The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-22
WORKING A 1s-INCH GUN.
A Graphic Description OF an Exciting
Scene "a Great Battle ship.
d. Graham. in Leslie,s Weeklv.

G. E. Graham. in Leslie's Weekly.
II am told" said Captain Higginson, of
the battle ship Massachusetts, now of the
flying squadron. that the Indiana put
shell from her thirteen-inch gun through
target at two thousand yards and then
went through the same cole with second
she'll. Pretty good work for one of these
fellows" and the muscular little captain
stroked the muZZle of one of the four thir-
teen-inch, guns that make up the main bat
terry of the big ship Of the line.
Don't take a tape measure or foot-rule
and measure off thirteen inches and wonder
to what portion of the gun that refers. be-
cause it would avail you little but rather
listen to the account of the stupendopsnesS
of this greatest engine Of destruction, OF
modern days. 'thirteen-inch breech-load-
ing rifle as the biggest gun used in the
navy is technically described is a piece or
metal weighing ]Se,oo pounds; Few lnches
powder space 1915 inches in diameter ana
S0.S inches long. ~
The only reference to thirteen inches is
in the diameter of the steel prOjectile fired.
This INDUSTRIOUS gun throws a projecttle that
weighs !, 100 pounds, and the amount or
$50 pounds. The explosion of this powder
sends this weight of LOO pounds OF metal
from the muzzle at the speed of 2,1OO feet
per second and with an energy OF 33,62l
tons-enough TO send ii through twenty-four
inches of steel at one thousand yards, ana
twenty-one inches at mile distant; ana
while the mechanism of this gun is COM
plicated and while every part after every
shot must be cleaned, so complete IS the
discipline aboard that IT may be nred once
every three minutes. And there are TOUR or
these terrible engines.
1t is a brightly clear day. and the Massa-
chusetts has sighted an enemys war snip:
The preliminary work of clearing for action
has been accomplished; ratings. LADDERS;
and boats are down and have been slowed
away, and everything movable in the dig
ship fastened. The glass port lights have
been replaced with steel, the er-tght
compartments closed. the electric plants for
lighting the ship turning the turrets' anu
working the ammunition lifts, started the
ammunition magazines opened ana, laStly'
the sick bay prepared.
In the forward turret with the great pair
of thirteen-inch rifles stands a crew or
twelve men, six to each gun. In the hood
of the turret, just above the men, sits a
senior officer and junior officer. Silence!
is the first command, and grimly the half
naked men of the gun crew STAND Denlnu
the guns Cast loose and provide" sharp
~ rings the order and every man is IN
stantly working.
The gun captain, and numbers two. three
and four, who are the practical gunners,
unshackle the great monster from its peace
fastenings; one sees that repair tools and
cleaners are placed, gets water ana nose
ready; another opens the SAFETY waves ana
exhaust pipes starts the smoke fan, and
ships the sight; and another provides drink
ing water and does dozen other things.
But all is done within space of four min
utes, and again each man in his place stands
like statue of bronze.
The ammunition has come up prepared
with fuses, and then come the. orders. in
quick succession, open breech sponge,
land SHE'LL The great hydraulic hammer
pushes in the big 11O0-pound steel projectile.
Load first cartridge" and the brown pow
der, one-half the quantity necessary, goes
in. LOAD second cartridge" and in goes
the second. Down lift and the ammu-
milton carriage goes down for more. Close
breech" comes the order quickly, and fol-
lowed in an instant by Prime, when the
captain puts in the electric primer.
Then the captain of the gun, seeing every
body clear, says Ready" and the officer
in the hood above responds with, Point.
A1f, ftrrr aY16 IN a
the range finder indicates that the muzzle Is
pointing at the enemy. Then, quick as
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 ritied guns begins to
speak, and Hell has indeed broken loose.