The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-05-25
THE ACCURACY OF
MODERN RIFLE GUNS.
Aiming a fwelvs-Inch Monster a
Marvel of Engineering
HOW THE RANGE IS OBTAINED.

Philadelphia Times.
The accuracy Of the modern rifled
guns is one Of the wonders that is APP
preciated by comparatively few per-
sons. It can be readily appreciated
how a man with small rifle can be-
come an expert marksman, but to shoot |
accurately with a big6, s or l2-ineh gun |
is a marvel Of modern engineering. Ae-
curaey with big guns is comparatively |
modern. In days gone by when in
naval conflict broadsides were poured |
at the enemy it was not so much due to
the sure eye Of the gunner as it was to
luck OF recent years, however, the !.
gunners on board naval vessels have |
been aided by a scientific device known
as a range finder.
Lieutenant Fiske, of the United States |
navy, invented the first and best device |
Of this kind known. 1t is based on the |
principle of land surveying with a
transit and engineering chain. If a
surveying party comes to broad river
whose width has to be determined, a |
base line is measured along the bank,
and the angles which this line makes
with mark on the opposite bank are
measured by the transit. Then, know
ing the length OF the base line and the /
two angles, the distance across the river
can be determined by trigonometry.
Applying this to the rsnge-finder,
base line is carefully measured between
two points near opposite ends of the
ship, and over each point a range find
er, answering to the engineers transit,
is permanently set up. If the telescopes
of the two finders are simultaneously
conveTged upon the same point on a
distant object lship, fortress or city,, |
the observers will be in possession of
the trigonOmetrieal data necessary to
compute the distance, namely, the base
and the two base angles.
In the din, hurry and slaughter Of a
sea fight, however, it would be difficult
to make the necessary calculations, as
the distance between the ships, and
therefore the observed angles, keeps
changing, aud in order TO make the de
termination of the distance automatic,
Lieutenant Fiske PLACED his telescopes
in the circuit Of WheatstOne bridge,
and caused their change Of position to
record the distance of the object on the
graduated scale of a delicate galvan-
ometer. All that was now necessary
was for the observers at the two range
finders to keep the eross-hairs of the
telescope upon the same point Of the
ship, and the electric current transIa-
ted, as il were, the angles into distan-
ces and recorded them by the move
ment Of a needle over an are graduated
into hundreds and thousands Of yards.
Now as to the range-finder ITSELF It
consists of a powerful telescope, which
is mOunt-rotation above a graduated
disc. Upon the disc and extending an
equal distance on each side of the zero
point on the graduation is a metallic
contact arc. Fixed TO the telescope
standards is contact strip, which ro-
tates with the telescope and slides over
the contact arcs.
In a recent test made with two shots
il was found that both projectiles fell
within thirty yards of each other after
travelling a distance of twelve miles.
Gun drill aboard mau-nf-war in
wolves the handling of the large guns
or cannon, whether On broadside or in
turret. Each of these classes of guns
has crew. The number comprising
the same varies according to the size
and kind Of guns they are to man.
However, in a broadside rapid-fire gun
using a prcjectile weighing seven
pounds five men are the usual number.
They are designated alongside of the
piece according to their requirements
in handling the gun. At the
primary order Let loose and provide ~
the gun cover is removed, the firing
apparatus adjusted, box containing
the neet ssaTy implements laid upon q
deck at the rear and left of the gun
mount, in fact, everything is prepared
in readiness to proceed with the drill
which continues with the order
SPONGE The breeeh mechanism is
thrown open and that and the bore Of
the piece carefully spOnged out.
"Loadr' follows. The powder man
passes the projectile. which resembles
huge cartridge, to the loader, who
thrusts it carefully into the piece and
then closes the breech. At the order
"POintr' the gun is elevated and train
ed or depressed 50 many degrees, accord
ing to the distance and location of the
object to be fired upon as calculated by
the range finder. It's eheekman then
locks the gun at the position ordered.
"Readyw is the next and eautiOnary
order, and then the men stand aside
awaiting the command "Firer' When
it is given either the officer in charge
OF the gun captain with his shoulder
pressed against the firing elbow and
his finger touching the trigger dis
charges the gun and the projeciile with
a humming sound takes flight on its
errand Of destruction or instruction,
whichever the case may be.