A SUBMARINE GUN.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 143, 27 February 1886, Page 5

A SUBMARINE GUN.

The London " Morning Post " contains the ollowing reference to a submarine gun, the nvention of Captain Ericsson, brother-in-law of Mr S. Browning, sen., of Auckland : "The special wonder at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich ia juat now a monster weapon intended to fire projectiles or torpedoes under water. It is the invention of Captain Ericsson, the well-known scientific American, and it was made in the United Statea, partly under the supervision of Lieut. Glad* stone, of Her Majesty's Navy, who was sent over for the gun, and has now brought ib to England. It reached the Arsenal only this week, and now lies at the inspec* tion branch of the Royal Gun Factoriee f from whence, after some preliminary tests, it will be sent on board ship, probably at Portsmouth, for tria 1 at sea. No less than 40 tons of steel are used in the con» struction of the gun, which is 30 feet long, and has a bore of 16J inches. It is a breech-loader, and closes at the breech by an arrangement of a very simple and effective character. The vent, which is axial, is scaled, and said to be effectual in pi eventing the escape of powder gases. The projectile measures 25ft., which is only sft. less thau the and h gauged to pass freely along the bore, which ia unvifled. It is hollow, and, not* withstanding its great length, weighs only one ton. The proposal ia to fit the gun in the bow of a ship, 9ft. under the water line, so as to fire straight ahead from the cutwater, A diaphragm of indiarubber is fixed over the muzzle to exclude the water, but is V.oivn away at the first puff of the discharge. A charge of 201b of powder is all that is thought necessary for propulsion, and this being placed behind the projectile, the breech is closed and the gun is ready for firing. It is asserted that a range of 300 yards under water may be relied on, but it is considered doubtful whether the shot can overcome the resistance of the water and retain an effective striking power for half the distance. The inventor, however, has tried his device, and he says he ought to know. To preserve the lateral position and uniform depth of his submarine missile, ho has weighted it to the gravity of water, and, while he keeps one side under by the preponderance of weight, he has a steering plate on the upper side which opens only mtec leaving the mouth of the gun, and acts ab a rudder in keeping the projectile in its course. Until the gun is tried, the authorities are loth to express an opinion upon it, but it is regarded at least as an honest attempt to establish a new principle in gunnery."