The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-01-26
TIE NEW ORDNANCE.
sLoca ton of the Recently. constructsd
Dynamitc Guns-New sixteen
Inch Land Rifle.

Inc chief OF engineers Of the army has
decided on Admiralty head, Puget sound,
and Hilton head, Port Royal sound,
as sites for the two 15-inch dynamite
guns recently constructed for the gov
eminent. a third gun, in process Of
building, will be mounted, when lin.
lshed, On Fishers island, to guard the
entrance to New York.
These new dynamite guns, 1t is an.
bounced, have range of three miles.
4 charge of $50 pounds of highfcxplo-
slve can be projected to q distance Of
~ miles, and tic extreme range is oh
tanned with 5o-pound projectile. De-
spite recommendations otherwise, tue
war department. will continue to EN-
Ploy wet gun cotton for the pneumatic
guns. Gun cotton in wet state is
deemed even safer to handle than black
powder. Il is popularity Of gun cot
ton that it loses none of its power when
damPened; the explosive is rendered
latent merely. but is awakened by a
powerful shock applied through the
medium OF small charge of dry gun
cotton, which is placed in the head of
the projectile just before firing.
The new 16-inch army gun, designed
to be the largest piece of ordnance in
the world, is now being assembled ct
the Watervliet arsenal. The forgings
for this gun were delivered by the Beth
lehem iron works, and it's site will &c
in lower New York harbor. It is not
quite. settled yet whether the implace-
ment will be built at Fort Hamilton CT
on one of the Romer shoals. The engi-
heer officers declare that the Romer
shoals site will cost to build at least
81 ,000,0 900, and it is question, they say.
II the expense Is warranted.
The war department has under con-
struction number of three-inch rap
ld-tire guns designed especially for the
protection of mine fields. The new
guns throw projectile weighing Is
pounds, with designed muzzle veloc-
lty OF 2,7OO foot seconds, the cham
Der pressures being estimated at IS
tons per square inch. 1t is proposed to
use with the guns armor-piercing and
common shell and shrapnel. A three
inch gun, it is asserted, is about the
lowest caliber from which good shrap-
mel results can be obtained. The posi-
tions to be accorded the 15-pounders
will be in water batteries, which have
fair sweep across mine fields. The
new pieces will be expected to beat off
small vessels and boats engaged in
countermining work. Just prior to the
breaking out of hostilities with Spain
the war department purchased large
number of 4.7-inch guns from Arm
strongs, Of England. These pieces,
while furnishing a splendid still fire,
are regarded as excessively large for
mine field protection. In the opinion of
the ordnance officers the 15-pounder
piece more nearly meets the require
,nents, and as fast as the 15-pounders
are produced the 4.7-inch guns will be
assigned to positions in the main bat
teries. ..'..fE.
The navy bureau of ordnance ex-
poets to have new 14-pounGer quick
firing gun ready for testing during the
present month. This gun is designed
for a muzzle velocity Of 2.s00 foot Sec
onds, on chamber pressure of Is tons
to the. square inch, this high velocity
being deemed possible with the new
smokeless powder.-Washingto Cor.
n. Y. Post ~: