Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-30
NAVAL 'ORDN
Annual Report Of the Chief of the
Ordnance Bureau.
EXPERIMENTS WIHHRAPID-FIRINGG GUNS
Armor Plate Delivered and That
Yet to Come.
T Fl E G UN F A CT o r Y

Capt. Sampson, chief of ordnance, SUBJ
mitted his annual report to the Secretary
of the Navy today. He submits estimates
for the next fiscal year aggregatng
So, f31 1884, the principal items being 81 ,259,
666 for material and labor for a modern
battery for the historic Hartford, for re-
serve guns and torpedoes, and $4,39O,20
for the armament of vessels now author
lied. He also renews last years estimate
of 100000 for guns for the auxiliary navy.
He says that of the $50 breech-loading
rifles of all calibers-from 4 to 13 inch
thus far ordered 379 have been completed
and 3OS are now afloat No change is
recommended in the system of gun con-
structior. Although the English are said
to have put into service a wire-wound, 12-
inch gun of higher power and lighter than
the old model, Capt. Sampson says the ad
vantages claimed for it are not sufficient
to warrant the substitution of this or any
other system for cur built-up guns, par
ticuarly in view of the mary mechanical
difficulties and the long and expensive
experimentation necessary to change.
Guns for Warships.
The wisdom of the departments decision
in favor of thirteen-inch guns for the new
battle ships is said to have been demonstrat-
ed by test at Indian Head, where one Of the
Iowa's side plates, which had proved more
than a match for the twelve-inch guns. was
perforated by a projectile from thirEeen-
inch gun. Capt. Sampson says no argument
- needed IN support of the sta e'nalt that
first-class battle ship should carry guns able
at least under favorable conditions to pierce
the armor of an opponent of equal S.Ze. All
of the 1owa'S twelve-inch guns are practi-
cally completed, leaving no more of this cali
ber to be made. All of the ten inch guns
authorized have been finished. The eight
.nch guns for the Iowa and the Brook
lyn have been delayed by failure to secure
proper forgings. The eight-inch nick kel-steel
gun $ also delayed by stuck jacket, await
.ng change in the heating furnace. Capt.
Sampson says the Hurst method has been
tested and found practically worthless. 1t is
proposed to convert all of the six-inch guns
n service into rapid-fire guns as soon as
poss BILE. Attention is again called TO the
necessity of having a reserve supply Of guns
of all calbers, and it is recommended that
their number be at least ten per cent of those
already authorized
Powder Tests.
No satisfactory powder has yet been Sc
cured for the thirteen-inch guns so tie
requirements as to velocity have been re-
duced to 1000 feet per md, with fifteen
ton pressure. This fact is believed to
demonstrate the Importance of developing
the smokeless powder.
The experiments so far made at the tor
pedo station IN this line have resulted In
developing an absolutely uniform powder,
but time must elapse before its keeping
qualities can be known. Meantime it is
being served out for six-inch guns On the
North Atlantic squadron. For the naval
small arms extensive tests have shown
that the bureaus pure gun cotton powder
has 10 superior. and orders will be placed
with the powder companies in the near
future. Hydraulic turret gun carriages
have been adopted for nearly all our ships
based the highly gratifying perform
anceS of those on the Monterey.
AT sea and under service conditions the
ten-inch guns were fired at the rate of two
and three-quarter-minute rounds and the
twelve-inch guns at the rate of four-minute
rounds. The serious problem of sighting
guns accurately has been solved by means
of simple telescope sight, which will be
fitted to all of our large guns.
ArmOr and ArmOr-Piercing Shells.
Success having attended the effort to pro-
cure S-inch forged steel shells, it is pro-
posed to develop a similar type of semi
armor piercing shells for each caliber, and
if one and three powder steel shells can be
procured, 1t is proposed to entirely abandon
| the use of cast iron projectiles.
During the year 5,171 tons of armor, 1861
| tons being Harveyized, were delivered. and
that remaining, though the most difficult
al tedious to manufacture will be as
suredly delivered by the Carnegies before
February l next, and by the Bethlehem
| company early in July next, dependent only
upon the speed with which the plans are
supplied by the ship builders.
With increased plants under way end
I improved processes of manufacture, the
| $500 tons of armor required for the new
battle ships and can be supplied in less
than one year after receipt of plans. I'm
| der this head Capt. Sampson points to the
| fact that. though the number of ship build
| ing srms in this country is now large the
armOr plant factories are limited and to
| provide against the emergency of war, he
strongly urges that the authorization of
new ships be regular and continuous. A
strong argument is also made against the
| proposition to allow saipbuilders to contract
| for supplying ships with their armor on the
ground that it would tend to break down
the armor makers ard place them at the
| mercy of the shipbuilders.
No Unreasonable Delay,
The charge of unreasonable delay in SUD-
| plying armor is fully met by Can't. San,n.
son. He reviews the magnitude and Difficult
| ties of the past undertakings and asserts
| that the enterprise and vigor of the manu-
| facturers is worthy of praise rather than
cenSure.
Naval Gun Factory.
The naval gun factory has remained un-
| der the direction of Commander Theo. F.
| Jewell. U. s. N.
| The approaching completion Of the guns
| for the ships thus far authorized has rem.
| dered it necessary to gradually reduce the
number Of workmen employed in the gun
| 81 ops until any further dim mutton will com.
pei the discharge of men whose experience
| in this line of work renders them invalu.
| abe. 1t will also soon be necessary under
| existing conditions, to largely reduce the
| force n the gun-carriage shop. For this
| as well as for reasons heretofore stated
| the bureau urges that appropriations be
made at the coming session of Congress for
reserve guns and for guns to arm the aux
iliary cruisers The bureau approves the
recommendation of the superintendent OF
| the naval gun factory that the old foundry
be remodeled, and has inserted in its esti-