-up principle adopted
both by the navy and the army. in which a CEN
trail steel tube has shrunk upon 1t bands or
jackets that At exactly. The projectils in ordi-
nary use Will weigh LOO pounds. and will be
propelled BY o charge OF $50 pounds Of powder.
These figures. striking as they are. are out
done by those Of the 110-ton Armstrong;,
which are nearly A feet long. have diameter
OF 81 feet at the breech. and throw an 1900
pound steel proIectile with 800 pounds or N ore
OF powder. Yet the figures for the 13-inch
gun are sufficiently imposing.
The coming armor tests are also very inter-
estine. One OF them will be that OF 13-inch
armor o; the Maine This will be subjected
10 the fire Of q 1o-inch rife, and 1t is believed
that the famous surface hardening process
will achieve new triumph These plates are
the thickest that have ever been Harveyized.
Another test will be that OF 0 Harveyized
nickel-steel plate representing a portion OF
the armor Of the Puritan. Here particularly
interesting comparison Is possible. inRsmuch
sssn sds 81 81 .hs es o. 6 has
haryeyized: 50 that the comparison OF the re-
ton test with an S-inch rifle against a a-inch
az nsnE hs ma5 ss e Of
made Of q recent attack upon e-inch nickel:
s steel Fd ut the Of
Schroeder rapid FIRE gun. The object was to
test the quality q certain steel shells which.
etrated a little more than half way through
the Ilate. and rebounded without breaking.
LONG: waited com petitive test Of small calibre
!rapid;fre guns VII take place. The entries
seabnly and sponsS
ers The trial vii r6 be o most oh sh0rHTgh one
for. pressure from excessive charges.
S 81 thu Board e sh ns
F9r,iticaions At Sandy Hook. will be that
OF the dotcngles- 0anet- aDC Armstrong
l. Finch rapid-fre guns. Specimens OF all
three types have been purchased expressly
for this competitive test. which must greatly
interest England and France as we'll as our
own country.
The progressive trials OF the Brown seGmen-
tai gun and also OF the smokeless powders in
crease in interest as they are su bJected 10 more
aud more advanced tests. The Brown gun has
shown remarkable ability TO stand heavy
charges producing high yelocities. and to re-
sist great pressures. The Leonard SIN ok siess
powder. an American invention. has given
some excellent results A charge Of only -.
pounds OF II In the 32O-inch steel field gun
ecured the great initial velocity OF 2.45S feet
Ie- second. The proJectile weighed 49,,
pounds. so that it developed q remarkable
energy fol- that cniibre Of gun. The pressure
which was 1850 pounds. was sustained BY
the gun with entire satisfaction.
The trials Of disappearing gun carriages are
also Doubt to he continued since Of all
the patterns proposed nave been thoroughly
tested and the matter II o! prime impor-
tance in coast defence. An interesting expert
uent II also to he made In the assem- bling Of
the new nicke-steel gun. II If confidently ex-
pected that the construction Of ordnance OF
steel having a nickel alloy. will re as note
worthy in it, way has teen its introduction
in: . The manufacture OF arms But. in addi-
.!ou. the Sellers plan constructs the gun OF
fewer pieces and puts them together in a hor-
izoutal as WEE! az in a vertical POSITION Thus
a q ew system Of gun construction. as well u