MODERN GUN FIRE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8739, 22 May 1914, Page 4

MODERN GUN FIRE

PRACTICE AT THE DEVON TO-DAY’S OPERATION’S AT FORT DORSET. The practice which will be carried out on the wreck of the Devon to-day, from Fort Dorset, will give some idea of the effect of modern gun fire on ships. Owing to tho fact that the Devon is now practically a shell, the effect will not be such as would bo ox. pected were she nn armoured vessel, but it is hoped, by aiming at the engines, to obtain tho resistance necessary for t-lio best results possible. Arrangements are being made for the public to view tho shooting from the hills near tho fort. The following short description of the gun, shells, and ammunition that will be used was secured, yesterday from the defence headquarters ;

The gun is known as B.L. six-indt Mk. VII.; its weight is approximately seven tons, length over all about 22H 6in. It is ei wire gun on the most modern type, the breqoh being closed by an interrupted screw breech-block provided with a lock suitable for firing by means of electric wireless. The brooch mechanism. is actuated by a single motion lever, a shot guide, tube extractor and the lock working automatically. This enables a 'high rate of fire to bo attained, from sis to ten rounds per minute as against one round with older types of six-inch guns. With full charges the projectile leaves the gun at the rate of about 2500 feet per second. When using armour-piercing projectiles this would give a penetration of about 15 inches of wrought iron or about half that thickness of modern armour at 4000 feet. Tho weight of projectile for -this gun is 1001 b. The charge consists of 231 b of M.D, (modified) cordite contained in a silk cloth bag, with a small ignite of gunpowder afc the base. Lyddite shell ara forged steel projectiles, having a hollow interior which contains about 111 b of lyddite (which is about four times as powerful as the same weight Of gunpowder), with an exploder of picric powder on top to ensure detonation of the'lyddite. A percussion fuse is screwed into the nose of the shell. On striking an object tho fuse is set in action, the flash from it passes into tho shell and ignites tho bursting charge. This shell depends principally for its effect on tho strength of the bursting charge. Uncapped armour-piercing shell are made of cast or forged steel. Tho points are made extremely hard for penetrating, while the bodies are softer to enable tho shell to hold together when they strike hard-faced armour. These shell are pointed, hollow in tjio centre, and contain a- charge of about 61b of gunpowder. A fuse is screwed into tho base of tho shell, and on the projectile striking an object of sufficient resistance the fuse is set in ac> tion as in tho case of lyddite. Capped armour-piercing shell are similar to the above, but are fitted with a cap of mild steel. This cap prevents tho point of the shell breaking when hard armotir is struck, and enables the penetration of the projectile to be considerably increased.