Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-25
WORLD'S LARGEST CANNON.
II Weighs 126 Tons and Sends q ProjectiIe
Sixteen miles.

The largest gun ever built in the world
is now being constructed at the Bethle-
hem iron works. This enormous piece of
ordnance will weigh, when completed. 126
tons. 1t will exceed by six tons weight
the monster gun which krupp of Ger
many exhibited at the Worlds fair in
Chicago. and in length it will be nearly
five feet longer than the German gun.
This monster gun is being fabricate
under the orders of the war department.
1t is the biggest order ever given to any
establishment in the world.
The great gun is being built under the
superintendent of John F. Meigs. form
erly a lieutenant of the United States ma
Wy. and standard artillery authority in
this country. With him is associated
Captain E. l.. Zalnsky. United States ar
my tretired). The government inspection
work is in the hands of Captain Ira Nc
All three gentlemen are on the ground
and personally see to every detail of the
immense undertaking as it progresses.
The intention of the war department. it
is announced, is to mount the great piece
on specially built foundation on Romer
Shoals. The protection for this gun will
be turret. which will wholly inclose the
crew and the greater part of the gun.
From its position on Romer Shoals the
great piece of ordnance will have a full
sweep of the channels leading into New
York harbor. There is not, it is declared,
q vessel afioat today with armor of suffi-
cient strength to resist its shot. John f.
Meigs estimates that a blow from the
new gun would have a striking energy
equal to that of 2OOO-ton ship when rum
ming at full speed. The shot from the
gun. he adds, would smash, crack. and
batter down any armor which it would be
possible for a ship to carry.
The caliber will be sixteen inches. The
length, from breech to muZze will be
forty-nine feet two inches. Through the
breech, in vertical line, the gun will
have measurement of exactly five feet.
Mr.. Meigs computes the weight of
shot for the new gun at a little over $500
pounds. That means more than ton of
metal The heaviest shots fired in Eng
land have not weighed over 1000 pounds.
The powder charge for the American
gun will weigh nearly 1000 pounds Pro-
vided extreme elevation for range could
be attained. shot from the New York
harbor gun should be able to travel more
than sixteen miles. The greatest known
range ever attained was from the IA
nous Jubilee shot in England. The
distance measured about twelve statute
miles.
The United States has never before at
tempted any heavier piece of ordnance
for coast defense than twelve-inch gun.
The weight of piece of the latter cali
Der is approximately fifty tons. In the
sixteen-inch gun there is observed a
jump of seventy-six tons increase in
weight
The first ingot for the new siXteen-inch
gun was cast at Bethlehem last week. 1t
was for the tube forging. and weighed
$3.50 pounds. The jacket forging is also
out. 1t weighs 10000 pounds. Under the
contract made with the war department.
the Bethlehem works will turn out all of
the forgings for the great gun. The tenn
pering and annealing processes will also
be applied at the Bethlehem shops. When
all of the parts are out. the tube, jacket
and hoops will be shipped to the United
States arsenal at Watervliet West Troy,
N. Y. There they are to be assembled to-
gether and the gun itself riaed and made
ready for service.