The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-07
THE BIG GUN AT SEA.
Seventeen Inch weapons Would Fa.
tally Limit Fleet Cruising Radius.

To THE EpiToR OF THE SuN-Sir: Mr..
r. r. Macmechen's letter to THE SUN
Of February . misses the points ] nave
raised against his contention that Ger
many Is arning her battlesiips WIN
II inch guns. There were very row eN-
perts who saw any reason why Germany
should not he able to use her great
siege guns on land, provided she had
adequate haulage facilities and properly
prepared emplacements for them.
Until the South African war was
fought It had always been contended
that heavy could not WIN
safety or advantage be transported from
battlefield to battlefield. But the Eng
lish artillery used 6 and s inch howitzers
with splendid effect. However, TINS mas
nothing to do with putting II Inch gums
on modern first class battleshlps. 1t IS
an admitted fact that the life OF a gun
Of this calibre IL very short indeed. anu
no fleet would dare to leave the protec-
ton of its own forts so long as 1t ear.
ried as i,s chief Weapon OF offence and
defence the II inch gun.
Mr.. Macmechen evidently does not
know much about modern gunnery or
he would hardly say that the amount
of ship space required by the II i1ch
gun and its short life will not deter the
Germans from using 1t against the Brit
ish fleet" | will therefore try to ex-
plain to him what would be the result
to the German fleet OF using the II inch
gun. Such a gun would be worn out
after 400 rounds. The ship must then
return to her base. remove her II inch
gums and remain idle till new ones are
mounted. After her II inch guns have
fred 400 rounds these guns are useless
and she must then depend on her lighter
armament and world be outclassed Inn
mediately ny the British ships carrying
1875 inch guns and would either nave
70 run for port or surrender. The cruis-
ing radius of a feet OF ships so armed
would he very small, as their big guns
could not be depended upon to hold out
in a big long drawn out battle, during
which every gun aboard would require
some thousands of rounds to keep the
fleet in action. The II Inch gun
could only be used at It's extreme
range in very clear weather. Only two
guns of this type could be mounted on
any one ship, and they could not be
fred more rapidly than one round n
minute. The 1915 inch gun can fire
three rounds a minute. and -four guns
can be accommodated on each ship and
this would give the British feet the SUI
periorlty in weight of metal throwing
capacity. Finally. the II inch gun is
too ponderous for battleship work. !
maintain that Il will never be mounted
by any nation on the present type OF
modern frst class battleship.
| do not pretend to know anything oi
the German Zeppellns or their powers
But ] know something OF torpedoee. and
when Il comes to discharging seven foo,
torpedoes from Zeppeiirs n guiding
them ever n distance Of two miles hi
means OF wireless. I say II may he VOC
sible. but I should like TO see II done
before | venture any further comment
on the subject. The German Ieppelins
dropped bombs on british hattleships
during the naval engagement OF Helgo-
land Blight. with what result"
RUFUS !. Rr0LEN.
MOUNT SINAI. February 8.