A GUN FOR AUSTRALIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1781, 5 March 1888, Page 4

A GUN FOR AUSTRALIA

The largest guv th*t has ever been spounted on » disappearing carrir iS r e haa been tested over Sir Williatn Arrxntrone Mllchell, and Oo.'a proof range t ,t Silloih The gun and Its oarriega r jave been manufactured at Elswlck for t' ac Government of Victoria, and fora* part of a considerable ordtt given to Jsj r William Arm trong, Mitchell, and, Co by th* Australian colonies, the, disappearing system having been adapted by their Governments for cosafe defevce. The gan Is In ordinary ciroanufc*nces hidden., entirely from view la a pit, and is raised into the firing position by the action of compressed air, working In a cylinder thus remaining exposed to the euemj's fire for only a few aeoonda. The fore* of recoil on firing is utilised for conn ca*sinc air, so that the gan itself Bnpptle* the energy for raising it. An arrangement of mirrors enables it to be Bccurat&ly sighted m the pit before It ia raised to the firing position. The gun weighs, about 50 toi s and ha* a calibre of IQin. The proof cliargeß of 2501 b black prismatic powder were fired, and afterwards several rounde with • charge of 2301 b brown prismatic powder for pnrpcseß of testiog ranue nnd accuraoy. The projectile weighed 6001 b and tho velocity obtained was 1960 ft per eeoond. Tne gan rose steadily and easily into the firing position m from 18 to 20 eecondß. After fiirncr, the mounting was examined by the officers present, and was foDcd to exhibit do trace of weako&B. or of the severe strains to which it fc»& bepn aobject^d. Brides tho BlswJck. staff there were present at the firing MajprGeneral Harding S award, OMG., military adviser to tbe Australian colonies ; Clone! Moncneff, O b.,aud Mr Anderson, of Messre Easton.and Anderson. Sir W i»rms<r..ng, Mltch.eU, and Oo hnve at present under manufacture several 63-ton guns mounted on the same systpm