New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-08

As final item in connection with this branch
Of the subject We may mention the remarkable
development OF scientific knowledge, ingenuity
and skill in the production and determination
or powers and speeds for larger vessels from
experiments On small wax models Here we
nave combined the work of the mathematician
and the physicist IN working out the laws and
formuiae involved. and the skill Of the engineer
and nechanician In the design and manipula-
ton OF the apparatus
IMPROVED GUNS AND ARMOR
Turning now to the question of guns and
armor, We have a most marked Illustration Of
the accuracy OF our theme. At the close Of the
civil War our guns were still principally cast
iron smoothbores Progress has changed all this
Into the modern nigh powered steel brcechload-
ing rifle. weighing many tons and driving at
immense velocity projectiie whose encounter
with an obstacle may he truly likened To that
or one OF Joves thunderbolts The stress com
Ing upon the metal in one Of these guns is as
great as can possibly be allowed with safety.
and the demands FOR greater powers have called
for all the skill of the metalMrgst. combined
with the ingenuity and talent of the engineer.
In 80 disposing the metal to get maximum
results win minimum weights. The latest de-
velopment In these guns. consisting OF what Is
known az the wire wound gun" is extremely
Interesting ~ showing how Il form Of construc-
ton which at first sight might aecm anything
put the best Is. nevertheless. the disposition Of
material which theory shows Is most desirable
ana pra' ticc thoroughly confirms
1t viii doubtless interest YOU To- hear a few
figures OF the performance Of some Of these great
a -
inch breec hoading rifle. - calibros long and
weighing ~ tons. viii prope d shell weighing
~ pounds. by a powder charge Of 624 pounds
~ a Ntiocltt 81 over -,b-v feet second giving
an energy AZ the muzzle of oyer 10000 foot
tons. capable Of penetrating at the muzzle over
h. inches OF iron This energy means that one
or our nattleships Of about 1900 tons dis
placement and which could carry four of these.
guns. would at a single discharge develop a
power sufficient to lift her bodily nearly fifteen
feet II can readily be- Imagined. therefore.
afI Of 4. Fts.f 81.
guns would b. when striking another vessel at
close rang.
II is an extremely interesting story 10 read Of
what has been APPLY called the duel between
guns and armor." As fast as one Is improved
so that Its victory over tn other seems as
sur'd gone inventor comes 90 the front with an
improvement in the latter which for a time puts
It ahead. The armor on our monitors during
the civil War consisted simply Of a number II
one inch plates bOlted together. Al the present
day modern proJectile would 20 through such
arinOr easily bullet penetrates pine
boards. but long ago II was discovered that
given thickness Of armor was much more eff
cient If rolled in solid plate, and this was de
vcloped until some ~ the older English battle
ships had iron arfnor as thick rs tWruty-iour
inches The development ~ the gun soon
showed that II was impossible 20 keep pace with
II hy mere additions 20 the thickness of the
simple armor. for a point was quickly reached
where IL was Impossible [" carry the H''r--dl
weight II ormor that would be thick enough.
Then came the use Of special plates IN" CONF
pound arunr where n hard face 70 break UP
the proIe't' was Ne'lru '0 s' ,'ai foiInr,s1
give the necessary sfcAslh. I.,S vas ,,'.1
W slerl 1'i''l' "tl - ,.,,iiod M, comnound
Harvey pt".ls., M' ,,,i ,,,e ifb sof,.r back.
armor in having nara i.'' ,l' s~,r - sinri,
INV "H,Ie ~. Lilo, Tna Haryo, process
enabled an .t'ilN .l.' e.''r. - arr,or but
obtained NIi" " b''.u ,-5 L,' III. Krnpp
even II ms "rnn a"' ii,',r,. ,nches of thick
process WHl'n '""'''' ,,.,. a. fifteen of
ness 70 gly" the 7tl''
Harveyized plates ... ,t,,.s great skill
In connection WIN a','''' ,,.,. =, ,,r,,.ite for
giving them the proper sh"r' ana ~" ,t.,',
necessary machine work 10 Pee don" '' '' fSa
after They are in rosi'.on, l1,@ti lD i,rn"s
hardening process makes Dr. Ifd'il' i..f ~.
sihle IN DO an, work ON the face OF in' iiil i.u
rates with ordinary TOOLS ,re an 4pl'c@ .5nr
OF ciecri'lN 'N So ..t,b t..ls enabled the
,f,ti,,, - tfs. problem
N''lH'''''' "a. ,r.fff.rf-t not confined 10