THE BIG NAVAL GUNS.

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9619, 23 April 1900, Page 2

THE BIG NAVAL GUNS.

There are very few members of the British race who do not recognise the figures 4.7 as representing the type of gun which saved Ladysmith, and worked wonders for the British interests in South Africa. Briefly, the i.7in naval gun ia i6ft 2in in length, weighs slightly pver two tons, and fires a 451b lyddite, shrapnel, or common shell, with the aid of a 51b 7oz charge of cordite. The gun is wirewound for half its length, and can be fired at the rate of tea shots per minute, each of which would penetrate nearly Sin of wrought iron at 1000 yards range. Id requires a crew of five men, one of whom does the necessary aiming and firing, while the remainder open and close the breech and stow the necessary charge after each. shot. The gun is sighted to 8000 yards, but will unquestionably give excellent results at! considerably greater distances, as - the Boers have found to their cost. Although so excellent a weapon, how ever, it is by no means largely em ployed; in the na,vy; its bigger broth er, the 6-in quick-firer, which fire. 1 1001b projectiles, being the favoritt "secondary armament" of our principal cruisers and battleships.