BRITAIN'S MONSTER GUNS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1072, 10 March 1911, Page 5

BRITAIN'S MONSTER GUNS.

THE LATEST WEAPON. Since tho original Dreadnought was put afloat in 1006, two now types of big guns have been adopted in the British Navy. The heavy gun of the 1906-7 programme was a 12-inch, with a length of 45 calibres and a muzzle-energy of 47,000 foot-tons. In the ships of the next two programmes, and in the early ships of tho 19119-10 programme, a 12-iueh gun of the length of 50 calibres, and with muzzle energy of something over 50,000 foot tons, was adopted. With its projectile of 8501b., this gun is capable of penetrating over nine inches of cemented armour at 10,000 yards. This gun has been mounted in the St. Vincent, Collingwood, Vanguard, Neptune, Indefatigable, Colussus, and Hercules.

Towards the end of last year it became known that another step forward had been taken. So far as the length of the gun was concerned, the experts generally agreed that tho limit had been reached. It was, however, desirable to obtain an increase in the weight of the bursting charge. The objects aimed at (says a writer in "Tho Times") could be met by increasing the diameter of the bore, while maintaining the same length of gun as in tho 12-inch of fifty calibres. Tho 13.5-inch gun, with a length of 45 calibres, thus came into existence. The muzzle energy was increased to the extent of 10 per cent., and the weight of the projectile from 8501b. to 12501b. Thus it was assured that with the power given by the larger gun, if the shell gets through the armour, the result will be enormously more damaging and destructive. No armour at present in use can withstand these guns at six miles range. There are already in hand eight ships, including the two for the colonies, which will mount this gun, with the five of last year's programme, shortly to be laid down, and completed by the end of March, 1913.

Germany's Heavy Guns. Although it has boon often reported that tho Germans were about to arm their ships with enormously improved heavy guns, it is a fact that nil the vessels of tho Dreadnought class yet completed in that country carry no heavier weapon than tho 11-inch Krupp of fifty calibres, the armour-piercing projectile of which weighs 7601b. The muzzle energy of this gun is about 42,500 foot-tons, and it is capable of penetrating about 8.5 inches of cemented armour at ten thousand yards. Tho ships carrying this gun aro the Nassau, AVestfalen, Rheinland, and Posen, battleships, and the Von tier Tann, armoured cruiser. For the eight ships now in hand, it is understood that a 12-inch gun of fifty calibres has boon prepared, a gun with a muzzle energy of 55,000 foot-tons, throwing a projectile of flSOlb. Vcry_ little is known about this weapon, but it can hardly show any superiority over tho 12-inch of lifty calibres with which some of our shins, as already mentioned, have been armed. The vessels into which this gun-is being put are tho Ostfriosland, Helgoland, Thuringcin and Oldenburg, battleships, and the Moltke, armoured cruiser, all of which are completing afloat, with tho Ersatz-Hildcbrand and Ersatz-Heimdall, battleships, and "H," armoured cruiser, which are still on the stocks.

_It is again reported that at. Messrs. Krupp's works a It-inch gun has been designed, and that an experimental piece of this calibre is under trial. It is riuito possible that if this rumour has foundation it. may in a measure account for the delay which has undoubtedly taken place in beginning the shins of this year's programme. It is more likelv. however, that the temporary cessation of German naval activity is' of economic origin and due to labour troubles. In America, it may bo noted, the Arkansas and Wyoming, the latest pair of battleships actually building, are to be armed, with a 12-inch fifty'calibre gun, giving to its 8501b. projectile a muzzle energy of 52.500 foot-tons. This gun marked a great advance on the guns of the_ earlier American Dreadnoughts, but it is proposed to mount in the future vessels a 11-inch gun, with a length of iorty-nvc calibres. It will throw a 14001b projectile, with a muzzle energy of 05 000 foot-tons A similar gun is said to h'avo been made at Elswick for mounting in the third Brazilian Dreadnousht, the Rio do Janeiro, but no confirmation of this report has been made.