The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-15
BIGGEST Gun IN THE WORLD.
War Department Experimenting With
Wonderful Coast Defense Cannon.

Washington, May Capt. Wheeler
of the Ordance Bureau has been order
ed to- the Watervliet Gun Factory to
inspect the final work on what is ex-
pected to be one of the most marvellous
weapons ever constructed. It is in
tended for part of the defense of New
York harbor.
There is something startling in the
capabilities claimed for it. In the
first place, it must be understood that
no warship can Withstand the impact
of a projectile fired from it at range
of from 6 to 12 miles. 1t costs as
much as the entire batteries of the
smaller vessels, and every time it is
fired the expense to the government
will be several thousand dollars. 1t
is solely an experimental weapon, and
will weigh 130 tons and will be Of 6
inch muzzle diameter. The total
length is 49 feet 20 inches, with
diameter in the rear portion of 80
inches. The length of the bore is 81 feet
4 inches. This weapon is known to the
army as a type gun, and is the first of
a series proposed for the sea coast de-
fense. Years ago when this question
was under consideration a board, of
which Secretary Endieott was presi-
dent, conceived the idea of mounting
some l6-inch guns in the notifications
system, but for several years no appro-
priation was available with which to
construct the first weapon. This board
reached the conclusion that Is of these
guns should be provided for the pro-
lection of New York, and it was also
recommended that 10 should be mount
ed at San Francisco, at Boston and
at Hampton Roads.
Doubtless the most noteworthy fea-
ture of the gun will be its enormous
range, which is estimated at about 81
miles. 4 firing table prepared by
Major ingalls, shows that the range is
with muzzle velocity of
2, 800 feet per second with the neces-
sary angle elevationsof the piece. The
trajectory shows that in ranging for
this distance the shell would reach
the maximum elevation of 80, SIG
feet. This is almost infinitely greater
than the maximum range hitherto OBJ
tained by any other gun, which stands
at present to the credit of Krupp wea-
pom which was fired on the Meppen
range in the presence of the German
Emperor The measured range was
found to be roughly speaking, 121a
miles. The greatest height was 81, 456
feet and the time occupied between
the firing of the gun and the striking
Of the projectile was one minute and
ten seconds. This performance, great
as it was, becomes positively insignifi-
can't compared with the new 16-inch
gun. Army officers say that should
this weapon { be mounted at Sandy
Hook with a radius of p miles a
circle struck would inclose great
area Of territory. Pointed to the
North the gun would throw its shells
far beyond New Rochelle on the sound
and Tuckahoe on the south would be
easily within range. The circle in
closing its zone of fire would pass
through Hampstead and Long Branah !
On Long Island, and it's shells would |
oass above Staten Island and fall half
. mile beyond Atlantic Highlands:
aeyport and Perth Amboy would be
open to attack and so would Milburn
n New jersey. Paterson would be !
within reach with four miles to spare.
As tie extreme height of the traiec-
;ory Of the proiectile from this gun is
30, SIC feet, or above five and three !
quarters, miles, it would rise higher
han the combined heights of Pixies
Peak and Mount Blanc