Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-24


t!onal Guards.
hditor's Note: This is the fourth
NUMBER In tho series OF articles on
'ht-war ordnance development
written by Major Hodges. and which
aro being published by Tho Times
dispatch In tho hopc OF arousing a
deeper public interest In tho main
'enhnco OF an efficient National
Guard IN Virginia.
While these articles have been
written primarily for tho inforina-
Ton and instruction Of tho members
ot the Virginia National Guard. IL IS
thought that they viii be of general
interest AS chewing tho tremendous
strides which are being made by the
United states since the armistice I'm
making moro deadly the implements
OF war.
believing ~ do" Major Hodges
says. IN a balanced budget provId-
ing FOR adequate national defense.
and In proper participation by the
United states In world affairs. think
our people should know just how
we'll prepared We arc To arm our
soldiers in case OF need. for tho pos
foSSion OF superior arms is one OF
tho most fundamental requisites OF
any scheme OF adequate national de-
!cnGe.'
AFTER tho nrmlsticc. tho War De-
Ihrtn"nt appointed a special tcchni-
cal board. composed OF artillary aud
ordnance officers, to make a careful
study OF artillery material. and to
draw up specifications for perfect!ng
our various types OF guns In accord
arce with tho needs revealed By OK
pcr!ence in tho World War. This
board. generally referred TO MS the
"A
tho course Of its studies. very careful
attention 10 the development OF moro
.nect!v" corps artillery for tho use
Of our army.
Specifications wero drawn ND by
this board for tho Improvement OF
The American l55-inm gun, and the
Development OF new l55-mm. car
'iaeo that would mount interchange
nhly the now gun and an S-inch COM
panion howitzer. In addition to these
TWO corpa weapons. plans also were
developed for AN ideal" light A.
inch gun with Il companion howitz.r
~ i55-mn. calibcr
New American One FIfty-F'i>c.
while IL has been very generally
conceded that tho French l55-nm
gun, model Of 1918. g. l.. T.. (craude
fv!ssancc Fillnuxl, was tho best type
~ corps artillery developed and used
NH'' me NLe NJ ora ~ AT, tho pffNdil'"
department Of tho United States
Army has developed an American
postwar corps gun that outraugca
the famous vcnCh gun by nearly I'VE
miles.
Artillcrymcn who served overseas
VIII recall the advantages possessed
hy the French ljJ-inin. 9. Il. T.. when
IT was ISSUED TO the service. I. g., it's
simple design, itS wide traverse. it's
compact and efficient rccoll mcchan-
ism. its long range. It's ability to
Withstand hard usuagc. and it's very
pleasing appearances. BY the end Of
the war. however. many improve
'U"n;s were found desirable: and
after a most intense study OF the
Who'll" corps artillery problem. the
W"stcryclt Board developed spcci-
iica'ious for Il new corps gun and
hpwitzcr carriage Incorporating all
of the desirable features ot the Eli
logh carriage. together with Increased
elevation and range.
IN accordance with these spcclh-
cations the now American l55-mm.
carriage. model OF 1920. has been CON
structcd ~ the ordnance Depart
mcnt 10 mount. with only slight
notifications. either o! the four fol-
loving pieces:
i55-mm. gun. NJ. 1920 Quilt up)
lJ5-mm. gun, NJ. 1920 MI Cwire
wrapped)
Sin. howit2cr. NJ 1920 built upD
Sin howltzrr, 81. 1920 Nj tw!re
wrappchl
Diners Only In ARA.
The reCoIl mechanism OF this new
American iJ5-milimcjer interchange
able carriage is Of the same type
employed on the French Filloux car
riagc. differing only in the greater
area required in the rccoil and coun-
icr-recoil cylinders
Tho clcvatinS mocha y Ism. how