Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-18
How the Monster is Served and Some
Information About Ii.

How the Monster is Served and Some
Information About IL.
From Leslie's Weekly.
Il am told" said Capt. Hgginson of the
battle ship Massachusetts,. now of the fly
ing squadron. g That the Indiana put shell
from her thirteen-inch gun through tar
get at 1000 yards. and then went through
the same hole with second shell. Pretty
good work for one of these fellows and
the muscular little captain stroked the
muzzie of one of the four thirteen-inch
guns that make DIP the main battery Of the
big ship Of the line.
Don't get out a tape measure or foot
rule and measure Oft thirteen inches and
wonaer to what portion Of the gun that re-
fers, because it would avail you little but
rather listen to the account of the stipend
business of this greatest engine of destruc-
ton of modern days. A ''thirteen-inch
breech-loading rifle as the biggest gun
used in the navy is technically described
is piece of metal weighing l36oo0 pounds.
Few inches over thirty-nine feet in length
and with powder space LIB inches in
diameter and SIS inches long.
The only reference to thirteen inches is
IN the diameter of the steel projectile fired.
This monstrous gun throws a projectile
that weighs LOO pounds, ard the amount
OF powder consumed for each shot so fired
der sends this weight of 100 pounds of
metal from the muzZle at the speed of
=, 100 feet per second, and with an energy
OF 33,t2I tonS-enough to send IL through
twenty-foGr inches of steel at 600 yards
and twenty-one inches at a mile distant;
and while the mechanism of this gun IL
complicated. and while every part after
every shot must be cleaned. so complete is
the discipline aboard that il may be fired
once every three minutes. And there are
Your of these terrible engines.
1t is bright, clear day, and the Massa-
chusetts has sighted an enemy's warship
The preliminary work of clearing for action
mas been accomplished; ratings. ladders
and boats are down and have been slowed
away. and everything movable in the big
ship fastened. The glass port lights have
been replaced with steel, the water-tight
compartments closed, the electric plants
for lighting the ship, turning the turTets
ana working the ammunition lifts started;
the ammunition magazines opened, and
lastly, the sick bay prepared.
In the forward turret with the great pair
OF thirteen-inch rifles stand a crew of
twelve men, six to each gun. In the hood
OF the turret, just above the men. sits
senior officer and junior officer ST
lence! IS the first command. and grimly
the half-naked men of the gun crew stand
behind TIE guns. Gas. loose and provide
sharply rings the order, and every man Is
instantly working.
The gun captain and numbers two. three
and four, who are the practical gunners
unshackle the great n 1nster from its peace
fastenngs; one sees that repair tools and
cleaners are placed, gets water and hose
ready; another opens the safety valves and
exhaust pipes, starts the smoke fan and
ships the sight; and another provides drink
ing water and does q dozen other things.
But all is done within space of four min
uteS, and again each nan in his place
stands like a statue of bronze.
The ammunition has come up prepared
with fuses. and then come the orders in
30 Inc
land Shell" The great hydraulic rammer
pushes in the big 1.1oo-pound steel projec-
tile. Load first cartri ige," and the brown
powder, one-half the quantity necessary,
goes in. Load second cartridge" and in
goes the second. Down lift" and the am
munition carriage goes down for more.
Close breech,' comes the order quickly
and followed in an instant by Prime"
when the captain puts in the electric
primer.
Then the captain of the gun, seeing
everybody clear, says Ready and the
cfflcer in the hood above responds with,
Point" Slowly both turret and gun are
moved until the range finder indicates that
the muzzle is pointing at the enemy. Then,
quick as a flash. the officer in the turret
hood closes the electric circuit and the big
proJectile goes on its path of destruction
So every one OF the twenty-six rifed guns
begins to speak, and Hell has indeed
broken loose"