The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-23
THE TERROR'S GUN SYSTEM.
TESTS ON FRIDAY SAID TO MAZE
BEEN HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL.

Asvantases OF Air Over water In Reeeiv-
ing the Reooi-Thronrs ON the Deck OF
the SeA saonster at tho NAVY YARD Yes
NJ 'he h"re'
The clear, cool weather yesterday had the
effect OF bringing out a big crowd of visitors at
the Brooklyn Navy Yard, most OF whom were
anxious TO see the double-turreted monitor
Terror. just back from the sea test Of her guns
aud pneumatic system. The Terror, which was
detained In the bay by fog on Saturday, got up
to the cob dock at the Navy Yard about 1880
yesterday morning, and was tied up next to tho
Indiana. No such crowd of visitors ever boarded
her before as did yesterday.
All the afternoon they kept coming, and they
were admitted freely to her deck. They looked
her over from stem to stern. inspecting curious
ly the two big, low-lying turrets on her deck
and the protruding muzzles of her ten-inch
guns, which had been fred with such satisfac-
tory results on her trip.
While the officers of the Terror were pre-
vented by official etiquette from talking for
publication. In advance OF the Trial Boards
report, concerning the results of the test, their
views in conversation showed that thev were
.-..h...s H., al. n,a... -, -
'nNs ~ s,..o" was
monitors and battle ships generally. Its adop-
.,an ~ soId ,sorrs ~, 49,.
ZION. tney sa'o' wouiu NOT Lake place
until the system had been thoroughly de-
yeloped and until some Of the mechanical
hitches wh'oh occurred In the Terror's test
had been obviated. But the trial showed that
the pneumatic system. as eventually worked
out would DO superior 70 those In winch steam
or hydraulic power are, used. The system was
cons;dcred tn he in n aorneyvbat exner;ment.l
-. -. ~. -. 20 -. - ~, ~
stage' out the resuits Oh tne oest were sara 10
whan ,ha hvdrsn,in svs,su wa, ,riod ,or ~
a.. 49, ,,..-
hrst t'pe, on inc M,ahtohomoh.
,ool n,ncs on Tbursday and which consisted -,
,Oa,nsSiss,h 60. ~. aan. ~ nI,anssu.,.
discharging the -FOUR Dig guns simultaneously
was fully described In THE SUN. The firing on
FRIDAY vas n continuation NJ tho test NJ III,
ilraas - 1870 VI.
the wind on Friday the vessel did not take the
before. She passed out to u point between
the Sandy Hook Lightship and the Gedney
chon,ai wh,s,Iino h,ors S,aor,i,v oho,, n
this. vicinity she fired her big guns about fifteen
times In all. She did not try firing all four at
once aoain ne Il was unnecessary 10 rensat that
NV 81" - "i'poN' ~"
t ,rissl S deyiee T reg ibe sr aprahg Ths x = sps Tsrs q Area ed
in pairs. by tnrTets. and also slngly.
several incidental advantages OF the pneu:
test, In using either water or compressed air to
receive the recoil, there is usually some escape.
In the case OF tho hydraulic system, this causes
the decks about the guns to become sloppy,
which Is a disadvantage where powder is being
handled. or course. this is ooviated when com:
pressed air is used. In fact, the escape OF
air is an advantage. AS it expands 1t
causes a reduced TEMPERATURE. and SO
overcomes the heat. generated by the
recoil of the gun. In the ships using tho ny
dranlic system, too. 1t has been found necessary
to rig up good-siZed electric fans to send eur.
rents OF mir through the guns to clear them OF
smoke. In the pneumatic system this is accom-
piished. by u jet Of compressed air turned on
from the reservoir. Another difficulty attend
ing the use OF water, which Is overcome by the
new system, Is the liability of the water to freeze