New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-22
GREAT GUNS OF GREAT NATIES.
THE 11oToN GUNS ARE EXTREMELY EXPEN.
SIvE-THEY CAN BE FIRED ONLY
SEVCNTY.rIVE TINES.

Two Of tho mammoth 1IO-ton guns. upon which
the British Admiralty has proudly commented as
tho Modern Naval Artillery" and which cost about
100000 each. went down into seventy fathoms OF
water with the halcship Victoria and In COZ nec'on
with this fact there must have been awakened much
interest among readers as to whether such heavy
war weapons. heavier than any yet made lor the
United States Navy and heavier fhan VII prohabF
be bnilt, are wise addition TO modern war-vessel.
And ye, this Mg gun IS not new Thing. as u prac-
ucally dates back twelve years About forty OF these
big guns have been built and some of them Wrr"
sent 10 Italy, II Is easy TO comprehend among
navy Off crS that such guns are an expensive nN"rN'
not ONLY In the actual cost OF the gun ana lis am
munltiCr. but also in the size Of the ships required
TO carry them. ut what will be Of most interest 10 lay
people IS the quantity and cost Of ammunition, ana
the life gun itself The best ordnance experts
calculate the life OF the l1Oton gun to be seventy
FIVE rounds with fun charges. Thu 11Oton gun, ana
irdecd all large guns. are fred with slow burning
cocoa powder. the name cocoa being derived from
the brown color OF the powder. II Is shaped IN hex
agonal prisms, this being the most convenient 1oFh
of packing and 10000 Of these prisms are
needed to make a full charge for ills monster gun.
Each prism is pierced with hole in the c"tre to
give ready access to the flame and insure an eqlabe
ignition. For nearly all naval guns the powder
charge is made up OF four cartridges. but o"'hs 10
the extraordinary weight Of the ll0ton gun charge
(0GO pounds 1t is divided into eight cartridges each
weighing 100 pounds. 10 loau lH' gun IL - "''''
sary to bring to its extreme elevation. that IS ne
muzzlc Is pointed upward as far as II can be on '
mount: and these operations follow: % Ino,k
and urscrew the breechblock; l.) wtAora' ,Ilc
brcech block: CD traverse hreech-DlOck To an Sue
(D place the loading tray In the gun: Co swab ont
tho gun: (CJ ram home. put into place, Inc pro
iectc On place the first charge tSl place ana ram
home the second half charge: l withdraw me lohnlg
trav nO) replace the hrecchscrcw; Cd screw up
and lock the breech.screw. .,
The gun is then ready 10 he sighted by the captain
OF the turrct from his coming tower 1t is fired by
electricity. The gun can be loaded ana fired wlthn
two and half minutes. The projcctilc uSed III me
gun. when ships forts are attacked weighs 100
pourds or ONLY 200 pounds less than ton, ana u
leaves the muzze with velocity OF .1oo ieet a
second and has a destructive energy equal 10
3O3 foOi-tons. When tested bcfor" mounting OH
rho Sansparel three years the shot tore us way
through specially manufactured steel armor 90 inches
thick and vet the armor belt Of the Victoria ra.cn
from 1G 10 IL inches in thickness only IN ahuuon
Ia the 90 inches thickness OF steel the Shot went
through eight inches of iron fastened IN h'aNy
Wrought iron frame 90 feet OF oak baulhs. u 1ect
OF granite blocks. IL feet OF concrete. ana zee,
Of n wall unique in history for combination Of WIDTH
and variety and strength OF materials Inc cosl %,
one firing af this gun 300 for the powder ana
5000 for the prooce and fuses ana aler -
rounds there would be the cost OF the gun 10 auu'
namely 100000. g.
In firing the gun against body on men or no,
mi. OF boats II IS intended 10 use ShrapnFl.
drlmke cylinder OF steel incloslng 900 ionf.olnce
bullets As soon as the shrapncl bursts me bnli"'s
90 living on the spinning OF The shell caused hy INC
riacd grooves Of the gun spreading them out over
iarre area When n shell IS used II is charged win
nowder which causes II 10 explode AID scatter us
pieces with great destruction