The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-01-31
TEST BIGGEST GUNS
Broadside Breaks Dishes and
Wrecks Deck Boat.
Trial Of 13Ds-Ineh Piece Of New su-
psrdresdnouoht Orion Marks New
Stage In Art Of War-Most
Powerful Warship Afioat.
Estella Okls

Portsmouth.-The trial OF the 131t-
inch gans of the new super-dread-
nought Orion marks new stage in
the art Of war. They are the largest
guns ever fired at sea. There was
much interest in the question Of how
the ship would stand the shock.
The concussion when the ten big
guns were fired at the same instant
broke many small articles on the ship.
but did no damage to the hull.
The Orion is now the most powerful
warship afoat. but will not remain
long with that distinction. The Unit
ed States is building two ships of en-
tirely similar construction, which are
to carry 14-inch guns instead of 1871.
The test firing Of the Orion took
place of Overs lightship. All the
ten big guns are, for the first time
in a dreadnought. placed on the cen.
ter line. to secure a full broadside
fire, and even the inner guns have an
angle OF fire OF 110 degrees. First
with half-charges and then with full
charges OF common and armor pierc-
ing shell each gun was fired slngly,
and the mountings. which are nearly
half as heavy again as those of the
Pinch ordnance. developed no de-
fects.
The supreme test, however, was the
firing OF all ten big guns on the beam
with full charges. The seamen and
marine gunners and every person on
deck or the upper works had their
ears covered in with wool padded
leather flaps. The guns were fired ST.
multaneously by pressing trigger OF
a new patent appliance connected with
the range finders. and operated from
fire-control station at the apex Of
| the solitary tripod mast and in elec
trical connection with each gun.
The 13.5-inch gun fires a shell Of
1850 pornds-an enormous increase
upon the $50 pounds of the 12-inch
| gun-and the force OF the discharge.
10000 foot tons. would be sufficient
to drive the shell at the maximum
elevation from Dover to Calais. The
shells, however, were allowed to drop
into the sea in shallow watere near
Selsy Bill The force developed by
the combined explosion would be sufii-
cient. it is calculated. to raise thirty
Orions a foot.
1t shook violently from stem to
stern. and yet the persons who were
least affected were the guns crew.
They scarcely heard the explosion.
and all they saw was the recoil of the
gun through the six feet of space in
| the barbette, which happened like a
lightning fash The huge wire-wound
steel tube. weighing rs tons, returned
to its firing position with equal We
Iocity under the influence OF great
| springs. whose work was controlled
by pistons with ports working in oil
cylinders.
| Below deck all loose crockery and
pieces OF lighter furniture had been
slowed away and they ratified oml
nously and dozens of plates. cups and
saucers, etc, were mashed by the
force OF the concussion. which was
even sufficient to burst open tins Of
syrup in the canteen. The hull itself
withstood the shock well. and showed
no signs of damage.
The thick glass of dozens of sky
lights and port holes was splintered,
| though the skylights were protected
by armored plates fastened down
tightly with butterfly screws. The
most amazing damage of all was that.
under the force of the conclusion.
chiefly from the central barbette. the
bottom OF boat fell clean out
The decks were practically undam
aged, The area over which the flashes
passed was specially thickened with
armored steel to resist the tendency
to buckle under the plunging shock
of the discharge of hundreds Of
pounds of cordite. and the injury done
was merely superficial
The force Of the concussion was so
! tremendous that the windows of the
houses at Southsea. over 12 miles dis
tant. were heavily shaken in their
frames.