WEAPONS OF WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1932, Page 8

WEAPONS OF WAR

I NEW BRITISH INTENTIONS. POWERFUL NAVAD SHELL. LONDON, June 13. In .spite of recent Continental invenof new weapons of war, those directing tire defences of Great Britain are confident that their own services are not in danger of falling back. The power and efficiency of modern British weapons of war have been increased by the production of a new type of shell for the British Navy and (superior armour plate for tanks, i The latest typd of shell produced for the, British Navy is believed by experts who have knowledge of its performance to be the most effective in existence. It is made in two varieties, armour-piercing and high-explosive-, in calibres of 6in., Bi.n., loin, and 16in.

Constructed from steel of superquality—the formula of which is confkleutal—it combines toughness and hardness in a phenomenal degree. Another secret feature ig the shape of the shell, which reduced air resistance to the minimum and -ensures exceptional accuracy of flight even at very long ranges, at which the- ordinary projectile tends to wobble and become erratic in its course. With the new armour-piercing shell it has heen found practicable- to perforate hard-faced armour of the best qualtiy and over Ift. in thickness, inclined 30dog. at a velocity equivalent t-o a range of no fewer than 15,000 yards (about ten miles). The time occupied in perforating the armour-plate is about l-200th. of a second.

UNCANNY TIME-FUSE. No armour-plate, however hail’d and tough, can resist the attack of the shell at normal fighting ranges. And having passed through the armour it is detonated well inside the target-ship by a time-fuse, which functions with uncanny precision. Owing to the large internal capacity of th e shell, which enables it to be loaded with a very

heavy charge of high explosive, it detonates with extrome violence, .breaking up into a myriad splinters with cone-like dispersion, which destroy everything in their path. Even a battleship heavily armoured and otherwise protected on the latest principles would be unable to withstand more than a few well-aimed salvos of there deadly shells. The high-explosive pattern, intended for the 'attack of cruisers and other unarmoured or lightly protected ships, is fitted both with percussion and ‘ delay-action fuses. It is so sensitive that it will hurst on touching funnel guys or wire rigging, and the hail of splinters is devastating.

The introduction of those shells has greatly increased the destructive power of the British Navy’s ordnance, and re-established the supremacy of the gun among weapons of sea warfare.

On the other alind, the new superveloetiy bullet, the German-invented “H-alger-Ultra,” has heen hailed as a deadly menace to -the tank. British tank exports, however, are the least concerned at this prospect. And their snpgfroid seems to have a firm, foundation. Reports of recent tests suggest that an answer to the danger is already at hand.

GREATER RESISTANCE. The inventor, Herr Gorlich, in his Berlin tests, pierced armour-plate of 12mm. (half an inch) thickness. He used a rifle of .280 calibre. Since then, with a .303 rifle, the present British calibre, armour-plate of 15mm. thickness has been penetrated. But British armament research has produced a new armour-plate which provides something like 40 per cent, greater resistance for the same thickness A 12mm. plate of such armour would suffice to stop the Halger-Ulfcra bullet—even at point-blank range. It so happens that the new British light tanks now being delivered are covered with the new armour-plate. And their plating is of a thickness that not only fulfils the need stated above, but provides a comfortable margin of security. Thus the danger is tors,tailed before it has rieaily developed. No wonder tank experts are curiously cheerful! Tt is true that Hen- Ger-lich’s invention might he used, in firearms of larger calibre, and that the projectile from these might penetrate tank armour. But once the calibre is larger than the .303 rifle standard, the danger shrinks. For the real, danger to tanks of GerliohVi invention was that it might place in the hands, of the ordinary infantryman a weapon capable of piercing the tank's armour. I