The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-04
4 new TYPE OF WEAPON
Experts Engaged in De-
signing a Gun for the Navy.
The TweIve-Inch Rifles Likely to He
Replaced by Others of Smaller
Change-Good Results Predicted
Shell and Powder to BE Separate.


The ordnance experts Of the Navy De-
partment are engaged in designing a gun
of finch ealibre. This is new type Of
weapon, the nearest approach to it in size
being the 6-inch and S-inch guns. The
present calibres in existence in the United
States Navy for main battery pieces are
finch, 5-inch, 6-inch, S-inch, 10-inch. IL
inch, and 13-ineh. The Pinch weapon
will, in future designs, constitute the
heaviest gun carried on American war
ships.
In the designs for the new 14.000-tou
battleships provision is made for mount
ing on each ship either eight Ur six Finch
GYMS according 10 which design is Sc
lesiei though it is by no means certain
th..t four S-inch guns may not be selected
in lieu of the Finch. The interesting
phase, however is the necessity which
gives rise to Il new calibre, and which is
explained by the appearance OF 6-inch
Krupp process armor-plate on the sides OF
many foreign battleships.
II is a recognized principle when sup
plying a ships battery TO consider the
probable work the ship may be called upon
10 perform. IL the battleship is intended
only to fight gunboats, then finch pieces
will suffice. IL. however. she is intended
to fight armor-clads then she must pos
sess ordnance capable Of piercing the sides
Of her probable enemy. On the same the
ory, one would not use fowling- piece
wnen hunting elephants, nor employ an
elephant gun when hunting quail.
Within the past two years Krupp-pro-
cess armor- plate has put in an appear
ance, and its ballistic tests have demon
ptr oil To, ha inr- In the host Uldtn
in previous use A 6-inch Krupp plate,
when struck by shell at an angle of so
degrees, presents a power OF resistance
equal to about sixteen or seventeen inches
of iron. At ordinary fighting ranges 1t is
too much TO expect 6-inch shells to get
through this plate.
So light. comparatively, is this 6-inch
Krupp plate that foreign battleshi2s arc
being covered with IL over the greater
part of their sides, leaving the 12-inch
plates to protect the hull in the vicinity
OF the water-line and under the turret po-
sitions. a distinguished ordnance officer
calculates that the best 6-inch guns in
service today cannot pierce this Krupp
6-inch plate at 1000 yards range, and the
assertion is made that had the ships of
Cervera's fleet been protected over the
greater part of the bulls with 6-inch
Krupp plate not a projectile below the
S-inch calibre would have gotten through.
The S-inch shell will pierce 6-inch Krupp
plate within ordinary fighting ranges, but
the 250-pound weight Of an S-inch projec-
tile precludes rapidity Of fire. 1t was at
first thought possible to reduce the weight
Of the S-inch she'll to. say. 30 pounds, but
this plan is deemed inadvisable. II any
change is made in the weight OF the S-inch
shell it is more likely TO be in the direc
ton OF gain rather than red iction, and it
will not be surprising IL tie 300 pound
shell OF the 5-inch seacoast gun is yet
adopted.
In order to pierce 6-inch Krupp- plate 4
6-inch shell, ills calculated. must have
striking velocity close to 1900 foot seconds.
To obtain this remaining velocity at. say.
1 500 or 1000 yards range means too greet
initial velocity. one, in fact. which would
soon destroy the gun by reason OF excess
sive wear. On the other hand, BY employ
ing q slightly larger calibred gun. one /
using moderately high velocities. sufficient
energy Of impact. 1t is argued, can be OBJ |
tanned to pierce 6-inch plate. This, then, |
is the raison d'etre Of the Finch gun. |
Just what the main characteristics OF the |
new gun will be cannot now be definitely |
stated but the shell weight, 1t is thought,
will be kept under 175 pounds. The am
mu. ition will be put up In the same man
ner as that for the new 6-inch guns fitted
with Wicker breech- mechanism. !. E., pIo-
jectile and powder will be separate.
With the new 6-inch gun firing a 1e0
pound shell n rate of nine shots per minute
has been repeatedly attained Ordnance
men predict that the new 7-inch gun sh oud
Yield, in the hands of a trained crew, at
least four shots per minute.
II is not at all improbable that the L.
neh gun OF the United States Navy will be-
lore long give way, as the heaviest weapon