Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-09-23
HIGH power. 0 \ VI R|'.sGU!NS:
Long Range Weapons That Are
~ Used In Land Warfare.
TYPES OF HEAVY ORDNANCE.
Field and Siege Guns, Howitzers and
Mortars Are Very Much Akin, and II
Is Difficult to Say Just Where One
Ends and the other Begins.

Is Difficult to Say Just Where One
Ends and the other Begins.
There is no sharp and distinct un-
derstanding on the part Of the average
person as to the difference or distinc-
tion between the field gun, the siege
gun. the howitZer and the mortar The
precise line Of distinction or mark of
distinction between these classes Of
weapons might be difficult even for an
ordnance teehnician to define. 1t is
certainly difficult for layman to tell
just where the gun ends and the how.
itzer begins, or where the howitzer
ends and the mortar begins
Considered in a broad and general
way, the special purpose Of the gun
was and is to destroy other guns in
march or in position, to destroy troops
IN the open and to batter down objects
behind which troops find shelter. The
projectile Of the gun by high powder
pressure was given high velocity and
a relatively fiat trajectory, which
means that the shot passing from the
gun to the target did not rise high
above the earth or above line joining
gun and target. To withstand the
powder pressure required for this work
the gun was heavy in relation TO the
weight of the projectile. From the
fact that the shot Travelled in path
relatively Of slight curve, its slope OF
fall or its angle Of fall was not steep
1t would 90 through stone wall, or
perhaps smash it. or would 60 deep
into dirt embankment. but 1t was not
easy to put shot inside narrow deep
trench, or to plant shot so close be-
hind an embankment as to kill men
sheltered there.
The shot from the gun was good at
penetration, but Ineffective in search
ing the rear of cover. To accomplish
that purpose another style Of gun was
devised. The pressure per square inch
of powder chamber was decreased. the |
angle of elevation of the gun was In
creased, the angle of departure Of the
shot VISA greatly increased and the
shot after reaching the summit Of its |
path fell so steeply that If the range |
were known and the practice good the
shot would land In a trench or fall so |
close. behind an embankment, or para
pet that men would find no shelter
there. |
This being possible by reduction of
powder pressure per square inch of
chamber surface and consequent re.
duction in the speed of the projectile,
Il was found that the weight of the
gun in relation TO the weight of the
projectile could be diminished, thus in.
its mobility or the facility
with which it could be moved from
place to place.
1t was found that the barrel of this
gun could be very much shortened,
thus effecting saving In weight. But
IN making the changes in this gun
instead of absolutely decreasing its
weight the gunmakers enlarged its
pore and increased the size of its pro-
ectile, thus increasing its efficiency
This type Of gun, though not in the
narrow and technical sense gun. is
ordnance and an element of artillery
md was given the specific name how
ter -.-
The mortar was a gun that could
i've higher angle Of fire and more
lunging fire than a hOwitZer 1t was {
very short piece of ordnance. fired {
rom platform and held down by
opes. Forts and mortar boats used it I
Or getting high angle of fire and a I
lore plunging fire with larger shell |
nan could be had using a howitZer. {
he range used to be obtained by vary
lg the power charge. At this day
lortars weighing at least four tons,
tied with an elevating device and /
lnge scale and with recoil and counter {
'coil or recuperator devices. are haul c
! around on wheels, set down on a $
Iatform also carried on wheels, and r
vertical fire with high ex. {
osive shell weighing 2j0 pounds with t
: without delay action fuse. I
The field gun for the purpose Of fir Q
g over ridges, getting at troops on c
le reverse slope Of ridges or across d
Ills, giving to shrapnel the proper
ope of fall for effective distribution
I'd keeping the load light on the
)rses has veered away from the gun n
developed in ship and fortress ar n
lery and in the direction of the how l.
zer-like properties. Field guns have p
ID their trails split that the breech r
ay be further depressed, thus giving
EN- higher angle of fire designed h.
r use against air craft, and in effect h
G useful compromise between pow n,
and mobility the trajectory Of shots
ON this gun is high and the slope of
II quite steep. .H Us. la
Guns Of high power-high powder
essure, high velocity and long range 20
have been built to give vertical fire n,
nearly vertical elevation against M
roplanes or drigibles. ur
So. as announced, 1t is not an easy n
estion to decide just where gun, vi
witZer and mortar divide. - Wash p,
nrfn