OUR GREAT GUNS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 362, 11 February 1876, Page 3

OUR GREAT GUNS.

('Pall Mall Gazette.') According to some German papers, it appears that the Germans are so well satisfied with the results of some of the later experiments with their existing heavy guns that they do not think it necessary to arm their ships with any heavier ordinance than the Krupp breechloader, which corresponds with our 18-ton guns, reserving the 25-ton and 38-ton guns for coast defence. In order, however, to meet the case of ships of the Inflexible class, we are informed that heavier guns than the last-mentioned have been designed, and the plans have been laid before the German Admiralty, and further that the English guns have proved to be so inferior to the Krupp that they " have been driven step by step from Continen-tal-markets." We aro tar from wishing to disturb the serene frame of mind which these statements indicate, but

we think it as well to set our reader* right on one or two facts connected with the subject, :iud more particu'arly to disabuse their minds of any notion that our English, guns have shown anv signs of failure or inferiority. In reality the trials which have taken place at Portsmouth and Woolwich during the last few days have proved the thorough efficiency of our heaviest ordinance, and shown that we possess guns with which, either in numbers or in power, neither the German aor any other nation can compete. From the extracts above referred to the G-ermans would appear to be only just contemplating the construction of a gun Heavier than their 38 ton gun, of which, we believe, they actually possess one specimen, and do not appear to be in any hurry to increase the nnmber. We, on the contrary, not only have a large number of 35 and ■3B ton guns finished, and forming the jarnainents of our ships and coast defences, but we have during the. past ■ few days completed an 80-ton gun, and have thus made good the last ?tep in the immense progress made in the manufacture of guns in the Royal factory, under the superintendence of Brigadier General Campbell, C.8., the present Director of Artillery and Stores. Pour more are also in hand. This weapon is a triumph of manufacturing skill, and its satisfactory completion, under all the difficulties met with in so great and so novel an undertaking, reflects great credit on all concerned. The length of this gun is little less than 27ft., the length of bore is 24ft., and the exterior diameter is 6ft. It is built up on the same principles of construction as all the Woolwich guns —namely, heavy coils of Wrought iron shrunk over a steel lining, the number of pieces being one more than in the 38-ton gutis, on account of the excessive length of the structure. The more this method of construction is tested, the more clearly does it become apparent that the body of a heavy gun thus built up is practically indestructible under any strain to which it can ever be subjected by firing a charge of gunpowder. The steel lining or the firing-vent may wear gradually, but the main portion of the gun is safe from rupture. That this can be said of the 80-ton gun, as well as of our other heavy ordinance, was unmistakably shown yesterday, when the gun was tested by firing increasing charges of powder and projectiles, weighing (with the gas-check) about 1,2601b. The diameter of the bore is at present only 14.5 in., to be hereafter increased to 16in., the smaller calibre being employed for the purpose of utilising this costly piece, as far as possible, in order to work out questions, connected with powder, and so forth, completely. The charges employed commenced with one of 1701b. of the. 15-inch cubical powder, was fired, six rounds being fired in all. The results exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the initiated, the high velocity of 1,550 feet a second being attained, while the pressure on the gun, as indicated by the crusher gaugeß, never reached 30 tons on the square inch, and only in one instance approached that amount. It will give some notion of the power of this gun when we state that the energy of, or work stored up in, the shot when moving at this velocity is approximately the same as that Btored up in the " Iron Duke" when she struck the "Vanguard," assuming, as we ate informed, that she was moving at a speed of about seven knots an hour.

These figures, it may reasonably be objected, are all very well, but how will it be possible to manipulate guns of this enormous weight, and at what rate can they be fired ? This question has been conclusively answered by the trial of Sir William Armstrong's, system of hydraulic loading on board the " Thunderer " on "Wednesday week. The two 38-ton guns in the fore turret of this vessel have been fitted with hydraulic machinery for loading and working. This was tested outside the Isle of Wight on "Wednesday week, by firing twenty-five rounds from each of the guns, and answered perfectly. Although it was the first trial under service conditions, and the seaioen were not perfectly acquainted with the manipulation of the machinery, the firing was carried on at the rate of a round in two minutes from each gan; so .that a ship thus armed with four guns would fire at the rate of a round every half-minute. "When hydraulic machinery Is employed, it really matters nothing whether the gun weighs 38 tons or 80 tons —the loading would be performed precisely in the same time. The " Inflexible " will therefore be able to fire at the above rate at the very least from her four 80-ton gunß, and nothing that floats, or is likely to float, will be able to resist the blow of her projectiles. In both the experiments with the 80-ton gun at Woolwich and the 38-ton guns, on the "Thunderer" copper gaß-checks (as they are called) were used. These are intended to prevent the wearing out or Bcoriug of the bore by the rush of gas past the projectile; and, as far as experiments have shown, they are not only moßt efficient for this purpose, but they also add materially to the power and accuracy of the guns. If, then, the Germans see reason to be satisfied with the results of their late experiments, we have no I'eason to be discontented. We possess the largest guns, and the largest number of them, of any nation, and our latest improvement—the adoption of hydraulic loading and gas checks —has taken from heavy breechloaders the only points of superiority which they were ever supposed to possess. It is quite time that these facts should be recognised by those who are so continually speaking in praise of everything for--1 eign and decrying our own guus.