The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-01

the general principle fulfilled all thecondi-
tons for throwing high explosives with
safety, that is, a low initial velocity.
there were other objections which seemed
almost unsurmountable. Admiral Howell.
however, after many years of study and
a serfe sof experiments has triumphed.
Rockets it will be remembered have been
in use for centuries. in fact history tells of
their having been employed for war pur-
poses as early as the year 800 A D. Owing
to the numerous conditions to be fulfilled
to attain accuracy of flight, however.
their use for military purposes was al
ways restricted; indeed. the path described
is so irregular and erratic that they have
known to return to the very point from
which they have been fired. Many at
| tempts have been made TO improve the
rocket the gist Of each being to impart a
rotary motion, for the purpose OF giving
/ great directive force.
In 1904 Sir William Congreve took up
the study. He substituted an iron case for
the paper one. and was thus enabled TO
use a more powerful composition. He also
employed shorter and lighter stick, and
/ removed one source Of inaccuracy by at
| taching il TO the center of the base instead
of to the side. Another improvement was
the use of vanes. These were attached
| to the rear of the rocket, and, acting
against the atmosphere during flight.
| steadied rather than revolved it. Later
came the Hale war rocket, in which a ro-
| tary motion was produced around the lon
ger axis by the escape Of gas through five
| wants Sif1lafad abIiouaIv 70
Though all Of these changes improved
the rocket they by no means perfected it,
and its use gradually became limited TO
| incendiary rather than war purposes. Ad-
miral Howell, however. was a disciple Of
| the rocket theory, and saw in it possibili-
ties that had escaped the attention Of
other experts. He reasoned that the alb
sence Of the initial shock of discharge
made it an ideal method of throwing a
great mass OF high explosives with per-
feet safety, the only objection being in
ferior directive force and inaccuracy.
These effects would be eliminated, he ar
gued only when the rocket could be given
the same rotary motion as a rifle ball.
The old gyroscopic principle that ne APP
piled tohis automobile torpedo, and which,
by the way, is the same which keeps the
bicycle upright when. in motion, had to be
applied to the rocket. The law is thus
stated:-"If mass be set in rotation
about its principle action of inertia it will
continue to reyolve about it, and unless
extraneous force be, applied, the direction
Of the axis will remain unchanged"
This was accomplished by the novel idea
pof constructing gun to contain the rocket
both of which could be rapidly revolved
upon ball bearings. At the instant of dis
charge, therefore, the rocket, participant
ing in the motion Of the gun, begins its
fight with rotary motion of three thou
sand turns per minute. This happy solu-
ton Of the problem at once eliminated the
use of stick, vanes and escaping gas from
additional vents to impart rotation, and
lessening the resistance of the atmos-
phere naturally give increased range.
Admiral Howelrs new gun may be de-
scribed briefly as follows:
The field piece consists of a cylindrical
tube forming the main body, which is sep
arate from the part containing the breech.
The gun is supported by steel framework
the rear end OF which carries the breech
portion, and the front form the forward
half of the muzzle ball-bearings, the other
half consisting of a ring shrouk upon the
tube near the muzzle. Since the bore IS
perfectly concentric with the breech cav
ity the gun can be loaded without bring
ing he main tube to rest.
In this type, the gun is rotated by means
OF gear and sprocket wheels-similar 20
those on the bicycle for multiplying speed
and transmitting power. A small bevel
gear. which surrounds the gun, engages
larger one mounted on the trunnions. This
large wheel carries on it's shaft a small
sprocket, 70 which il Is keyed a sprOcket
chain leads from this to large sprocket
wheel mounted on the trail. The latter
wheel may be revolved either by hand or
foot power, depending upon the size OF the
gun.
The speed IS so multiplied, through this
system OF sprocket chains and gears. that
a velocity OF twelve hundred revolutions
per minute is impaired to the gun.
Owing 20 there being practically 10 pres
sure IN the tube, there is no recoiI. and
therefore the carriage remains in position
The elimination OF the strain due 70 recon
permits OF an extremely light carriage.
the weight Of the s.5-inch carriage COM
plete being under four hundred pounds
The breech mechanism is extremely SIM
pie, and OF the interrupted screw type. A
copper gas check IS provided. which takes
the place Of the brass cartridge case N
rapld-fire guns. or the De BaEgs gas check
in larger pieces, which prevents the escape
OF gas into the breech mechanism
The firing OF the gun IS readily acconp-
lished. as follows: The breech block 3
first opened and the pTojectiie inserted L
is then closed and the primer attached
the gun IS thsn spun up. and when re-
volviag rapidly enough. and pointed at the
target. the lanyard IS pulled. the primer
fred and the fame commani Gated 20 the
rocket composition II he snd q the pro
jectile- A certain amount OF gas 5 a.
lowed 70 escape around the rocket. 50
tina: no more pressure viii be banked Up /
than IS sufficient 20 give tae projsc;ile = I
good start After leaving tie rsuEzie ;hA .
burning o. the rocket composition IL /
creases -he density q the gas. thus I'm I
parting an accele-at!ng velocity
II The larger gun. used for for;4Hcat5o1s 4
and On board ship. the side frame whica 4
forms the trunzoss o: the bssech Is re-
placed by cylindrical casing. vasca car 4
RES the traazions * is forward and 4
From the trzEn.ors the construction g 4
similar 70 that % TIE fed piece TIE
s-ssca mechanism ard method os leading