NEW GERMAN GUN

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 357, 11 February 1937, Page 5

NEW GERMAN GUN

SECRET DESIGN HITTING VELOCITY Smaller Calibre But More Effective. Press Association—Copyright. Received 1 1.30 a.m. London, February 10. The naval correspondent of the Morning Post says that it is believed that Germany has discovered a secret enabling guns to achieve a rtiuzzle velocity and a hitting velocity range considerably in excess of guns of equivalent calibre built by other nations. Photographs show the malformation of the barrel near the muzzle, in some instances resembling a broad collar and in others a bell formation, suggesting a modified blunderbuss of a freak design, which has puzzled experts throughout the world. The idea represents the development of the streamlined bullet, possessing an almost pointed tail to reduce the vacuum, which is largely responsible for resistance in flight. Enlargement of the bore helps to eradicate this bias and also imparts extra spin to the projectile, which is equipped with fin-like slots. The new development probably explains why Germany is content to build ships with guns of inferior calibre to those of other nations.