The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-02-06
THE NEW ORDNANCE.
Location OF tho Recentiy Constructed
Dynamite Guns-New sixteen
Inch Land Rihe.

The 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
ernment. A third gun, in process OF
building, will be mounted, when lin
ished, On Fishers island, to guard the
entrance TO New York.
These new dynamite guns. 1t is an
nounced, have a range of three miles.
A charge of $50 pounds Of high explo-
sive can be projected to distance OF
III miles, md Tic extreme range is OBJ
tanned with a sO-pound projectle. De-
spite recommendations otherwise, tue
war department will continue to em-
ploy wet gun cotton for the pneumatic
guns. Gun cotton in wet state is
deemed even safer to handle than black
powder. II is a 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 ft
the Watervliet arsenal. The forgings
for this gun were delivered by the Beth
lehem iron works, and its site will be
in lower New York harbor. 1t is not
quite settled yet whether the implace-
ment will be built at Fort Hamilton CT
on one of the Romer shoals. The engi'
neer officers declare that the Romel
shoals site will cost to build at leas'
81 ,0o0, 900, and it is question, they Say
if the expense IS warranted.
The war department has under con
struction a number Of three-inch rap
id-fire guns designed especially for IN
protection of mine fields. The neN
guns throw a projectile weighing l
pounds. with designed muzzle veioe
ity of 2,7o0 foot seconds, the cham
Der pressures being estimated at !
tons per square inch. II is proposed t
use with the guns armor-piercihg an
) common shell and shrapnel. A three
: inch gun, ii is asserted, is about tn
, lowest caliber from which good shraI
= mel results can be obtained. The pos
i lions to be accorded the 15-poundei
will be in water batteries, which hnN
e fair sweep across mine fields. IL
i new pieces will be expected to beat o
: small vessels and boats engaged
+ countermiring work. Just PRIOR to II
e breaking out of hostilities with spa
!; the war department purchased lars
e number of 4.7-inch guns from ArI
It strongs, of England. These piece
while furnishing a splendid still I'll
e are regarded as excessively large /
IT mine field protection. In the opinion
e, The ordnance officers the 15-pound
n piece more nearly meets the requli
1t ,nents, and as fast as the 15-pounJe
u are produced the 4.z-inch guns VIII
s assigned to positions in the main b'
&c teries.
'r The navy bureau of ordnance
lie poets to have a new 14-pouneer qlile
'e firing gun ready for testing during
n present month. This gun is design
Ia for a muzzle velocity OF 2.s0O loot 81
onds. on a chamber pressure OF Is to
to the square inch, this high veloci
being deemed possible with the nj
=, smokeless powder.-Washington G
y. Y. Post.