The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-03

ply | would state that while | am graft
fed at the good results shown by the first
| trial of the same it is not different from
what l expected. l did not suppose for a
moment that the turret structure or the
vessel would prove deficient in any re-
/ spect, as both have been carefully and
conscientiously worked out by the Board
on Construction AMI Repair. as have also
the various mecnapical difficulties which
| the scheme presented.
One Important Fact.
The fact that no inconvenience was ex-
| perienced by the occupants of the upper
or lower turrets, due to the firing of the
| guns above or below them, is interesting
| and import t. as there were some doubts
on this point, and l was somewhat appre-
| hensive lest the blast and flame from the
| eight-inch guns might inconvenience the
men in the sighting hood of the lower tur-
! ret. l am pleased, to learn that such was
not the case.
1T will be necessary however to de-
| termine what Will be the result of rapid
| and prolonged firing, and further tests
| under varying conditions at sea are de-
| sirable. 1t will be interesting to ascer-
| tain what the effect if any. will be on the
turning gear # the two right and left hand
| guns only are .Iret simultaneously, and
what effect the independent firing of the
| four guns in one structure will have upon
\ the accuracy of aim and rapidity of fire
| of each.
! so far as the mechanical and structural
| details are concerned, there is no doubt
in my mind but that they can be and are
satisfactorily met. In other words, IT may
be said that it is shown that we may. il
We choose. build batileships, with respect
TO their turTets. in this manDer but the
| vital question Is. Do We want to! or,
! Is il desirable so to do? There will always
be a difference of opinion on this IOint;
| the advocates Of the system Will point
out that by means of it two eignt-inch
turrets containing four guns viii do prac
tically the work of four turrets con- aiming
eight guns. thereby resulting in a great
saving of weight that the ammunition
hoists of the eight-inch guns are better
protected: that there is no Interference in
gun fire, ana that a heavy concentration
of fire is obtained by mounting four guns
in one revolving structure.
ION the other hand. it viii argued
that it it is not good practice 20 put four
guns in one structure when two of them
are of different calibre from the others.
having a different speed of firing, range and
energy: that all are dependent upon one
turning engine. whose arrangement means
the putting out Of action Of a large per
centage of the battery: that one man
points four guns and that his personal
error or equation is too far reaching: that
the concentration of weight toward the
extremities of the vessel is undesirable.
and that any serious injury to either upper
or lower turret VIII put four important
guns out of action.
In fact. an agreement will never be
reached on these points. and | doubt if
any absolute proof Of the value Of this or
Of any other system can be determined ex-
cept in battle where ships of fairly equal
powers are pitted against each other.
Actual Tests Needed.
The Kearsarge and Kentucky, like the
Alabama and Maine classes could proba-
bly, go through many years Of service,
having their regulation gun practice. and
show no signs of weakness or inefiicisncy;
their turrets would reyolve and their guns
would work as well at the end of ten years
as al first. and it would be impossible TO
say that either would fail or prove supe-
ricr to the other in war except by actual
test in war. and even then the element of
chance is 50 great that it would be an
important factor. whose value could not
be determined
The question therefore whether Or not
the system Of superimposed turrets should
be adopted for the new batueships is by
no means easy OF solution. Il will have to
be carefully considered and a consensus Of
opinion obtained from d number Of people
whose judgment in such matters repre-
sents the best talent in the Navy. No per
son VIII. or should. determine so importan,
a question. nor is il likely that it will be
determined until tire iKearsarge and Ken
tuclty have beeH thoroughly put through 4
series Of eytendeeb tasis. In the mean time
the country may IconHratuiate itself upon
the possession ofr@o unique and remark
ably fine ard pow erfH5vessels. which from
all accounts reileg ch.j highest credit upon
the builders and Designers"
In mis- report CAPTAIN Folger said he
made the firing teste N determine the va
rOus points which'hats been urged against
the peculiar turres system OF the Kear-
sarge. The investigation was made speci-
dcally with the viem 4of developing whether
the blast smoke ana the shock between :
the upper and ldvpr apianes OF the guns !
we're the cause OF lttsuvenisnce or inter f!
ference in mutuaff efficiency Of fire. and |
finally whether 7ffere was sufficient !
strength in the entire structure to with /
stand. without daAnaseoor injury. the shock |
of the united discharge of four turret guns /
Smoi-eless powder aud full service charges !
were used throughout the firing
TIE N-inch guns or each turrei We're fired !
separately and in salvo. The I3-inch guns !
of each turret were fired separately aud /
thOs. of the forward turret which was
weaker owing TO the greater length of its I
support fired in saivo. The two 8 I
inch and one i@-ineh ms We're fred from
the forward turret in salvo. On this oc-
casiGn the four guns were connected for &
firing simultaneously but the primer of /
the righi-haEd lS-inch gun failed 10 ignite !
It's cartridge. only three guns, therefore.
being fired.
The officers in charge Of the rurrsts
reached the conclusion that there were no
detrimental or Instantaneous effects
from the blast OF firing the S-uch guns 10