The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-11
GUNS AND PLATES.
New and Interesting Competitive and Other
Tests and Processes of Manufactures.

New and Interesting Competitive aud Other
Tests and Processes Of Manufactures.
WARRINGTON juno 1O.-There has been some
thing Of lull recently in ordnance matters.
so far as concerns public trials. Ensign Dash
hiel's highly i'm portant demonstration OF the
protecting action Of nickel steel few months
ago. being the last test which possessed ex-
ceptional interest and value.
soon however. the trial Of . 17-inch armor
plate at Indian Head will attract merited at
tention. This is the armor prescribed for the
barbettes of the Massachusetts,, Indiana, and
Oregon. and 1t Is not only the heaviest yet
made In this country. but the heaviest re-
quired in any OF our ships. except the 1S-inch
designed for the sides OF these same vessels.
It is also thicker than any armor planned for
the Iowa, as the use OF the Harvey process
will allow an equal resisting power to be Sc
cured with lighter weight. 1t is therefore
possible that the three vessels Just mentioned
may carry thicker armor than any hereafter to
be built for our navy.
The plate has been made. OF course. by the
Bethlehem works. which now are manufac-
turing the thicksst amor for our feet. some
arrangements having been made for the pur-
pose between them and the Carnegie works at
Pittsburgh BY which the latter will do more OF
the lighter work until new and more powerful
rolling apparatus will enable them to turn of
any sort OF plates with success and rapidly.
The plate Is one OF lot intended for the Indi-
ana's barbettes. 1t will be attacked by L.
inch gun, as the contract provides and while
this is not tho largest calibre carried on for
eign war ships. 1t is quite large enough to
test the resisting power OF the barbettes In
view Of the difference between the short range
OF the proving ground, with its deliberate
aim against target solidly planted. and the
hate vii re hastiar aim
against floating ship. Besides. the British
Admiralty have headed q movement to mako
the 12-inch guns the largest used In all new
ships. on account OF the greater ease OF
manipulation. That the barbettes OF the
Indiana will form. an adequate protec.
tion. for her 13-inch guns no doubt
ments Introduced. into our service as the re-
suit Of experience is that OF having the design.
t Re q guns brousht within the control Of the
Chief Of Ordnance. as 1t should be; 1t VIII be
with those Of plates less thick.
Another. interesting ordnance event will be
FIRST ever Constructed in this country. The
assembling OF It's foreings is to BIO accom-
P%fR sa 81 sesr new Th ps0G SRs Qualities
is per cent. those Of ordlnary, gun steel: and
As to the method of assembling. there La
great reduction In the mum Der 81 f0rglnRs re;
Guired which must sbmPlIy the ; iaoEr ea amd
posed Of only three principal parts-a tube. an
inner jacket. and an outer Jacket. In the
usual process the tube Is placed In az up.
right position. and the Jacket. after having
bssa heated sa around IN and s J. ow'F ea
as It. cools. In the. Sellers process
while both are In q horizontal position. being
partly kept cool meanwhile by q stream q
sSd water running through b Is sxpens Sfee
through the heat derived from the jacket thus
preventing the latter from getting to Its proper
PLACE before the shrinking has gone too lar.
Will be much less under tho Sellers process
FSse his a tnns
may lie dismounted after considerable service
and nm eroded or damaged tube may be re,
PLACED by new one. This apparatus and
method appears to give promise o. definite
success, and there is little doubt that It Will SO
prove, 1t is probable that the, bureau VIII adopt
construction"
One more ordnance matter which deserves
mention Is the proposed competitive test ot
amall ca!ibre rapid-iire guns for army use at
SANDY Hook. Rapidity of Are. accuracy.
velocity under various conditions, the tline re-.
In the breeoh mechanism, the simplicity OF
construction Of the latter aud Its strength. the
specific action OF the firing pin and extractor.
and other points. will be carefully attended to.
kiss, ,Driggs- Schroeder, and seabury guns
would compete. with perhaps one or TWO
others, such as the SEonBel. which did well
recently at Indian Head.