The Progress of Artillery. Naval Guns. By James Atkinson Longridge. E. F. Spon, London. Spon & Chamberlain, 12 Cortlandt Street, New York.
The substance of Mr. Longridge’s “Progress of Artillery” may be summed up in the following propositions:
- A very great increase of ballistic power has resulted from the use of so-called smokeless powders, due to the fact that these powders are entirely converted into gas, whereas of the old charcoal powders only 43 per cent, is so converted.
- A still further increase of ballistic power can only be obtained by the discovery of a more powerful powder; by a modification of the gun; or by allowing higher pressures in our present guns.
- The discovery of a more powerful powder is unlikely, as it would have to be an explosive of a nature as yet unknown to our chemistry. Modifications of the gun, such as lengthening bore and increasing chamber capacity, are at the expense of lightness and mobility, already too much sacrificed.
- Consequently the only practicable way of obtaining a further great increase of ballistic power is by increasing our working pressures.
- This can be done safely now that we are using wire wound guns.
Probably most persons who have studied ordnance questions will agree in the main with all the foregoing propositions, but it by no means follows that the results which Mr. Longridge thinks should ensue are, as lie believes, postponed only by conservatism. In the first place, it is not lack of strength which prevents the adoption of higher pressures with our present guns, but the fact that the erosion of the bore increases rapidly as the pressure increases. We use moderate working pressures so as to prevent our guns from being worn out by the number of shots that would perhaps be fired in a single action.
In the second place, it is very doubtful if the wire gun is any stronger than the built-up one. The clastic strength of the wire is, to be sure, greater than that of the steel rings it replaces, but it must be remembered that the wire can only be made in comparatively short lengths, and consequently must be frequently spliced, and it is the strength of the joint, always much less than that of the wire itself, which determines the strength of the wire layer as a whole. Again, it is really the clastic strength of the tube itself which limits the safe pressure in the bore, and the hoop forgings which are now used, in the United States at least, are amply strong to allow the tube metal to pass from the limit of elastic compression to that of clastic extension, without being themselves unduly strained.
Mr. Longridge’s views in regard to rifling of increasing twist are not in accord with those usually held, and appear to have no good foundation. Neither does Mr. Longridge’s easy acceptance of the statements of the makers of ammonium nitrate powders afford a sufficiently good reason for the reader to consider that they have completely solved the problem of making a cheap, reliable, low temperature, high power, smokeless powder, better than anything any one else has yet made. Generally speaking, Mr. Longridge appears to take too narrow a view of things and to be too much of the opinion that people who do not agree with him are behind the times. A great deal can be said in opposition to his various propositions, such as the reduction of calibre of naval guns, and the reader should not accept them as authoritative without studying the opinions of those who have had the practical experience in ordnance matters which the author evidently lacks.
P. R. A.
The Hotchkiss Automatic Machine Gun (Rifle Calibre). Harrison and Sons, St. Martin’s Lane, London.
This pamphlet gives full description with copious plates and illustrations of the Hotchkiss Automatic Machine Gun, rifle calibre. This new gun, in general design and in detail, is a radical departure from all former types. The first round is fired by hand, after which the operations of loading, firing and extracting are carried on automatically, but under complete control of the gunner. Slow fire may be delivered at any rate up to about 100 rounds per minute, and rapid fire from 500 to 600 rounds per minute. It may be arranged to fire any of the forms of small arm ammunition in service. The weight of the gun is 33 lbs. The general description of the gun is as follows:
The gun consists of a single barrel, screwed into the front of the receiver which contains the operating mechanism; below and parallel to it is secured a hollow cylinder, which is in communication with the bore through a port drilled through the barrel, a few calibres from the muzzle. Contained in this cylinder is a piston on which are formed suitable cams for operating the breech block, the firing and the feed mechanism. On discharge, as soon as the bullet has passed the port connecting bore and cylinder, the powder gas enters a chamber in the front end of the cylinder and throws the piston to the rear, where it is held by an ordinary sear. On releasing the sear, by pressing the trigger, the piston is thrown forward to its initial position by the main spring. It is obvious that if the sear is held out of engagement by pressing the trigger, and the supply of cartridges be kept up, the piston will have a constant reciprocating motion.
The piston engages with the breech block, and by its motion opens the breech, pushes the cartridge into the chamber, closes the breech and fires. On opening the breech it extracts the fired cartridge case, and brings a fresh cartridge to the loading position, performing, in other words, the functions of a soldier’s hand when operating a straight pull rifle.
The cartridges are carried in flat brass feed-strips, having a length of about 38 centimetres and each containing thirty rounds. Each feed- strip is packed in an ordinary pasteboard box, from which it is fed directly through the gun.
The feed mechanism consists of a feed-wheel which engages in cams cut in the piston, and register with openings formed in the feed-strip; each backward and forward motion of the piston brings a fresh cartridge in line with the chamber ready to be pushed home by the breech block and fired.
The gun is fitted with a shoulder-piece or stock, which the gunner brings to his shoulder, and with a pistol-grip and trigger for controlling the fire. Aiming and firing are therefore carried out, as in all Hotchkiss guns, with the same facility as when firing a rifle from a rest.
Two men are required to work the gun, one to load and the other to fire, but a single man can work it in case of necessity.
H. G. D.
Der Krieg Oesterreichs in der Adria im Jahre 1866 (Austria’s war in the Adriatic in 1866). Seekriegsgeschichtliche Studie verfasst von Ferdinand Ritter von Attlmayr, gewesener K. K. Corvetten Capitan im Flaggen Stabe des Vice Admirals W. von Tegetthoff, Published by the editors of Mittheilungen aus dem Gebiete des Seewesens, Pola.
The above interesting historical study of the conflict between the Austrian and Italian navies in 1866 is a very valuable contribution to naval history. The work of some 200 pages is illustrated with 4 heliotypes from portraits, 14 photo-engravings, 5 charts and 11 diagrams. Particular attention is called to the two-page engraving that represents the sinking of the Re’ d’ltalia, at the battle of Lissa, by the Austrian flagship Erzherzog Ferdinand Max; it is a copy of the painting by the famous marine painter Bolainachi.
The author, from having been a commander in the Austrian Navy at the time, having been personally identified with the preparations for the war and actively taking part in it as a member of the personal staff of Admiral Tegetthoff, is especially competent to give a true account of the events of those stirring few months. In the preface he states that the work is a study as well as history, his aim having been to render an impartial account of the occurrences, from which follow natural deductions and conclusions relative to naval strategy and policy. In preparing the work resort was had to official reports and documents at Vienna, the accounts of participants and personal recollections. For Italian sources of information were used Randaccio’s Storia della Marina militare Italiana dal 1860 al 1870, and other reliable Italian works notable for their impartiality.
The first chapter is devoted to the condition of the Austrian Navy in the spring of 1866. It considers the military problem confronting the fleet, and the nature of its defensive operations in prospect of the approaching war.
The second and third chapters deal with the equipment and preparations of the Austrian fleet -for the war, with events up to the battle of Lissa.
The fourth chapter is devoted to the preparations and operations of the Italian fleet up to date of the battle of Lissa. The last chapter is a detailed description of the battle of Lissa.
The whole work breathes the admiration of the author for Vice-Admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff, to whom the book is dedicated. It shows how the unceasing efforts of Tegetthoff, in face of apathy and reluctance of the authorities at Vienna, finally succeeded in having the fleet mobilized. The state of the Austrian Navy as late as the middle of April, 1866, was appalling. But by constant urging and ceaseless work the armored ships were completed in the course of a few weeks, wooden vessels strengthened by outside extemporized armor of cable or rails, and a squadron collected with Fasano channel as a base of operations. Unceasing drills and exercises, especially at concentrated fire, were held, and as soon as a nucleus of a fleet was obtained, drills underway, tactical and divisional evolutions were pushed. The ceaseless activity of the leader inspired emulation in all his juniors, and even with the few weeks of preparation the Austrian fleet was ready to meet its superior opponent.
The author’s account of the battle of Lissa will become the standard one to be referred to by students of naval engagements. The careful attention to details, the impartial relating of the stirring events of that July morning will recommend itself to every reader, impressing him with its authenticity. H. G. D.