New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-06
NOVEL ORDNANCE TEST
THE PRACTICABIIITY OF SuPEkIoSED
TTRRETS DEMONSTRATED
IT WAS FEARED THAT TIE SHOCK FROM THE
UPPER TtRRET MIGHT DISABLE TIE MEN
IN THE SIGHTING HOOD or THE LOWER
oNE-THE TESTS PROVE TO


THE CoNTIARY
Washington. April 5.-The facts came 70 i,Sn, ~
dav relating an important ordnance test ".'' w
Friday at the naval proving GROUNDS NJ ''
Uood The test was conducted under the drec-
,,on of Lieutenant Mason. by orders OF the Navy
Donartment The object in view was the settlement
If y serious auction which has arisen concerning
the use Of suporpos u turreis on board 'h' p''.
ships Kearsargc oni Kentucky. ana otheT "Sn'"S
vessels which may be provided by Congress 'e'
sons familiar with naval matters VIII r'l'''p''
that in preparing the designs for these vessels inc
I,oarearco and tho Kentucky. there was HN'-y
dIscrssion among tho experts. moro particularly AZ
~ the wisest most efficient distribution OF the tur-
refs and the cal!bre OF the heavy guns.
The ships arc to he powerful floating ior'reSscS.
and the location and character Of the turrets ana
,ho number and kinds Of guns formed a subject de-
serving the most serious considerations The con-
structors' corps favored the pan OF putting on the
ships eicht-nch and twelve-inch guns to be placer
in rroups OF two In separate turreis ordnance o''
Gers urged eight-nch AMI thirioon-nch guns TO he
orrorood so that forward and aft there would he
on. double deck turret. After hearing arguments
pro and con- and consulting a number OF prominent
officers in Washington and on duty elsewhere sec
retarv Herbert directed that the ordnance experts
plan be adopted -,
lions nut an ci,I TO discussions. and that the de
cis,or was final IL appears. however. that such
is not the case and that some gray" uoup'S nav
arisen a. 10 the wisdom Of the secretary COZ"
clusion Recently il has been urged ny persons
who disagreed with the Secretary tha' WIN INV
superposod arrangement the operation Of the men
T., 81, ,h,r,een.inch tirrcts would De lmpedcd by
the blast of the oghi-lnch guns. and that me ON
cor or man IN the sighting hood Of the thirte'hch
structure would he unable accurately 10 perform
his duties II this were the case u WOMB prevent
rapid accurate fire with the new hatiie-Sh'pS ihn'"
batteries. and Ia an engagement; the heavier rines
.ell. ne ON
r.b.p the elght-lnch guns were numbering iorh
their steel mlzzlcs In other words. the super
posed turrets scheme would bc seriously az '-"' a.
not afforling the best results IN battle ana inc wv
bic fighting ships would Dee no match for N''Se7
they might meet in combat
r., CO. AZ re., doubt In the case was the praciica
o,,,oc, O, Fridays test AZ Indian Head Arrange
mcnis for the experiment were CONDUCTED in..',y
mn IVA ,fnf the doub.e-deck system ~ ;urrets
was deicc,ivc the rrpor, Of IN" experiment ecca
ey"r and the showing u favorable 70 ~ con.
struction OF the ordnance experts ana p,oaT, uH ,
operatc either to the dscomf VI or INJURY OF mum
s'in, , tnrrcis are distinctly American In
design and everything IN reiauoh - P ', ~,
ahvantagcs IL Of interest Under directions OF inc
Naval Bureau OF Orduanc". ldeu,'ma.h, 'mAs nyi
be as nearly as possible Ike ihose wh.ch "'l
obtain on board ship Ia me aiIdnk 'n.ht - w
lover ,Yrre,s are for Inc l3-nch guns and the
upper lrrcts for the s-!nch rifles The under .trn't
considerably greater IN S S'''n',r r ,bi,
tons sghtlng hoods out OF which IN" gunner can
see The enemy and direct the aiming 81 INC rms.
These are directly under tho s-lnch guns "hrh 'h'y
are trained certain angles.
The theory has been put fortn ~ me opp"ii'tF ga
the doubi--deck system that when H-lnc4 gum
we're fired in the sighting hoois bchehui
would be rendered UNIT for good service, II nor
.cuaiIv injured ~ "A result OF shock from the blast
/ Iien,enant Mason had a hole dug in III" ground a.
ref.r.ts.rf l3-uch turrrf. over " We hAl
placed q sghilns-h hood of service aim nsl'h- an
thickness Above the hood was mounted al -,
inch Gun. the muZzlc would he III" case on IN
new baitc-shr- being fifteen feet outDoard OF IN
hoods -Four service charges were hrcd during "
first two rounds Lieutenant MaTon stood INSIDE M
barrel was only n few fee, above his head iie eN-
perienced special discomfort ana the snocN va
not 50 great TO lncapaclate him from de!berat';
accurate work euch nS ne would nave Den ~,
upou - perform In actual battle, while ngnths th'
l3-iuch rlros. The shock noticeable. but
not sufficient to cause him discomfort or 10 inter
fcre with his usefulness or ACTIVITY az gun cap
During thcs- two rounds door leading TO the
excavation was purpOse,y left open. Afterwarh Two
of Lieutenant MasOn's assistants went into IN" re-
/ doubt Then the door Was closed TWO more ser
,cc rounds were fired. The assistants experienced
no particular Inconvenience from the shock Thei
reported to Lieutenant Mason inat fn"'r comfor4
was no less ana their freedom Oi acton ~ hucF
as If they had been at tn" hr""ch rather than uhue
he barrel OF the Dig gun mat WIS uSfnhTS'l
Tho. results of the most gratifying 10 IN,
experts who have cOntcndcd tnat the suprpose-
tufrct system H. the best for battlc-snps ana ina
there was no practical objection To ls rhpoy nm
A written report OF the experiment VIII be sent 10
the Navy Department by Lieutenant Mason TINS
vii be laid before Admiral walkers bonrd on
Naval Armament, To be considered III connection
with the many important questions rcintns 10
armor guns and turrcis which the Board Is now
.