The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-08-07
range when these conditions become
lnsavorabie % him -'
Advantages % tire Battle Cruisers
high Powered Guns.

Hi9h Powered Guns.
The power OF d gun dspends o., sew.
eral elements. lts calibrs ldisme,.r,.
its length. that b.. The space and Tine
through which the projectile Is sub
leeted 10 powder pressure. the weight
OF the projectiie. and the amount md
composition % the charge. which de-
termine the pressure IA the powder
chamber. These factors combine 10
~ the muzzle energy OF the proiectile
which. roughly. Is the measure OF the
lnterdepeudent range and penefrafive
power OF the sun. since that energy =
the product OF one-half OF its mass
weight divided by 3e2l by the
square OF It's velocity As the air re-
sists the passage OF a projectile. this
energy Is gradually reduced and the
energy remaining when 10 strikes IS
the measure OF its penetrative and
smashing power Further. as gravity
also acts on the shot. the Fun 4. not
aimed directly az its target but Is ele-
waited 20 that the termination OF the
curved path or trajectory OF the mo
! lectile viii lie on the target
n a pitcher throws a baseball hori
zontally al a high board fence near
/ By. the trajectory will be a very fiat
curve and the ball will have great
horizontal striking energy. Il. again.
from the same location and with the
same energy. he throws the ball over
the fence. it, trajectory will b. a deem
curve and IL Will 90 much farther hav.
Ing thus a greater range. but. when
/ II strikes. II will have relatively little
I horizontal velocity. the latter being
| replaced by the approximately yerti-
cal velocity due 20 It's fall from the
| height OF the fence. This deeply
/ curved trajectory Is that ofhowityer
and mortar practice. and is the method
/ By which the Germans bombaried
| Dunkirk from distance Of more than
twenty miles.
1 Naval guns are given their high
power and great length in order TO
secure flat trajectory for three rea.
sons. 20 have large residual energy
when the shot hits so that IL will pene-
trate. 10 strike approximately vertical
armor an approximately horizontal
blow. and 20 secure a long danger
I zone that Il. the space in which the
| height OF the section OF trajectory
does not exceed that OF the ship fred
at
! The advantages OF the hieh-powered
4 guns carried by battle cruisers are
I nrst, their great range-effective hit
} ting began In The North Sea night az
! 80 miles. Again. the increased canbre
makes possible reduced pressure
IN the powder chamber Tor the same
hitting power and range. with less
erosion in the chamber and less
strain on the metal OF the gun Furth-
er. the larger caAbre gives the shell
not only greater perforating power
but II can carry a hieher proportional
bursting charge for explosion within
the hull.
There is an apparent restriction.
however, on the Increase OF caIihre
Tor extending the range. for. owing
10 the curvature OF the earth. about
eleven miles in the limit OF sight and
hence or FIRE control. T. is useless 10
nre az a ship which cannot BE- seen
even from the Ere control station IN
the top Our Navy. however. has buiIt
and tested n l6inch gun. which is
the last word IN naval ordnance ia
Increased power seems scarcely need
ed as yet. since our 14-lnch guns nave
aDout me same range and penetrating
mower as the Queen Elizabeth's 40,