Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-03-18


Oklahoma each carry ten 14-inch guns
while the Pennsylvania, California, Id
aho and Mississippi each will carry
twelve, placed three to a turret. These
weapons throw projectiles jweighine
1,400 pounds as is the case with the
14-inch guns designed for the four
Japanese battleships estimated for in
1914.
With the increase in size, the life OF
the gun is shortened by erosion, due
to the heat generated by the explos-
ion of the huge charge of powder nee
essary to hurl nearly ton of metal
fifteen miles that is said to be the
range of the American 16-inch weap-
on. The rifling of the gun burns out
under the blast. Drops of melted
steel are visible in the bore after each
shot and it is said that the life of the
Queen Elizabeth's 15-inch weapons is
less than 100 shots each. After thai
the gun is so inaccurate as to be vir-
tually useless.
Navy gun designers have overcome
that obstacle somewhat, it is said
with the new American 16-inch gun;
but the life of the gun is still for be.
low that of the 14-inch.
The Krupp works, before the out
break of the present war, announced
that a process of steel and powder
manufactured had been evolved tina
decreased erosion; but the factory il
understood to have refused to contrac
to supply a large number of grea
guns under guarantee of $50 rounds
accuracy-fire life.
In placing aboard the Queen Eliza
beth the 15-inch weapon designed fol
her class, British navy officials arr
understood to have depended upon ;
cheap process for refining, perfecte;
by their engineers, to offset the shor
life of the gun. If that be true it il
probable the Queen Elizabeth sooI
may be compelled to return to Eng
land and have new guns placed ABOARD
if the steady pounding at the Darda
nelles forts exhaust her main battery
1t has been suggested that 16-incl
guns could be substituted for the IA
inch batteries of the American battle
ships now under construction, placin,
them two to turret instead of thre,
and giving the ships eight guns eacl
instead of twelve. Navy officers say
however, that the cost of such an al
teration would be very great if it coult
be made at ALL They also hold tina
the American 14-inch gun is the equa
of the British or German 15-inch TO
all practical purposes.
With any target in plain view, it il
said, the American gun has equa
range and nearly equal penetration
the difference being mere than counte
balanced by the larger number of gum
carried Thus, in action against sucl
a ship as the Queen Elizabeth, tn
Pennsylvania would have twelve IA
inch guns against eight 15-inch ant
would have so per cent greater oppor
tunity for scoring hits. For indirec
fire, such as the work in which the
Queen Elizabeth shared in the Darda
nelles, the 15-inch guns greater rang.
would be important; but it is not be
( heved it would be factor in a purel!
naval battle.
During the present war, big gur
naval engagements have been foungh
at range of from seven to ten miles
effective distance for either IL or /
inch guns.
AS a matter of fact it has beer
pointed out that the German 8-incl
guns outranged larger British gun,
because of the higher gun elevation
provided by German designers. Ger
man naval guns, as rule, have :
maximum elevation of 80 degree.
against Is degrees aboard British ant
American ships. That is anothe
problem upon which American design
ers are concentrating attention il