The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
MHE|R NJ
Broadway & 9Th St.
SNAIL WE NAVE Is-INCH GUysq
The Arguments for Putting These NJ onsters
Into Our Hnrbor Forts,

WAsHINGToN, April lit lie noticeable
that the Fortincations bill as reported to the
House authorizes the making OF 16-inch guns,
or, rather. the purchasing OF the ~forgings for
a type lG-inch gun. This is a matter that the
Ordnance Department has been unsuccessfully
urging for years, the failure of 16-inch guns
in the British navy, and the definite abandon
ment OF that calibre there, for new construc-
ton. doubtless having an influence here.
1t has naturally been urged that, If ships of
the future are to carry nothing larger than 12-
inch or 13.inch guns. there is no need Of TO-
inch guns in land forts to oppose them. Wholly
apart, therefore,, from the question of the de-
fccts developed in the monster British guns
of this calibre. the difference in range and gem
eral efficiency between the same guns mounted
on the land or in ships has been spoken of as
enough to make the 1"-inch in the forts ade.
quate for all purposes of defence. On board
a ship IA 12.inch gun is limited to a compare.
lively low angle of fire. and. thus the ship is
a 12-inch gun to be very effective against it.
Gen. ,F!agler, however. has frequently com.
bated these points. Referring to the fact that
fOrty-four l8.inch guns formed p part OF the
programme of the Qualifications Board OK ten
years ago. he asserts that the difference be-
ments that are applicable to the one case in
applicable TO the other: On a ship the ques;
so is that Of the length of the gun. which also
determines the size aud weight of the turret,
r ns iS s''l bd fpr an le1 1ae wj9S ,hs e to be f made e e, for
form, and. unlimited space. there are no such
economical restrictions or necessities for com
promise. This being the fact, if a 16-inch
gun can do better work than the 12-incn. it
may well be mounted ashore.
The Harvey surface. hardening. process has
made armor far better able to resist prOjectiles
than II was n few years ago. 1t is true that
the attack has also become more powerful,
rroJectiles; but some recent experiments at
Indian Head throw considerable doubt on tile
DplptrntlnU NC nf h Din ann uphnr
used at the distance which might be required
in = bombardneht and when it's proiectlle
ship. ""s 'O
1t may be added that there are exist
fleets, whTcsh ceeHsiderably surpass in eali h"e
the l2-inch. Hence. even If the. largest
f for sfips h hereal hel ye to SOME he of m thsse mIsSt
he used against our forts in existing ships. The
fact that they are used for land defences by
tlaGler remarks that England has in her coas:
defence and navy sixteen. guns Of l6-inch ora
hre: France has eight of l6le- inch. six of l414-
inch and thtTty,tv of 1ala, inch ealihres. Italy
thirty. five of la]s.inch calibres. Denmark
has li-inch calibre guns.
by AE 6at'sr i is often etpslI tGG pG WPoss Of sn : tleet to run Ss,
fences, are inadequate to stop it, and hence it is
desirable to check this ATTEMPT. There is no
inch projectile, and although IT is true that the
leinch can he fired more rapidly, and hence
'"h NV tt ItSS'is Iccl 'Itentr III IL given
period. yet. according TO Gen. Flagler, there
are sites for our Qualifications where one 49,
inch gun should be the equivalent OF a dozen
l2-inCh guns" The army l2-inch gun Il, in
deed. heavier and more powerful than the navy
gun of the same calihre. but even with this al
lowanCe there is n question whether 1t would
be sufficient for every task:
Some OF the latest experiments indicate that even
with continued hammoring with the l2 inch gun we
cannot expect to penetrate the best modern armor,
and could not destroy or stop certain vessels. except
by a rare and exceptionally lucky hit in some weak
spot. The report OF the Chief of the Bureau OF Ord.
nance OF the Navy for this year will show that In
some late experiments at Indian Head II was utter
ly impossible TO penetrate modern heavy armor
vorable circumstances at a range OF only 1870 yards
and with the plate held normal TO the trajectory. |
In some cases n l3.inrh %projectile barely got
through the plate under the same favorable circum-
stances: In some later experiments with n modern
plate the 3-inch proJectile passed through, while
the 2'inch produced little effect.
1t, should he added that the provision made
in the pending bill does not commit the Gov
ernmcnt TO the regular manufacture of the To-
inch %calibre.. 1t provides only for o type gun;
and inasmuch az 1t vii. take about three years
to get such a gun ready and tested. there will
be time before then to know what will be re-
CURED for successful combats by forts with
the ships of the future. One thing OF which
the ordnance authorities are confident Is that
with the experience gained from the mistakes
of the English l6-inch gun they can mauufac.
evcn the type gun would be of practi-
cal use, and 1t Is believed that others would fol-
II, and that the moral ms well as the ma
terial effect of having in some Of our most i'm
harbors guns that could certainly stop
any existing ship wo I'D be very great.