The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-13
THE FOURTEEN INCH GUN.
Mr.. Daniels Said 70 he Wrong in
Claiming Superiority for II.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. Re-
garding the respective merits OF the
Il inch gun and the British Is inch
as mounted on the Queen Elisabeth.
and the EFFORT to belittle the latter gun
to the advantage OF the former, Mr..
Daniels In his claim Of superiority for
the American IL inch gun falls to men,
ton some points regarding charges and
weight OF projectile when he says that
the II inch gun can shoot further.
straighter and harder than any other
gun afoat.
When Mr.. Daniels claims = greater
penetration OF armor and fiatter traJec-
tory for the ~ inch gun 1t must OF me-
cessity be at the sacrifice OF weight OF
protectile and increase OF propellant. For
example. he points out that the 1.4ov
pound shell OF the ~ inch gun will
penetrate as much armor at battle range
as the I $50 pound shell OF the Is inch
gun. and will in its night have a natter
trajectory and greater velocity. He ad-
mits the greater bursting charge of the
Is inch shell. and as to the shells worth
We have only to point to the naval
engagements OF the present war, In which
the weight OF metal has been so I'm
portant a factor. Mr.. Daniels fails to
mention that with a reduced weight OF
projectile such as the German naval
gun fires, l.675 pounds, the increase OF
velocity and penetrating energy Is
greatly increased. as Is the natness OF
its trajectory
The Secretary insinuates that the re-
ports OF the British Admiralty do not
agree with the actual performance OF
| the Is inch guns as regards velocity.
| Assuming the officers responsible are
truthful and fairly competent to Judge
OF ordnance in general. II is worthy Of
note that the las inch gun carried by
! the Tiger. Lion and other battle cruis-
ers is said to be a superior piece TO any
| Il inch gun In use, a Roland for Mr..
! Danielss Oliver.
For years the American people have
been hattered with reports Of their ma
val superiority. In all branches they
were led to believe that no other nation
was so efficient. Glowing accounts OF
gunnery were published until the idea
pervaded tho general mind that tn.
gunners of other nations hardly knew
the breech from the mussle. And yet
It was to Admiral Sir Percy Scott, the
father OF modern gunnery and undoubt-
eddy the greatest authority to-day on
this subject. that America owes It's pres
ent method of gun laying. II h this
same man that originated tho fire contro
! system now in use in the British navy
Germany uses an imitation OF IL. Amer.
lea turned II down. English ships have
made perfect scores with ali big guns
The principle Is simple. therefore eff
cent. All guns work as one. 4 singl,
shot is fired to test accuracy OF tn,
range figured. Should the shell be owe,
or short the aim is corrected on the mex
round, when all shells will cover Of
straddle the target Just pick your bes
pointer and away go all shells to tn
same spot. In individual firing som.
, shells go over. some short.
The Queen Elizabeth made 2s knott
on her trial; the contract calls for 81 /.
knots for the Pennsylvania. Does no
The six knots greater speed OF the Queer
Elizabeth more than compensate 70
the four extra guns OF the 'Pennsyl
vania' VIII the greater speed not en-
able her to choose her own time an,
place OF action? VIII not the heavie
weight OF metal. greater range and strik
ing force eclipse thu difference in tn
number of guns? The triple gun tur
, rets with which tho Pennsylvania 1
equipped are not the bowling success
. claimed for them. This Ia due TO tn
pressure Of gases of tho two outsid
jectile IL forced out OF it's course. an
the middle gun Is withheld from fire
second or two TO overcome this ]
consequence salvo Of twelve guns
not in unison. Tho Italian and Aus
, trian Governments have discontinued tn
triple turret In future ships for tina
reason. LEO V. HAwLEY.
ENGLEwoop. y. j., May 10.