FAULTY BIG GUNS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 455, 13 March 1909, Page 5

FAULTY BIG GUNS.

SERIOUS FLAWS. THE NEW NAVAL TWELVE-INCH. INSUFFICIENT WIRING. (iiv TBi.Kiiit.u-ii-MKEs.s Ass(i(-Mi'i(.M-rnrriiiniiT.) (Ree. March 12, 10.40 p.m.) London, March 12. Tho "Dnily News" reports that serious flaws, due to insufficient wiring of tho muzzles, have been discovered in the new nar.il 12-inch Mark 11 S«ns. Of twelve guns undergoing strengthening at Woolwich, fclir are of arsenal manufacture and eight arc from contractors. PREVIOUS CHARGES AGAINST WIRE GUNS. The gua referred to is presumably tho newnaval 12-inch gun which was recently reported to have an effective rnngo of eighteen, miles. •Some time ago the "Daily Graphics made a series of charges against the big wire guns. Ihe article was introduced as follows:— "It has heen discovered that the 35 calibre, 12-inch, Mark VIII wire gun, which constitutes the main armament of 15 out of 37 of our newest and most powerful battleships, is incapable of firing 50 full charges. .■> "Britain is the only Power which has adopted tho manufacture of the wire gun. _ "Tho latest Woolwich pattern β-inch, 50 calibre wire gun has nlso failed under experiment, and a question naturally arises as to :he endurance of the armament of tho whole of our modern fleets." The following reply was issued by the British Admiralty.— , , ~ "One 12-inch Mark VIII gun cracked its muzzle ou board the Majestic, and a second yun showed signs of a crack in the inner A tube. They had fired the equivalent of 66 and 75 full charges respectively, and on examination the steel of the inner A tubes was found to be soft, and this was the probable cause of the weakness. The two guns were exchanged, and are being repaired, and will be shortly reissued. "With reference to the statements which have been published, it is sn'Scient to quote the fact that the first 12-inch Mark VIII Rim fired IC2 full charges before being relincd. The guns now afloat that have fired tho greatest number of rounds are on board the Mars, Caesar, and Jupiter. These have fired the equivalent of over 60 full chaiges, and are still perfectly serviceable."