Improvements in Turrets and Turreted Barbettes for Guns.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Nov., 1888
Improvements in Turrets and Turreted Barbettes for Guns.
We, RICHARD COPLEY CHRISTIE, MANASSAH GLEDHILL and HERBERT HANBURY
SMITH CARINGTON, all Directors of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co., Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to turrets and turreted barbettes for guns.
The main object of the said invention is to reduce the diameter of turrets or
barbettes for use on board ship and thus diminish the weight of armour above the
water-line whilst still providing ample space for the gunners when working the gun
or mounting.
The turrrets and turreted barbettes heretofore employed are usually so made that
the gunners can stand within the turret or barbette on a platform behind the breech-
end of the gun, and a sufficient space is left between the said platform and the gun to
permit the recoil of the latter. The turret or barbette must therefore be of larger
diameter than is actually necessary to enclose and protect the gearing for working the
gun and mounting.
Now, according to the present invention, we make the turret with an extension or
overhanging chamber in rear of the gun and provide the said chamber with a platform
to be used for accommodating the men working the gun and mounting, and for other
purposes. This chamber and platform are outside the circumference of the heavily
armoured part of the turret, which can therefore be made of smaller diameter than
heretofore. Or we provide a barbette with a lightly armoured turret having an
extension or overhanging chamber in rear of the gun for the purpose above specified.
This chamber is, if desired, extended downward outside the barbette but in such a
manner that it will not interfere with the rotation of the turntable carrying the
gun-mounting and turret.

page_text: The said overhanging chamber is, in all cases, protected by armour; this armour
may, however, be very much lighter than the armour of the barbette or of that
portion of the turret designed to protect the gearing.
Our improved turret or turreted barbette is very advantageous for use with a
charge-carrier or apparatus for elevating the ammunition, wherein a central tube is
employed capable of rotation with the turret or turntable substantially as described
in the specification of former Letters Patent dated 2nd January A.D. 1884, No. 279,
and in the provisional specification accompanying our application for Letters Patent
dated 1st July A.D. 1887, No. 9375. It is, however, also advantageous in cases
where other means are used for loading the gun. By the employment of the over-
hanging chamber we greatly diminish the top weight on a ship without reducing the
space available for loading the gun and for other purposes.
It is obvious that our improvements are applicable to turrets and turreted barbettes
for use on land.
Dated this 29th day of November 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Turrets and Turreted Barbettes for Guns.
We, RICHARD COPLEY CHRISTIE, MANASBAH GLEDHILL and HERBERT HANBURY
SMITH CARINGTON, all Directors of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co., Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to structures having an armoured or armour-plated turret, or
a turret or turntable protected by an armoured or armour-plated barbette, which
turret or turntable carries the gun or guns and the apparatus for working the
same.
It has been the practice to arm ships of a certain class with guns mounted on
centre-pivot carriages carrying shields which, in combination with a superstructure of
the ship, will afford protection to the gunners. Such ships and other classes of ships
are generally unsuited for carrying heavy armoured turrets or barbettes, but may be
capable of carrying armour of moderate weight. Now the main object of this
invention is to provide more efficient protection for the mounting and for the gunners
than is practicable with the ordinary centre-pivot carriage while reducing the diameter
of the turrets or barbettes and thus diminishing the weight of armour above the
water-line and still providing ample space for the gunners when working the gun or
guns and for the recoil of the same.
Turrets and barbettes are usually so constructed that the gunners when firing stand
within the circular area enclosed by the armour of the turret or barbette on a platform
behind or at the side of the breech-end of the gun, a sufficient space being left between
the said platform and the gun to permit the convenient working of the gun and the
recoil of the latter. The armoured circular wall of the turret or barbette must,
therefore, be of larger diameter than is actually necessary to enclose and protect the
gun or guns and the apparatus or gearing for working the same.
Now according to the present invention, we construct the turret or turntable of such
a diameter or width as to conveniently carry the gun or guns and the apparatus
connected therewith and we extend the turret or turntable at the rear of the said gun
or guns to form a platform for accommodating the men working the same and for
other purposes; the said platform being outside of the circumferential heavily armoured
wall or part of the turret. Or we provide a barbette-mounting with a lightly
armoured turret or shield having at the rear of the gun or guns an extension forming
a platform which projects beyond or overhangs the barbette for the purpose above
specified. The provision of the said platform as an extension or projection beyond or
outside of the heavily armoured circumferential portion of the turntable or turret or
turreted barbette allows the diameter or width and consequently the weight of this
portion of the structure, for any given size or weight of gun, to be smaller than has

page_text: heretofore been practicable. The overhanging platform can, if desired, be extended
downward outside the barbette, care being taken that it shall not interfere with the
rotation of the turntable carrying the gun-mounting and turret.
The said overhanging platform or the chamber enclosing the same is, in some cases,
protected by armour; this armour will, however, usually be much lighter than the
armour of the barbette or of the main portion of the turret.
In some cases the superstructure of a ship consists of an upper deck with salient
corners or angles at the sides. We prefer to arrange the mounting in such a position
that the overhanging platform and the space beneath it are to some extent sheltered
and protected by this superstructure.
"
Our improved turret or turreted barbette is very advantageous for use with
apparatus for central loading, that is to say, apparatus for elevating the ammunition
through a central tube which rotates with the turret or turntable substantially as
described in the Specifications of the following Letters Patent, viz. :-No. 279 dated
2nd January 1884, No. 16,736 dated 20th December 1884, No. 9375 dated 1st July 1887
and No. 10,179 dated 20th July 1887. It is, however, also advantageous in cases where
other means are used for loading the gun.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, showing our invention adapted to
a turreted barbette-mounting for two guns.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section on the line a, a, Figure 1, some of the parts
being shown in side elevation.
Figure 3 is a vertical central section on the line y, y, Figure 1, some of the parts
being shown in rear elevation.
Figure 4 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of a modification of our invention
and showing a turreted barbette-mounting for one gun.
Figure 5 is a vertical central section on the line a¹, a¹, Figure 4, some of the parts
being shown in side elevation.
Figure 6 is a rear elevation partly in vertical central section on the line y¹, y¹³,
Figure 4.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the strongly or heavily armoured circular barbette or wall for protecting the
gearing. B is the lightly armoured turret or shield or rotating part of the gun-
mounting, which is supported, through the medium of rollers C or balls upon a racer
or roller-path D. The said turret or shield B is provided with a centre-pivot B¹
and with a central tube E through which the ammunition is to be elevated from a
magazine or deck below the mounting substantially as described in the said former
Specifications.
B2 is the chamber, which encloses or covers the overhanging or extended platform B³
for accommodating the gunners.
In the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the chamber B³ is extended over
and downward outside the barbette or wall A, and the platform B³ is below the top
of the said wall or barbette. The turret B is, moreover, provided with an auxiliary
platform B4 within the wall or barbette A to further facilitate the working of
the guns.
Each of the guns is mounted upon an inclined chassis or slide a in combination
with suitable. recoil-brakes and elevating and training gear, and the guns are arranged
to be turned about their trunnions for the vertical pointing or elevation.
'
The charge-carrier for raising the powder and projectiles through the tube E, as
shown in these Figures, is a box provided on each side with rollers, 61, 62, 63
arranged to move in guides c, c¹, c² and to be operated by hydraulic or other apparatus
through the medium of chains d, which pass around suitable wheels or pulleys and
are secured to the axles of the rollers 6. The said carrier-box having its rollers
arranged in combination with the guides will raise the projectiles and powder-charges
in such a manner that they retain a vertical position throughout the movement of the
carrier. An overhead travelling crane or crabe is provided whereby the projectiles
and powder-charges may be lifted out of the carrier 6 and moved into position

page_text: behind the breech of either gun. This crab travels upon runner-ways which extend in
line with and transversely to the axes of the guns and are provided with turntables
for changing the direction of movement of the crab upon the said runner-ways.
In some instances, because of the construction of the ship or for other reasons,
the central charge-elevating apparatus is not used and other means for supplying the
guns with ammunition must be provided. Moreover, it is very desirable where the
central apparatus is used that there should be auxiliary or alternative means for
loading the guns in case of the destruction or disablement of the said central
apparatus. For this purpose we sometimes make provision for passing the ammunition
up through a hole or holes in the deck. In this case, the platform B* is provided
with one or more holes, shown at B5 Figure 1, so arranged that, by training or
turning the platform, they can be brought over the holes in the deck so that the
ammunition may be lifted through them by means of the crane or crab e; armour-
plates or shutters F are, in some instances, fitted to slide up and down between
guides F on the inside or outside of the chamber B'. Each of these armour-plates
or shutters is suspended by chains G, passing over pulleys G', to a T-shaped bar H
on the vertical portion of which is formed a rack H*. The said bar is made of
this form and of considerable thickness so that without occupying an inconvenient
amount of space, it may serve to some extent for counterbalancing the heavy plate or
shutter. With this rack is geared a pinion J the axle of which has fixed thereon a
crank or handle J. By the manipulation of this handle the said armour-plate can
be lowered into such a position that it will serve as a protection to the ammunition
being passed through the space below the platform B³, and, when such protection is
not required, can be raised from this position and will then afford additional protection
to the sides of the platform-chamber. Anti-friction rollers are arranged in contact
with the edge of the rack H*, as shown at H' and such rollers may also be provided
for the shutters F. We prefer that the platform should be high enough above the
deck to afford a clear space below the same as shown, but, if desired, it may be
close to the surface of the deck, the walls of the chamber being extended down so
that the shutters F will be unnecessary.
In the apparatus shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the extended or overhanging
platform-chamber B' is constructed with a look-out B and to the underside of the
platform B³ is pivoted a hydraulic rammer K of any suitable construction. The gun
shown in these Figures is mounted upon a pivoted beam f arranged to be turned
about its pivot by means of a hydraulic press g to effect the vertical pointing or
elevation of the gun. The charge-elevating apparatus comprises a rotating charge-
carrier b, guides c, c¹ arranged to rotate with the mounting, and a grooved slide h
arranged to move up and down between guides; on the said mounting substantially
as described in the said former Specification No. 10,179.
It is obvious that our improvements are applicable to turrets and turreted barbette-
mountings for use on land.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to us by our foreign
correspondent we wish it understood that we claim :-
First. A turreted or barbette gun-mounting having a rotative platform or turntable
for carrying a gun or guns within or behind its wall of strong or heavy armour and
constructed with an extended portion or platform exterior to the said strong or heavy
armour for the purposes specified.
Second. A turreted barbette constructed substantially as set forth and having
our invention of the exterior overhanging platform applied thereto (with or without
provision for raising the ammunition through the said platform) as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 of the drawings for the purposes specified.
Third. A carrier-box or charge-carrier constructed substantially as described and
arranged to operate in combination with the central tube and guides for raising the
ammunition to the turret or turntable in the manner herein specified.

page_text: Fourth. The provision, in combination with the said exterior or overhanging plat-
form, of suitable means for protecting the space through which the ammunition is
raised to the said platform for the purposes above specified.
Fifth. The arrangement of the turret in such a position as to utilize the super-
structure of the ship for the partial protection of the overhanging platform and the
space below it, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Sixth. The modification of our invention substantially as described with reference
to Figures 4, 5, 6 of the drawings for the purposes specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.