The Anaconda standard., 1898-02-13
NAVAL GUNS NEED REFORM.
An Expert Demonstrates That Our Heavy RfIed Cannon
Are Really Less Effective Than Lighter
and Cheaper Weapons

The extreme length of modern rifle
cannons would seem to have reached its
limit. The 12-inch guns measuring about
AZ feet In length have but a small portion
of their surface protected by the turrets
in which they are mounted in our mod
ern war vessels. BY far the greater part
of the length of the gun projects beyond
the turret and Is exposed to the fire of
the enemy. Should even a moderate sized
shell or shot strike the side of one of
these guns anywhere near the muzzle il
would undoubtedly either break IL off or
wrench the gun carriage so that it would
be impossible to handle and fire the gun.
If vessels large guns are put out of
action she must either withdraw from
the battle until repairs are made or else
fight at a serious disadvantage. These
guns are made for the purpose of sending
a shot or armor-piereing shell through
the heaviest armor that could be carried
by a ship, and that, too. at an extremely
long range. In accomplishing this object
the guns have been built of enormous
strength and extreme length. The result
has been that on shore with the gun
fastened securely in certain position
opposite an immovable tarke. the projec-
tiles have pierced the best afmor that
could be produced, but afioat the eondi-
iions are very different.
A guns extreme range is roughly calcu-
lated by allowing mile for each inch of
would give range of four miles for T.
inch gun, but in order to secure anything
like this range the gun must be elevated
some 80 or Al degrees. There is no ship
afioat which can give any such elevation
to her guns In building a warship the
weights - armament. ammunitions.
stors ar,Sor, crew, etc. have to be care
fully considered. A ship of given size
viii carry but a certain weight, and in
order to carry the proper number of guns
and the requisite amount of protection in
the way of armor, they have to build the
rest of the ship as light as possible.
1t is well-known fact that the hull and
machinery of war vessels are built much
lighter than those of our Atlantic grey
hounds. In building them the probable
and possible strains and blows to which |
the ship Will be subjected together with
the direction from which they may be ex-
pected to come, are carefully figured out. |
1t is impossible. or at best 1t has been so
considered, for the ship to be designed |
to resist downward thrust from the re- |
coil of a cannon or a heavy rifle gun. ell |
evated to an angle of 80 or 40 degrees. 1t |
would require additional amount of /
bracing and strengthening, which would /
necessarily much increase the weight of /
the vessel, and would have to be compen- /
sated for by reducing the amount OF I
stores ammunition. armor or coal AS it |
has not been found desirable to do this,
the guns have been placed in turrets that |
allow but very moderate degree of ele-
walton or depression.
In the only battle in which modern iron
turrets and cruisers armed with high
power modern guns We're used. the ques-
tion of the probable distance between the
eombatants in a naval fight has been
practically settled. In the battle of the !
1alu the Chinese ships opened fire on the I
Japanese At a distance Of 6.e00 yards. |
There was stiff breeze blowing and I
q moderate sea-not enough to give much I
OF a roll to the heavier ships yet at dis
tance of 5000 yards not a single shot
struck the Japanese fleet, most. il not
ALL OF the shells falling short. The Japan
ese reserved their fire until they were
within 1000 or 5000 yards of the enemy
At that distance even their smallest
rapid fire guns did immense execution