Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-28
THE MAKING OF GUNS
Report of Chief Of Naval Ord
nance Bureau.
RECENT DEVELOPMENT
SATISFACTORY PROGRESS OF AR
NOR MANUFACTURES.
Admiral O'Neil Discusses the "Craze
e for Speed" in Warships at the
Sacrifice of Other Qualities.

= Dealing with great guns and armor, and
new powders and shell, the annual report
of Admiral O'Neil, chief Of the naval
bureau of ordnance, is this year particular
ly interesting. In the beginning, he says
that the ordnance bureau wants the large
sum of $131S2, sos next year, of which
amount S10O00,000 is to be devoted to
arms and armament for new ships The
gunshop at the Washington navy yard has
been busy during the past year, turning
out pa new guns, preparing sets of forg-
ings for JAG more, and having 60 in course
of manufacture. No material change has
been made in the methods of gun con-
struction, except that the tubes of all
guns over six-inch are reinforced through
out their length. The bureau is preparing
a new type of three-inch guns-oo calibers
in length, of a semi-automatic character
to replace all of the guns of that size now
in use in the navy.
Admiral O'Neil treats of many topics
in his report, and records the fact that for
the first time in years, the manufacture
of armor has progressed In satisfactory
manner, 1862 tons having been delivered
at the various shipyards during the year,
with prospects of largely increasing the de-
liveries.
Only Smokeless Powder Used.
With the exception of ignition and shell
powder. no black or other than smokeless
powder has been purchased or manufac-
tured for the navy since the Spanish
American war. All new ships, beginning
with the Kearsarge and Kentucky, have
been supplied with outfits of smokeless
powder. and. in addition, some thirty of
the older vessels have been thus supplied.
The manufacture Of smokeless powder
during the past year has progressed in a
satisfactory manner, so far as quality is
concerned but not much as to the
amount delivered. as a large quantity has
been required both for new and old ships,
not only in the way of original outfits, but
to make good the annual consumption due
to large practice. which amounts in the ag
gregate to a very large quantity. Efforts
have. however. been made to secure more
rapid delivery, and 1t is expected that the
bureaus requirements In this respect will
be more satisfactorily met hereafter.
The most interesting event during the
year in connection with projectiles is the
development by the Firth-Sterlng Steel
Company Of new type of shell combining
the advantages of the armor-piercing with
the common shell: that is, having the per
forating power of the regular armor-pierc-
ing projectile with the capacity for 4 large
bursting charge. The requirements for
these shell on test are that at a prescribed
velocity they shall completely perforate.
unbroken, a plate of hardfaced armor a
caliber in thickness and then be in condition
for effective bursting. A number of shells
of this description have been ordered. and
the first three lots have successfully passed
the requirements. These shell are fitted
with soft caps.
The use of electric power for handling
guns and turrets is unqualifiedly Endorsed
as better than any other system.
Development of Guns.
Ad.Nral ONeil finds that the best way to
Illustrate the tremendous development of
artillery in late years is to cite two cases.
that of the 6-inch gun and the Pinch gun
The former used to weigh only AS tons, was
only thirty calibers in length, with a muZ-
Zle energy of =, I73 foot tons and a practi-