Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-03
ny Major Leroy Hodges.
n NnTA nena y N, ant NirCinia

Il Editors Notc-This IL the first
j nnmber in the series or articles on
postwar ordnance development writ
zen by Major Hodges. and which are
peinE published by The Ttmes-Dis-
patch. in the hope Of Rrousng
Keeper public interest In the main
Senance OF an efficient national guard
In Virginia.
While these articles have been
written primarily for the informa-
Jon and instruction OF the members
- 9th Virginia National Guard. II Is
shought that they will I've Of general
Interest us showing the tremendous
strides which are being made ny the
= United States since the armistice IN
= making more deadly tho implements
- Sf war.
Il g''Beiieviug as do" Major Hodges
3 says, "in a balanced budget provid-
ing for adequate national defense,
49, and in proper participation by tho
Il United States in world affairs. ! think
our people should know just how
= Sell prepared we are TO arm our
o Soldiers I'm case OF need. for the pos
. Session of superior arms ia one of
Ehe most fundam entail requisites OF
- any scheme of adequate national de-
: sense"
world War experience was con-
elusive that military success cannot
II
e inferior guns and ammunitions. Guns
IF increased power and mobility in
= greater number that VIII outranEe
= The enemy guns. and which will tunc-
ii sion longest under all conditions
= must be available. while ammunition
ior such guns must be Of superior
iuality and design to that used by
81 Ahe enemy and readily available In
unlimited quantities, 10 insure sue
ess in the field.
The design and production Of su-
Fl 5erior guns and ammuiStion is thus
$ prime consideration In any proper
ycheme of national defense. In our
Army this Is the function and re-
IL ponsibiiity of the Ordnance Depart
81 nent and since tho armisticc our
Il rdnance officers have been bending
% very effort TO improve the weapons
which our combat organizations must
$50 in battle, II another occasion
Yer arises for the United states to
= % to war. to repcl a foreign Invasion.
II ,r to suppress an insurreciion
During the past few years. SONS
> remarkable achievements have been
8 accomplished. Superguns have been
developed in both large and small
alibers. while improvements In our
ammunition have been most graft
Sjng.
~ Remarkable Gums Developed.
- 4 -
81 liant siateen-inch fifty caliber coast
- sfsnse gun and a huge fourteen
Aich tifty-caiiber railway gun, the
addition OF Ave miles TO the range OF
= ne l55-mm. corps gun and the douo-
- ing OF the tifty-caliber snper-ma
hine gun with three times me range
l# &. the light machine guns used In
- he World War, and the production
68 a nashiess-smukeless- noiselcss
rtillery powder with the develop
90 rent OF supcr-sensitive fuse for
ae with 37-mm. shells against air
raft are few among the many
ost-war Accomplished of the
rdrance Department OF the United
~. iRtes Army.
Among our standard and new ex-
trimental artillery will be found
alibers ranging from the ligh, In
ntry thirty-seven- m!limeter gun M
and including tho hugh sixteen
nch coast defense guns and Howit-
= Frs The principal weapons In these
- arious calibcrs will be described In
g. etaIl in later articles; special atten-
. on In this article being devoted To
discussion OF the design and pro-
81 4uction OF the projectiies required 10
eed these engines OF death.
8 An ordnance list OF the various
pes OF standard and experimental
aEtillery proiectileS Will include the
gathers: S'-millimeel
1.4s-inch). 6-inch; l.s-inch. lbS-mil-
T. meter (el-inch), 2.2+-inch, S-inch'
%. mill!meter te,o5-inch). e"-inch
inch, 2iO-millmet"r ta+5inch,
= ds-Inch. 1o-inch; o. millimeter ,4.l3-
8hch), 12-inch; 4.1-inch. li-inch; D
AIT CHI. l6-inch
leIT frojectiles in these calibers are
4ouired for use in guns, Howitzers
md mortars OF various kinds, anc
aclude shot and shell .Erapnel. anc
r..l
- Srojectiles.
Armor-IHercinE ProJcctiie.
Il stand six,-en-!nch armor-pierc'
F# ng protectile upon It's base. for ex
IA nipple. and i. may be described as
81 Consisting Of the following parts
"a :numerating them from the point
80 tcwn: "a windshield, which give
M he projectiIe It's lOrr-pcinted an
2& scarance 90 cap. which is th'
~ ieavy rupturing Hndg" head cover
ng the point and curved heading o.
;he main protectile body behind M
l5 rindshield: go protcc;i!e body
4 which liz the metal housing ~ Tn
81 hell; % bursting charge. which II
81 Contained as 1t cor. IN the lowe
2# ,enter OF the projectile body. Is
~ use (oRse tetCnat!ng). which /
W entered in the lower end Of tn
f8 bursting charge 50 rotating hand
49,, Trolling the outside OF tho prCIectil
W .ody and near the has" OF the shell
ID base plug, which holds the burst
- pg charge in place. 50 fuse ho!
~ jug. which holds the detonator ii
,lace. and az the base cover. Wit
IS holding lead-ftlhng plugs
= A high explosive she'll may he sim
34 ariy described AS Consisting Of q
,use tpo,nt te,onstins); ~ adap
~ 'er; (3) fuse socket. witch extend
n core INTO the center OF IN. she!
,ody cavity; 90 booster casing. con
* aiming the booster chars", IS
hell body, containing the hurs,ini
~ ..harge. into the center az which IN
,ooster casing projects downward a
,he nose end Of the proiecUle t6
-otating band and % base cover.
Require shiii md Science.
Shrapnel includes the foiovin
- ,rincipal parts, considered point mrs
81 !hile standing on SIS base % tus
over; CD fuse tlmeJ. 90 heac
Jhich holds the fuse. and caps tn
savtty holding the balls; ~ Gag.
Ihich contains the ms.rix and balls
81 Qash tube. which Masses tbroup