AN 13-INCH 'GUN.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15340, 1 October 1917, Page 4

AN 13-INCH 'GUN.

GREAT NAYAI, WEAPOST

A development of the war whick is | pregnant with great possibilities • for future naval construction (says this Scientific American) is the increase ia ' the calibre of guns, and the correspond-' ing increase in the ranges at which fu*,. ture engagements will be fought. The British are credited with flavm|. built some extremely 'fast cruisers* ■ which mount a new 18-inch gun. They are very slig-htly armoured, and henfie their obvious tactics will be ix> hpt at the longest ranges at which mtt fire would be accurate and effectiver We believe that, given good vision, ' 20,000 yards and over would be the selected fighting range of the ing the heavier guns and hjAg the speed-gauge of the enemy. such ' Ganges the average angle the shell \will be over 20 horizontal target will be mtflß tbaHr.< twice that which was presented~-by the vertical target under the old- 10,000 varde' battle range. This being 'so, Heavy vertical side armonr will give way to thinner and more widely-distributed deck armour. The protective deck .will take on added importance, and the de- , mand. for keeping everything vital as low down ae. possible within the ship will be more imperative than ever. A solid shot of 14 .'to 18-inch calibre, coining down at that angle, would, of course, go clean through the ship, protective deck or no protective depk. But the day of ot P* B66 *' and . ~ hence-the effort of the naval construe-* '"■'' tor will be to insure tjqfe bursting of \ these big" shells feftl tip in the uppeV' structure ot the ship, so that only* the' fragments will retosh the protective deck" below. , ' '' i \' < *' It is conceivable £h»t, jn.* future ships, this side. armour, ooveriiig; the \-\ top-sidea, , associated'' with, ; a ■- lightly- ~ armoured '"top flecks of :;$»» *o ' aot »«ely'-*» • ' jta *■: with.* below.. /; '■•/, j, . , W*