The Washington times., 1901-10-23
IMPROVING NAVAL GUNS.
Rear Admiral 0'Neil Makes His
Report on Ordnance.
NO Material Chang. III the System of
Gon.iruction--No Further Increase
in Size Adyisab'c--ExtensIv En-
periraents VIII, Smol.e:ess Powder

The annual report of Rear Admiral
Charles ONeil. Chief of the Bureau of
Ordnance of the Navy Department, was
made public last night.
The operations of the bureau during the
past. year have chiefly been those of pre-
pairing the armament and ordnance out
fits for new vessels, maintaining vessels
in commission, overhauling and refitting
for service the batteries, etc, of vessels
in ordinary. and improving the condition
and facilities of the ordnance department
at the several navy yards and stations
to meet the increased requirements of the
navy. so far as funds at the disposal of
the bureau would permit. The report
says:
No important developments in armor
or naval ordnance have taken place dur
ing the past year improvements have
been made. however. in the DC tails of gun
mechanisms, in sights. and in mountings
and equipments no material change has
been made in the system of gun construc-
ton followed by the bureau for a number
of years, except that provision has been
made for future guns of and above
inches in caIibre for an inner and outer
tube or barrel instead of solid forging
as heretofore used, in order to increase
the factor of safety of the chase and
muzzle of the gun.
THE last types of guns are so great in
weight and dimensions that it seems in
advisable to make any further increase in
either respect and increased efficiency
must be looked for in the use of heavier
proiectiles and In the production of pow
der possessing higher ballistic properties
The bureau has already taken the initial
steps to introduce the former and homes
to be able to develop the latter.
THE use Of torpedoes on large vessels
has practically been discontinued, no pro-
vision having been made fer them in the
latest rattieships and cruisers.
THE general performance of guns,
mounts. ammunition and ordnance equip
ments is reported from ships in commits
sion as being satisfactory, except as here
matter noted, and it is believed that the
ordnance equipment of United States ma
val vessels is fully up to the highest
standard maintained abroad for vessels
of corresponding class and age. So far as
guns are concerned. the bureau knows of
none afoat or soon likely to be put aioat
equal in energy to those being manufac-
tured for United States vessels now build
ing.
Designs have been made of gun mounts
and other ordnance fittings to suit the
various types OF vessels now building, in
Guiding the equipments and outfits under
the bureaus cogniZance. and their manu-
facture is well in hand. there being every
reason to believe that the ordnance and
ordnance outfits will be in readiness for
| the vessels when they are ready to re-
ceive them. Work at the Naval Gun
| Factory has been carried on continuously.
the principal machines being kept run
ming two and often three shifts of eight
hours in twentyfour.
a report is made at length upon the
progress of guns of various calibre now in
process Of construction. The report con-
tinues:
Much delay has, been experienced in
completing gun mounts owing to delays
on the part of contractors in furnishing
steel castings. Notwithstanding this, con-
siderable progress has been made.
Plans have been prepared for a new
type of mount fer the Pinch 40-calibre
guns, in which there are but two recoil
cylinders. located under the gun, the
cOunter-recon springs being placed below
the recoil cylinders and actuated by
levers, which are attached to the yoke
on the breech Of the gun by connecting
rods. BY this means the recoil and coun-
ter-recol systems are placed entirely un-
der the gun, and VIII be less liable TO in
jury than was the case in some former
mounts for this calibre of gun; the parts
will be more accessible. and the springs,
ders, as heretofore. can be more readily
replaced If necessary and are always
open 10 inspection. a type mount is now
being made. The arrangement proposed
allows Of a reduction in the diameter of
the barbette arm1r and of a. reduction in
the size of the port opening, both very
! important features
An intere sting report iS made upon
smokeless powder:
When the bureau first decided to es-
tablish plant for the manufacture Of
smokeless powder and made the fact
known to the private manufacturers. the
information was not particularly agree
able to them. Notwithstanding, in re-
sponse to request from the bureau for
such information as might be of use to
| it in carrying out its plan. the private
manufacturers threw open their works
| and gave the bureau the results of their
experience and the details of the various
processes. appliances. etc. used by them:
| an act Of courtesy which the bureau is
| glad TO publicly acknowledge From that
| time on there has been a complete inter-
change of confidence, and all parties have
| worked together to perfect the production
| of a nitro-cellulOse powder that would be
| entirely satisfactory in every respect
| This. as might be expected. has been at
| tended with gratifying results; and while
| the manufacture of powder by the bureau
! is just so much out Of the pockets OF
| the private manufacturers. II is OF small
| account when compared with the present
| and future needs of the navy. 1t is de-
| cidedly in the interest OF the Navy De-
partment that several private manufactu-
rers should be in a position to supply
| sInokeless powder, and without doubt lib
eral patronage will always be given to
| those who excel in the art.
The bureau has also directed the erec-
/ ton at Indian Head OF a conStant-teIn-
| perature magazine for the storage of sam
| pies Of all lots of smokeless powder man
| ufactured for the navy. 1t is proposed TO
keep this magazine at a constant tenn
| perature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit. which
| will represent the worst conditions likely
| to obtain in magazines affoat or on Shore,
| and the samples will be so arranged that
| frequent observations of them may pc
| made AT stated intervals stability tests
| will be made. and thus all powders on
| board ship and in magazines on shore VIII
| have a representative sample under close
| surveillance at the proving ground under
| conditions Stimulating the worst they are
| liable to be subjected to. In the course
! OF its conference with the powder manu-
| facturers the board above referred 10 as
| covered the fact that their processes ulI-
| fered very considerably. and therefore II
| selected the one that was considered the
| best and incorporated It in the speclhca-
| tions. with a view TO securing perfect
| uniformity of manufacture
The smokeless powder factory at In
| dian Head has been In successiul opera
| ton during the year. The factory was
| projected on the basis Of an output OF
! 900 pounds of powder day, put lts ca
| pacity is now 2. 600 pounds, whlch VIII soon
| be Increased to 5000 pounds.
| Concerning submarine boats the report
| says:
| ''The question Of submarine boats seems
| to have occupied public attention 70 a
| considerable degree abroad, especially in
| France, but their utility has yet to be
! proven As scarecrows they will without
| doubt prove useful for time at least.
| AT is but a short time ago that the very
| name of torpedo boat destroyors was sur
| ficient to produce nervous prostration' but
| that has worn off TO n large extent, ana
| the destroyer is now re!egated 10 It's
| Droper place as an auxiliary.
The bureau believes that undue prom
| inence is being given to submarines from
| ~ have