New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-01

Of smsn9s VIII ~ The PSsSq for mG ses Is
reSsn IN me usual na' case. VIII be varabe al viii
and az the exposure OF guns will vary be-
c Tfsn Taf ! and "I here al time:
probability OF being struck by an enemy s Nnr,a5
ny the disappearing system proposed: VARYING more
or les a. MIL from min"F fram rapidare guns
TO a maximum greater than the protection AFFORDED
to ihai Afforded by ixea heavy turfets
AN INCREASE IN OFFENSIVE POWER.
on this question OF protection. Mr. Hobson further
shows that under certain conditions OF engagement
the full possible protection may be reduced ana
corresponding increase in IN" offensive power
req tied For instance. engaging bows on, In "A
smooth moderate sea At moderate ranges. me
after guns could remain in the raised position the
forward guns alone dsaI pearng after firing me
exposur Of the aeI guns rn NONE 1be osdng psrSd
Of the forward guns ard me pL9tectIon n n IN
The firing position. But this protection would be
ample under the conditions. and the rapidy OF
[e ot mS f1"i r So Of the forwad guns
i've pnwer would be nearly double that OF guns
mounted In the usual manner. where the after guns
summing up the comparison of the total effective
power Of heavy baerS II mas nesn hover e
has heen Increased by the increase IN me anse p
T IS superior on account OF the possible
maximum protection being az great or a n''i r.
more adaSabie for shpb5ard permitting adjust
ment to correspond to the exposure and 70 me
feet produced on the IS to the advantage OF
the system CGmoning o,p pp" of power of
the main battery is greater IN the case OF the as
appearing system.
WEIGHT AND CROSS-F1R1NG
on the question OF weight. the Naval Con-
structor's report treats Of an important element
in the construction of bat;le-ships. BY comparison
with ships of the Iowa class. the net saving Of
weight under the proposed system "oud be ABOUT
$50 tons as armor OF one-third TO one-hai' the
weight Of heavy turre would suffice for
the heavy guns. For two turrets this would
amoun, to about 2i0 tons On the other hand
the mechanism required for raising the necessary
weght-l20 tons-sx feet in fifteen seconds. once
every three minutes, would require an addition
tons a single plant amidships could be provided
Of sufficient force to work al ' of me va ' in
armoTng splinter dsck OYER sh, 'nf Dos or "
In seeking to utilize the possibility OF hrns
across the positions OF other guns there VIII be
danger of nuring the guns that may be n Attn, the
This is a serious danger. for ne conditions OF
tain may be; in fact it is dangerous TO allow z
gun the POSSIBILITY o training to the eX'fni on Oh
the same level. To remedy even partially thls
S S9nstr 'Rs hsx EGsa Of lh the
rising falling Of every arTe YIN the pow w: 10
such knowledge The difficulty of providing sins;e
mind with such knowledge and with such cohtto IL
a serious detraction from the plausibilty Of wholly
uizjng for fire angles that are sgbtended by tur-
refs For Volley firms, fOl a single vol.ey or lOT
successive yol'eys the moral effect OF invsibhty;
of appearing TO fire and then disappearing, would
BE- great for such firing wnSre the commanding
or other special officer would direct and contioi
the fire the danger TO guns would be less
In his iral summing up Mr. liobFon SHOWS tat;
realized under perfected cOnditiOns the proposed
system would materially increase the power ana
effectiveness Of the main battery by increasing the
offensive power, and by improving the conditions
of security. The offensive power IL Increased Dy
The Increase OF angles Of fire an increase which
under the conditions supposed. would largely over.
U
IRE while The efficiency Of the security H. i'm
nroyed by the variability OF It's nature. permitting
adjustment to suit exposure and 10 sit the reld-
i've nrotect. on o. the hull. BY regulating the eX-
tant and frequency Of disappearing. the factor
Witch enhances the angles Of hIe and increases
The projection but which reduces the rapidly OF
IRE tht. elements OF offensive power and defence
~ tho heavy guns he regulated al will to suit
The needs OF the occasion quality on board ship
moi realized in any existing svst@m-inis Is, pro-
,l1ed the Inechanis for accomplishing the various
orera,ions Is efficient and substantial. the neces-
NV Of This provision is absolute. with imperfect
,,echsnism with slowness and uncertainty OF ac-
ION The gain in effective power OF the main bat
,erv IL rapidly undermined in both lis elements
While the gravity OF the disadvantages increases
in rapid proportion.
As 10 the practical features to he embodied in
evetern of successful mechanism, some sugges-
,ions are found I'm the Farco system OF turrei, in
no dsa Dpea ring mounts on the Russian battle
sbins and in the Cane disappearing turret for aud
,Isa hut they cover only a small part OF the
@round As yet. adequate desgn has been
made or attempted