THE WORLD'S BIGGEST GUN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1761, 28 May 1913, Page 8

THE WORLD'S BIGGEST GUN.

'A coastguard IG-inch breech-loading gun ■weighing 1-10 tons, that-can hurl a projectile of 23701b. 21 iniles, has just been completed and tested by tho United States Government. It has been specially designed to fit one of the new batteries which are to gunrd the Atlantic locks of ithe Panama Canal (states a London journal). This enormous engine of death is tho first of a series of similar weapons ■which it has been proposed to build for sea coast defence. Iho total length of the gun is -WPt. 2in., with a diameter at tho rear portion of GOin., tho forward part tapering from this diameter to 28in. at tho muzzle. The length of tho main bore is 37ft. Win., with a diamoter of lGin. Tho cylindrical part of the powder chamber it) 7ft. Bin. long, and tho charge of powder necessary to fire it once weighs 11701b. Tho range and ener"y ore far ahead of any other gun in existence. It is estimated that with a maximum powder pressure of between 37 000 and 38,0001b. te the square inch it will throw a projectile weighing 23701b. SSth a inuale velocity of 2600 ft. per socond, developing a muzzle energy ot 88 000 foot-tons. Tho projectile measures sft. 4m. in length and has a ponetrat3no- forco in steel at the muzzle ot 42.3 in. -Yet the most marvellous feature is tho range of 21 miles. The Krupp gims best exploit in rejigs is 121 miles. Other Temarlcablo points of tho big canal gun .are made clear by an examination of the nrtables, which have been prepared by Major Jame9 M. Ingalls, jth United States Artillery. When firing at its utmost range of 21 miles, .for instance,.the shell would reach in- l'ts trajectoij height of 30,500 feet.