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


q ,sis end all the upper works being sacfihcei.
.. the guns made 20 disappear within barbettes
below the upper deck after firing. so as 10 leave
the field unobstructed for other guns. The mill
tsry masis were also TO disappear below the upper
deck In this manner by firing In turn each sun
va. 10 be brough; TO bear over the whole horizon
and the barbettes grouped that for certain
points on the bows and quarters all the guns could
be brought to bear simultaneously. While incfeas-
ing the arc OF fire Of The other guns by disappear
ing below the upper deck the heavy guns were IN
tended 10 increase their protection by lower
ing into the barbettes. reducing the time OF eX-
posure 10 the fire OF an enemy 10 the time h'ces-
sary for training and sighting. and during TINS
interval protection 10 the breech from rapid-hr"
gun, was afforded by cage armor with the IN
creased thickness OF on the front sioping
face.
REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT NAVAL CON
sTRUCTOR.
TIT. model was turned 10 Assistant Naval
Constructor Richmond Pearson iiooson with
verbal request that the dispositions embodied ana
,he principles and ideas illustrated be examined
as TO their utility adoption on vessels or war
His report was submitted 10 the Navy Department
and found publicity through the reports OF .''e
proceedings OF the Naval institute from "h'ch
me accompanying diagrams are taken Inc gen
,.rai disnos!tlon Of the model is shown 10y Inc
three outlines given. the first being secuo"al
view with the guns ready for action tle seco,''
With he guns sheltered within the walls OF the
barbette and the third deck plan, showing the
d,snositon OF the barbettes and the guns Inc gen
.ral principle of disappearing guns has been APP
,lied TO four Russian vesses, the three Dd''e-s"PS
catherine H. the Tchesme and the s!hope' anu Nie
.,as,-Aefeoce vesse Vice-Adnira Popon and the
british battle-shp Temeraire. completed IN 1870
The present design, however. represents 'he HI D
sisnositjon where the principle OF disappearing -
assigned TO Gear the field OF guns durinS 'he
urocess OF loading in such a way as 20 permit
unobstructed fire across the space they occupy III
the firing position the deck being cleared o. other
ohs,ruct,ons realizing the double purpose OF IN
creasing the effective angle OF fire OF the heavy
guns and al the same time increasing 'heH pro-
lection In the des gn submitted the rato Oh Deai'
IN length is ! 10 8. OF beam 10 draught. 20 TO l.
and the ratio OF freeboard 10 drausht' 10 A'>o'
THE same ratios for the batteship Iowa are 10
8 10 and 1854.
DEFECTS OF THE DESIGN
In his report Mr. Hobson points out some OF 'le
defects OF the design. and shows some OF 'he ao-
van,ages to be derived from Its use the maj
summing up showing that the ideas oner advantages
which would preponderate heavily over the disau-
,,,,ares and while the mechanical dfhcuities are
serious they are not insurrnountabe. mus io1
ba,tle-ships disadvantages incident to the sac
,,Ace Of the superstructure ana the removal OF
obstructions above. upper deck, IN oider 10 nave
tho deck clear for the disappearing guns are not
without the possibility Of remedy and IN many
cases are not Of serious consequence FOR Co"S,
defence vessels which nave less need OF deVeI-
o,sd secondary battery, the disadvantages ana ar
e,,,s az. .ess serious than battle-ships. In
N. case Of the Iowa the use OF the disappearing
mounts would give increased angles OF IRE as
follows:
Degree
", ,o-rsrd twelvench ~
ior af,er twe,yench "
x Toal gain 4:
10 .isht-inch
-. o,os of fire being OF equal importance all
around the horizon. the proposed system would auu
practically ope-third to the erectNe ahs'e u .'e
tweve-inch guns. and dod h,, ' in figures Of the
sring energy OF the guns The four
Guns OF energy of 10000 tons and the eign
slghI-inch guns aggregate Ciey tons' &, ne ~ f. s
iam ol entass however would be easily dissipatei
~ sow-moving mechanism. ana the gan The in.
mrs. ss' ,be angle of fire. would depend on she
success WIN wa on me efficiency OF the mechanism
for enecting the operations incident 10 '"e
ORIGIN OF THE IDEA.
But It was increase in protection anu "o' no ,saa
IN the angle OF fire which first gave DIT" ~ IL,
Of disappearing gun mounts ana on sh''e ,"'
nearing nrinclple has decided military auNd"'"se''
pe .arhar,caI difficulties are such as are
easily overcome A few years ago dummy ' ,en
inch e1,n WAS mounted disappeaiIinB ice and
on The coast OF England, and was iiauv r ~ smoke
M at regular Intervals giving out pun h Ti ali ihe
Ike gun In action. while II was len o nj brne TO
battery that the me aound that absolutely no effect
%as produced though he conditions satteres COW
favorable for the attack III the guns can be scat
,eres and no objects would indicate the @ lack
~ 30 nits where the enemy az fue W" ,hcn
ne sad pped 10 obioue fire. the only nre 10 90 az
could be sers sesra sspH Ssnoxeds the
s ana bearing advantages OF ns ans
log system 80 prpno1nctsSas expense Of armor
Reldjne a floating enemy al dsadv nfief II in
posed 10 injury and powerieSs -
return. -, j.. ~r,oN
,,,,1~rp.prJTy OF GUNS IN ACTION
When the position remains visible ho"esrr ,'s and
en "srnoopent target, the conditions change anu
inc me,bods of defence common to other mounts, a.
earth. masonry or armor must be fesof'eu w. 81
showing the possible vuiheIapI.s ,o,ss the result
t,,1. sn,, In action Mr.. Hobson quotes 'i' '
,arga, practice with the sixinch guns Of hs an
lanta Baltimore bennington etrel San francisco
s5d yepktown where total number OF gre for
Vas s4o This result shows Una. nirs of fire 1t