Evening star., 1941-07-04

|
$23, ,685 1897 for 337 3-inch anti-air-
craft guns, together with necessary
fire-control apparatus, spares and
| accessories.
At the time of Munich, however,
there were fewer than 300 anti
aircraft guns in the whole of the
United States, as compared with
more than 900 at that time in
stalled within the defenses Of Lon
don alone.
Army anti-aircraft defense guns
are operated by anti-aircraft regi-
mentS of the Coast Artillery Corps.
Since home defense is the primary
objective of the National Guard,
the Guard also is strong in anti
aircraft gun regiments.
The anti-aircraft regiment at
peace strength is composed of head
quarters and headquarters battery
and two battalions. The first bat
talon, a gun battalion, is composed
of a Searchlight battery equipped
with Is 60-inch SearchlightS and
| lOcatorS and three gun batteries,
each armed with four 3-inch anti
aircraft guns and four .50-caliber
machine guns, and three batteries,
| each armed with eight 37-milli-
meter anti-aircraft guns. The gun
strength of the regiment, therefore,
is II 3-inch guns, "a 37-millimeter
guns and "a .50-caliber machine
guns.
In Case of Attack.
It is probable that the 90-milli-
meter guns as they become avail
able will be handled by the same
regimental organization in the same
numbers as the 3-inch guns.
In case of attack on the United
States it is probable that much Of
the responsibility for defense of
threatened American cities would
devolve upon the communities
themselves through establishment
of such passive means of defense
as blackouts, dispersion and protec-
ton of vital activities by bomb
proofing and other means. Fire
fighting, gas defenses and similar
activities also would become civic
responsibilities. Anti-aircraft guns
would be provided only in cases of
the most extreme emergency, since
they will be required in great num-
bers for defense of military install
lationS vital to prosecution of the
war.
The job of the heavier anti-air-
craft guns, of 3-inch and 90-milll-
meter size particularly, is to fight
bombardment aviation at the higher
attitudes: of the intermediate caliber
guns, such as the 37-millimeter
and the new 40-millimeter, to fight
observation aviation and any other
aviation over forward areas at alti-
tudes of 5000 to 10000 feet. and of
the machine guns and such weapons
as the experimental 240-millimeter
size to fight loW-f1ying aircraft.
3-Inch Gun Still Valuable.
1t is likely therefore, that even
though the 3-inch gun now is out
ranged by new high altitude bomb-
ers capable of flying at attitudes Of
above 10000 feet. it will still con-
tinue to be of value and will be
produced in large numbers to cope
with loW-f1ying aviation. The lower
the aerial attacks the more mobile
and easily handled must be the
ground weapons employed against
them, and, while a 90-millimeter
gun would be almost helpless against
a "hedgehoping" assault by attack
bombers. the easily handled ma
chine guns and smaller anti-air-
craft guns would become indis-
pensable.
Since low-f1ying attacks may be
expected for the purpose of putting
the heavier caliber anti-aircraft
cannon out of action, machine guns
and small, easily handled cannon
must be available in numbers to
protect the big guns and other OBJ
jectives of low-fying aviation.
Experienced military pilots have
pointed out that even with present.
type guns, inferior to those in use
in Europe, anti-aircraft gunflre is
deadly below 5000 feet and up to
$1,000 feet is distinct menace
and mental hazard for pilots.
Above 10000 feet the 3-inch gun
and, of course, everything smaller
is of no effect whatever Modern
bombers have passed the 10000
foot ceiling. and to meet their |
threat the 90-millimeter gun today !
is indispensable, and even larger
calibers may be needed as aircraft
performance is still further i'm
proved. Pursuit now is operating |
at the extreme range of the 90 |
millimeter gun and bombardment |
may get there.
U. S. Has Four 90-Mm. Guns.
Guns of the 90-millimeter class |
have been in service in the European !
armies for years, though the United
States, if it went to war today, |
would have only four Of them.
A War Department inventory a
year ago showed the following
anti-aircraft gun situation: Three
inch, 448 on hand, So on order; 90
millimeter, funds for 203 available.
plans for 1,409 to be bought; So
caliber anti-aircraft machine guns, |
LOLA on hand, 1852 additional to
be ordered. Total of all mobile
anti-aircraft guns of all calibers to
be acquired in 18 months, or by
January l, 1912, was to be 4,616.
Since that time the War Depart
ment has had little to say about |
anti-aircraft guns, and very little |
official information is available.
Even announcements of ordnance
contracts are not broken down to |
show anti-aircraft equipment. Dur
ing May, however, it was announced |
that the first of thousands of car
riages for 37-millimeter anti-air-
craft guns, under contracts totaling
s14,899,170, had been delivered to
the Army by the Koppers Co., Bart
let Hayward Division, at Baltimore.
Similar meager announcements
indicate that large-scale efforts now
are in progress to correct known
and serious deficiencies resulting