The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-06-03
PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION OF The
Great GUN USED BY GERMANS FOR
LONG RANCE PARIS COMMANDMENT

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angle of the curve.
In supposing an angle of range of
so degrees and an initial velocity of
about 1900 metres one gets a new
curve nearing % kilometres. The
celebrity at the height of the para
bola would be still in the neighbor-
hood of 500 metres. (The value of 400
metres indicated previously for
height Of 80 kilometres and an mi
tial velocity of 400 metres, has been
found too small by haf.)
An article in the Vossiche Zeitung,
signed by General Rohne, one of Ger
many's most famous military writ
ers, gives the following figures:
Initial velocity, 1.460 metres; height
of parabola, above 20 kilometres;
length of course rs in minutes.
These figures approach our own
The initial velocity is likewise approx
imately equal to that indicated in the
previous number (1.400 n.y. One
does not care perhaps to draw any
conclusions from the coincidence. The
German papers publish other figures
plainly false and we can explain it
only by concluding that they are try
ing to confuse US by giving inexact
figures.
The greatest pressure used up to
this time in the French artillery,
reaches about 5000 kilos per square
centimetre. Nevertheless the ma
| chimes are constructed to resist easily
a great pressure in case of an acct
dental over-pressure. 1t is shown
that in diminishing the rate of secur-
from the broadside so to speak and
consequently the initial velocity.
On the other hand the muzzle and
fore part of the gun is constructed
so that the greatest pressure is pro-
duced when the projectile has accom-
plished only a certain distance through
the bore or inner tube. The highest
pressure is thus supported by that
part of the barrel which is the strong
est.
| There is no reason why we should
not use an increasingly powerful gun
powder which developes it's greatest
power near the muzzle; always that
the barrel and the breech are con-
structed with great power of resist
ance. 1t results in a heavy weight
and a complicated construction but
results are obtained.
| The Projectile
The new explosives used have made
necessary such changes in the pro-
jectiIe. Both lower and upper belts
surround the grooves and these
grooves must fit into those of the bar
rel with extreme precision and with
out any forcing. Their service is
triple; to increase the velocity of TO-
tation and consequently the steadi-
ness of the projectile; to divide the
weight which presses upon the cop
per belts if they along support but
which are nevertheless able to bear
a weight that a harder metal could
not support; eventually to prevent the
event" or windage, that is the escape
of gas.
The grooved projectile is not nov
city. Known in France for a long
time it constitutes one of the pecu-
liarities of the Balm projectile.
The cap with which the projec-
tile is provided gives it a pointed
shape; this permits of a better cen.
ter of gravity in the steady cylinder
The charge is introduced from be
hind and between the rocket and the
basecup of the projecti1e. This rein
forced capsule has a .beveled edge
and thus dininishes in a slight Co
gree the resistance of the air at the
end.
AS to weight, one always expect.
one of a hundred kilos. (Our 22(
weighs 1909 The projectt1e shor
and relatively light would be of NJ
use in the normal conditions of the
resistance of the air.
The double rocket is undoubtedly
: the second best lodged in the base O.
cup of the projectile.
Probabilities of Non-ExpIosion
, The projectile has not been found
! that will not explode. 1t is normal
, In fact well constructed rockets SHOW
: an average of per cent of failure.
If one uses a projectfle with twt
, rockets the probabilities of failure ar,
:, little less than 13 per cent; il
other words there is a chance of fail
ure in 800 shots. This is the .onl,
l way to calculate the probabilities.
+ How One Hears the Noise of the GU
The way in which one hears tn
stroke of the cannon has given ris
Y to a number of stories, or legend
r they are, of which the most terrify
e ing are those circulating the theor.
s that a compressed-air cannon ha
: been installed by spy at the gate
: of Paris. Some officers commission
t ed to listen at about 80 kilometre
E from the line of fire, reported some
e times a single defamation, sometime