MORE GREAT GUNS FOR THE NAVY.
On February 25th was completed, at the butts of the Royal Arsenal the proof of six 25 ton guns of llin. bore, the only guns of that calibre at present in the service. They were manufactured at the Royal Arsenal some time back, and are now ordered to be brought forward for trial with all convenient speed. The guns have been tried with varying charges up to 87ilb of powder and with 6001b shot, the proof cartridge being, as usual, one-fifth more than the service charge, which for this gun, is 601b. In appearance they are nearly as large as, and not unlike, the 35-ton gun (the " "Woolwich infant"), which still lies in front of the proof butt, the principal difference being in the outer coil or jacket, which is much stouter in the case of the heavier gun, and covers more of the inner tube. The bore of the 35-ton gun is H£ inch in diameter, only half an inch more than these guns, which are ten ton less in weight, but the additional half-inch allows of the charge being increased to 1501b, and the projectile to 7001b, and renders the big gun theoretically capable of throwing a shell of that weight about six miles. The 11-inch guns are built on the "Woolwich principle, the system now universally adopted at the gun factories for guns of all sixes. Between thirty and forty 10-inch guns, each weighing 18 tons, are lying near the New Pier Royal Arsenal, ready for shipment, some for land service at various stations, and some for mounting on board ironclad vessels. Ten more of the 35-ton guns are to be manufactured with all speed, the first having been already commenced. They will be used in the navy, and will probably be first used in the three large breast monitors now building. Two of these ships, the Thunderer and Devastation, are of 4,400 tons burden, and the other, the Fury, of 5,000 tons burden. Each vessel is to carry four of the 35-ton guns in two turrets, two guns being placed side by side in each turret.
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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 852, 22 August 1871, Page 3
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356MORE GREAT GUNS FOR THE NAVY. Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 852, 22 August 1871, Page 3
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