hotchkiss revolving cannon. for field service

THE
HOTCHKISS REVOLVING CANNON
THE
HOTCHKISS REVOLTING CANNON.
A DESCEIPTION OF THE SYSTEM.
ITS EMPLOYMENT IN THE FIELD, IN FORTIFICATIONS, ETC.
AND FOE NAVAL SERVICE.
WITH TABLES
GIVING RESULTS OBTAINED IN EXPERIMENTS
MADE WITH IT.
BY
ALFRED KOERNER.
WITH FIFTEEN PLATES.
PARIS:
P R I N T E D
F O R PRIVATE
1879.
[ ll rights reserved. ]
CIRCULATION.
PARIS
PRINTING OFFICE OF T SYMOXDS
RUE ROCHECHOUART
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Preface
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Introductory Historical Note on the Hotchkiss Eeyolying Cannon
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CHAPTEE I.
The Gun. — General Description of the System. — Construction in Detail.—(a) The
Group of Barrels, (b) The Frame, (c) The Breech, (d) The Mechanism.—
Operation of the Mechanism. — Peculiar and Distinct Characteristics of the
Mechanism.—List of Parts composing the Eeyolying Cannon.—Directions for
Dismounting and Ee-assembling the Eeyolying Cannon .
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CHAPTEE II.
The Ammunition.—The Common Shell.—Steel Shot.— Canister Shot.—The Metallic
Cartridge-Case.—Hotchkiss Percussion Fuze.—Desmarest Fuze .
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CHAPTEE III.
The Eeyolying Cannon for Field Service, for Fortifications, etc.—Its Constructive
Peculiarities, Ballistical Features, etc—Principal Weights and Dimensions.—Field
Carriage for Eeyolying Cannon.—The Limber.— The Ammunition-Waggon.—
Principal Weights and Dimensions of Carriage, Limber and Ammunition-Waggon.
—Eanges of 37mm Eeyolying Cannon (Light and Heayy Models).—Bursting of the
Projectiles.—Directions for Working the Eeyolying Cannon in Field or similar
Service.
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CHAPTEE IV.
Eesults obtained in Experiments made with the Eeyolying Cannon.—Eesults of Firing
at Sandy Hook, U.S.A.—Comparison of the Eesults of Hotchkiss Eeyolying Cannon
with those obtained from other guns.—Conclusions.— General Eemarks on the
System .
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32
6
CHAPTER V.
Note on the Tactical use of the Revolving Cannon.—1. For Field Servicer Against
Infantry. 2. Against Cavalry. 3. Against Artillery.—4 Attack and Defence of
Fortified Positions.—5. Coast Defence.—6. Diverse Purposes.—Conclusions
. 40
CHAPTER VI.
The Light 37mm Revolving Cannon for Naval Service.—Description and Special Constructive Features.—Principal "Weights and Dimensions of Gun and Ammunition.
—Range, Deflection, Deviation, etc.—Penetrative Effects of the Projectiles against
different objects.—Table of Perforative Effect of Shell.—Accuracy of Fire in
Service Afloat against rapidly-moving objects. — Comparison of the Rapidity of
Fire of the Revolving Cannon with that of Mitrailleuses
. 45
CHAPTER VII.
Revolving Cannon for certain particular purposes.—HotchMss Mitrailleuse.—The 40ram
Gun for Flanking the Ditches of Modern Fortifications.—The 47mm Revolving
Cannon for Naval Service.—The 53ram Revolving Cannon .
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List of Plates
60
PREFACE.
Machine-guns, in some form ol" other, have become of late years an
integral part of the armaments of most nations. The disappointment,
however, which was experienced during the Franco-German war of 187071 as to the value of the class of machine-guns generally known as
mitrailleuses, i,en rapid firing guns, which discharge small bullets or mitraille, has brought this weapon in disrepute, and more particularly so
as their use has been entirely or partially abandoned by some Nations
who have had the most experience with them.
The nature of this kind of arm has led to a multitude of more or
less ingenious and complicated mechanical inventions, in which the ballistical features have often been totally disregarded. This, of course, is partly
the reason why mitrailleuses are looked upon with disfavour by many military authorities. There is, however, no reason to doubt but that a mitrailleuse is an arm considerably inferior to a cannon; for field service it is
an impediment, for naval service it is useless against the lightest protection which is carried by launches, or torpedo-boats; and for the use in
boats, which are in constant motion, no accuracy can be got out of it.
The aforesaid considerations point out the necessity of an arm of
greater power and having the indispensable advantages of explosive-shell
fire.
The Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon, which is herein described, represents a machine-gun combining to the best extent the requirements of
both field and naval service. It is not exactly a new invention, as it was
first brought out in 1871; since then it has been subjected to exhaustive
trials and the severest tests by several governments, and its adoption into
the French service, as well as that of several other countries, has confirmed the ideas of its inventor, and has made it an object of much
interest. The Revolving Cannon may now be considered as a complete
and thoroughly developed system, and a practical weapon for service.
8
A small pamphlet describing this gun was published in 1874 ; but
in a work of this nature, devoted to a subject which is in course of continual improvements and developement, the data requires to be constantly
corrected and extensive additions made thereto, so that a frequent revision
becomes necessary.
A part of the before-mentioned pamphlet has been
embodied into the present book,, but it can scarcely be called a new edition
of the former.
The author hopes that this description of the Hotchkiss system may be
of some interest to military and naval authorities, as this arm certainly
deserves their serious consideration, and will doubtless bear its full share
in the determination of future wars.
A. K.
Paris, March, 1879.
THE HOTCMISS REVOLVING CANNON
INTRODUCTORY
HISTORICAL
REVOLVING
NOTE
ON
THE
HOTCHKISS
CANNON.
It was during the Franco-German war, *in 1870-71, that Mr. B. B.
Hotchkiss, on seeing the inefficiency of the French mitrailleuse, first conceived the idea of constructing a simple machine-gun, able to produce a
continuous hail of small cast-iron explosive shells at very long ranges, and
which should have no recoil to interfere with the continual operation of
the gun or the accuracy of its fire.
Besides the well-recognised cases in which machine-guns may be employed with great advantage, this gun should be adapted for the attack of
troops in loose order, and must therefore permit of easy and rapid adjustment, so as to be able to readily follow all minor movements of the enemy.
It was in the same year that the first gun of this kind, made at Vienna,
was fired in the presence of the Austrian Artillery Committee ; and though
it was thereby proved to be excellent as to general principle, it left much to
be desired from a ballistical point of view.
In addition to some of these guns being purchased as samples by the
Russian and Italian Governments, a battery of them was ordered by the
French "Government of National Defense;" but the delivery could not be
completed in time for them to be used during the war.In 1872 further experiments were made at Vienna, after the mechanism
of the gun had been so far improved that the loading could be performed
automatically, which was hitherto not the case.
The following year was spent by the inventor in improving the gun,
both mechanically and ballistically, and not until the summer of 1873 were
any but private experimental trials made.
2
10
In July, 1873, the French Marine Department, wishing to thoroughly
test the qualities of this arm, ordered trials to be made with it at Gavre ;
and the Minister of Marine, after the results of this trial, in order to assist
the inventor in augmenting the power of his arm, courteously caused a
series of experiments to be made to test the value of the different improvements which had been introduced in consequence of the experiences at this
trial in July, 1873. The results afterwards obtained thoroughly confirmed
the expectations which were placed in the efficacy of the arm, but for the
moment no steps were taken to introduce it into the service.
In 1875 the Revolving Cannon was adopted for service in the Brazilian
Army, and in the same year a torpedo vessel, of the Argentine Navy, was
armed with t h e m ; subsequently these guns have been purchased by the
Chinese, United States and Qther governments.
In 1876 the French Navy required a gun specially adapted for the
protection of their ships against torpedo attacks, to repulse boarders, and
for boat service.
The French, or Montigny mitrailleuse and the Gatling gun,—already in
their posession,—-as also the Palmkrantz mitrailleuse, were not found suitable
for the purpose, and Mr. Hotchkiss was entrusted by the Director of Naval
Artillery with the construction of a gun based upon the principle of his
Revolving Cannon.
After very extensive and practical trials, the Hotchkiss Revolving
Cannon (naval model) was adopted for the armament of ships and boats,
and in 1877 and 1878 several hundred of these guns were ordered by the
French Navy at the Hotchkiss Ordnance Works.
The adoption of this gun into the French Navy was soon followed by
Turkey, Holland and Greece, and other governments have ordered guns
for trial.
C H A P T E R I.
THE
GUN.
GENEKAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM.—CONSTRUCTION IN DETAIL (a).
GEOUP OF BARRELS (b).
THE
THE FRAME (c). THE BREECH (d). THE MECHA-
NISM.—OPERATION OF THE MECHANISM.-PECULIAR AND DISTINCT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MECHANISM.-LIST OF PARTS COMPOSING THE REVOLVING
CANNON.—DIRECTIONS FOR DISMOUNTING AND RE-ASSEMBLING THE REVOLVING
CANNON.
G E N E R A L D E S C R I P T I O N OF T H E
SYSTEM.
The Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon cannot be classed with mitrailleuses
in the ordinary sense of the term, as explosive shells are fired with the
former, and it has a range equal to that of modern field artillery.
The Revolving Cannon is a compound machine-gun, in which it has
been sought to combine the advantages of long range shell-fire, with the rapidity of action of the mitrailleuse, to produce therefore the powerful effects
of artillery fire with a gun having no recoil and other valuable features of the
mitrailleuse.
The gun consists of five barrels, grouped around a common axis, which
are revolved in front of a solid immovable breech-block. This has in one
part an opening to introduce the cartridges, and another opening through
which to extract the empty shells, whilst the cartridges are discharged
singly, as they present themselves by the rotary motion to the blow of the
firing-pin, and while motionless in front of the solid portion of the breech.
The turning of a crank causes the automatic loading, firing and extraction of the empty cartridge-cases, all these operations being performed
continuously during the movement of the crank. The obturation is caused
by the metallic cartridge.
12
' Different models of the Revolving Cannon have been constructed, each
to suit the special requirements of the services for which they are employed.
These types vary only in their ballistical features, in weight, dimensions
and in the manner in which they are mounted. The general system and
arrangement of the mechanism being common to all calibres.
CONSTRUCTION I N D E T A I L .
(See plate 1.)
The Revolving Cannon is composed of four distinct parts, viz.:—
(a) The group of barrels.
(b) The frame, carrying the trunnions and serving as a bearing for
the forward-end of the central-shaft.
(c) The breech, containing the mechanism.
(d) The mechanism.
(a) The group of barrels is composed of five rifled guns A A, made of
Whitworth's fluid-compressed steel. They are rigidly mounted, parallel to
each other, around a central shaft J9, between two gun-metal disks G and G\
The group of barrels rests in the frame E carrying the trunnions. The frame
is attached to the breech D by means of four screws ee, the rear end of the
shaft B penetrating the same to receive the rotary motion of the driving
gear. The barrels are revolved and controlled, as well as the mechanism
for loading, firing and extracting by means of a hand-crank f, placed on the
right side of the breech.
(b) The frame E is of gun-metal, and is composed of two £ shaped longitudinal beams carrying the trunnions ; it is connected at the forward end
by a cross-piece, to give the bearing for the central shaft B of the group
of barrels ; the rear end of the frame forms the rest for the breech-block,
which is carried by, and fastened to, the longitudinal beams.
(c) The breech itself is of cast-iron, massive at its face, to receive the
concussion of the discharge ; it is comparatively heavy, and absorbs the
greater part of the recoil. The hollow rear portion, containing the mechanism, is closed by a door 6?, which can be opened by turning the button d1,
so that the mechanism is freely accessible, and can, if necessary, be dis-
13
mounted and replaced in a few moments without the aid of any tools
whatsoever.
(d) The mechanism for rotating the barrels, and performing automatically the functions of loading, firing and extracting, is composed of the
crank-shaft F^ carrying a worm ZZ", which works in a pin-wheel b on the
rotating axis of the barrels. The worm i 7 i s curved in a peculiar manner,
partly helical and partly circumferential, thus imparting an intermittant
rotating motion to the group of barrels, whilst the worm is rotated continually.
The combination of the mechanism is so arranged that the
loading, firing and extracting take place during the time the barrels
remain stationary.
The worm H carries at its right side a cam G, shaped to a logarithmicspiral. The arm n, of the firing-pin N, bears against this cam, and is by
the rotation retracted, and allowed to fly forward at the proper time under
the action of the spring 0, and so strikes the primer and discharges the
cartridge.
The manner of rotating the barrels and discharging the cartridge explained, there now remains to describe the arrangements for loading and
extracting; this is effected in the following manner :—
On the interior face of the left side of the breech, a cog-wheel m is
mounted, with two horizontal racks L1 and M1 running in slides. The rack
M1, which is attached to the loading-piston M, is placed above, the other
Ll carrying the extractor, under the cog-wheel and parallel to the axis of the
barrels, so that in moving one of these racks the other is moved by the
cog-wheel m in the opposite direction.
Part of the lower rack forms a curved link, or yoke, in which a small
crank 7, on the crank-shaft f, works. The rotation of the latter consequently imparts an alternating and opposite movement to the two racks,
so that while the one is going forward the other moves back, and reciprocally, thus a fired cartridge-case is extracted whilst a loaded cartridge is
being introduced into the barrel above. The cartridge is not " driven
home " entirely, but it is in view of an helical-ramp i?, cut into the metal
of the breech, on which it slides when it is moved by the rotation of the
barrels. This completes the introduction of the cartridge into its chamber,
gradually and without shock.
"When the racks L1 and Ml are in the extreme positions, they remain
14
stationary a moment, whilst the barrels are still revolving. This stop, or
lost motion, is obtained by giving the slot above and below the centre a
circular shape, corresponding to the throw of the crank L This is necessary
to cause the head of the cartridge-case to engage in the hooks of the extractor, and to provide time for the new cartridge to enter the introduction-trough.
The extractor proper L consists of two grooved lugs at the end of the
rack L\ into which the head of the cartridge is engaged by the rotation of
the barrels. After the cartridge is withdrawn from the barrel, it strikes
against an ejector, which pushes it out of the extractor, and it falls to the
ground through an opening in the under part of the breech. The extractor
not depending on any spring to retain its hold on the cartridge, is positive
in its action.
To obviate the difficulties which exist in other systems of machineguns, when the cartridges are piled one upon the other, the introductiontrough, or receiver, in which the loading-piston M works, is closed by a
hinged gate P , which swings down by the weight of the cartridges, the
first of which enters the receiver, and the loading-piston in moving forward
rises the gate and isolates the other cartridges from the one in the act of
being pushed into the barrel. In this manner airjamming of the cartridges
in rapid firing is obviated.
To facilitate the loading of the Revolving 'Cannon, a detachable feedtrough B is fitted to the receiver, into which a number of cartridges can be
fed at a time; they are from this automatically distributed to the barrels
by the action of the mechanism and fired.
In view of obviating stiffness in the working of the gun from rust and
dirt, gun-metal has been used for those parts of the mechanism which are
subjected to sliding motion, as well as for the frame, the discs which carry
the barrels and the door for closing the rear of the breech, and for some
minor parts.
15
T H E O P E R A T I O N OF T H E
MECHANISM.
The operation of the mechanism may be described as follows, supposing
the crank to be in continual motion :•—
A cartridge is placed in the feed-trough Q, the feed-gate P descends and
allows it to enter the receiver ; the loading-piston M pushes it into the
barrel, then the barrels begin to revolve, making at each movement one-fifth
turn, and the cartridge is carried on until it arrives at the lowest position
and comes before the firing-pin JV, which penetrates the solid part of the
breech, and which has in the'meantime been retracted by the action of the
cam G. As soon as the cartridge has arrived in this position, the barrels
cease to revolve, and the primer of the cartridge is struck by the firing-pin
and discharged ; then the barrels make another fifth turn, and the fired
cartridge-case is carried on until it comes to the extractor L, this in the
meantime has arrived up to the barrels, and the cartridge-head rolls into
it. As soon has the head is laid hold of by the extractor, the barrels again
cease to revolve, and during this period the cartridge-case is withdrawn
and dropped to the ground. As during every stoppage of the barrels the
gun is supplied with a new cartridge, and the firing and extraction is performed during this time, a continuous but slow fire is kept up. By supplying the gun in this manner with single cartridges, about forty rounds per
minute may be fired.
Should rapid firing be required, the gun is then not supplied with single
cartridges, but with "feed-cases/ 7 containing groups of ten cartridges each,
and in this manner from sixty to eighty rounds per minute can be fired,
either in volleys or continuous fire, as desired. The feed-cases open automatically by the action of inserting the same into the feed-trough.
To recapitulate the manner of operation :—The supply of cartridges is
regulated by the feed-gate P; the barrels are loaded by means of the loadingpiston M\ the intermittant rotating motion imparted to the group of barrels
by the worm H\ the cartridges are fired by the firing-pin iV, this in turn being
operated by the cam G ; and, lastly, the fired cartridge-cases are withdrawn by
means of the extractor Z, which is actuated by the crank 7, the movement to
the whole mechanism being imparted by turning the hand-crank f.
16
P E C U L I A R AND DISTINCT CHARACTERISTICS OE T H E
HOTCHKISS MECHANISM.
1. Intermittant rotation of the barrels, without rotation of the breech or
mechanism.
2. The barrels remaining stationary at the moment of discharge, the
loading and extraction also taking place during this stop, thus suppressing
the tangential motion with which the projectiles of such guns are animated
at the commencement of flight, which have continuous rotating barrels, at
the same time suppressing any chance of accident from a " hang-fire" cartridge, as the barrels remain a relatively long time in their firing position.
3. The employment of but one single loading-piston, one firing-pin and
spring for all the barrels, thus giving great simplicity to the mechanism, and
allowing at the same time all parts to be made sufficiently strong and heavy
to sustain the rough usage to which a gun is subjected in actual service.
4. The shock of discharge is received against a massive immovable
breech of considerable weight, which distributes it to the whole system.
This permits the employment of charges and projectiles only limited by
the weight and dimensions thought proper for the gun and carriage, to suit
the different requirements of the service for which it is to be employed.
5. The mechanism of the gun being disposed in such manner that no
tools are necessary for dismounting or re-assembling the same.
L I S T OF P A R T S COMPRISING T H E REVOLVING CANNON.
1. Group of barrels.
2. Frame with the trunnions.
3. Breech-block containing the mechanism.
The mechanism of the gun is composed of the following eleven parts :—
4. The hand-crank, with which the whole mechanism is operated.
5. The crank-shaft, carrying the worm and the extractor-crank.
6. The worm, giving intermittant rotation to the barrels, at the same
time carrying the cam which operates the firing-pin.
7. The extractor-crank, imparting the movement to the extractor, and
thus, by means of the action of the racks and cog-wheel, giving the reciprocating movement to the loading-piston.
8. The extractor.
17
9. The loading-piston.
10. The cog-wheel, for transmitting the movement of the extractor to
the loading-piston.
11. The firing-pin.
12. The V-shaped firing-spring, with its fastening.
13. The feed-gate, for regulating the supply of cartridges.
14. The locking-screw, which fixes the extractor-crank on the crankshaft.
D I R E C T I O N S FOR DISMOUNTING AND
T H E REVOLVING
RE-ASSEMBLING
CANNON.
To dismount the mechanism :—
1. Open the breech-door 6?, by unscrewing the button cV.
2. Withdraw the firing-pin N.
3. Take out the locking-screw &, which fixes the extractor-crank to the
crank-shaft.
4. Withdraw the crank-shaft F, by pulling the same towards you, then
the worm i J i s loose, and so are the extractor and the loading-piston.
5. Take out the worm H, and then withdraw the extractor L and the
loading-piston M.
The mechanism is re-assembled in the inverse manner. Care must be
taken to push the loading-piston as far forward as possible before putting
the extractor in place, so that the proper teeth will engage in the cogwheel m, which is fixed to the left side of the breech-block, and need not
be dismounted.
Should it be necessary in any particular case to take the gun entirely
apart:—Begin by dismounting the mechanism as above described; then the
pin-wheel b must first be taken off; this is screwed on the central-shaft B,
and is held in exact position by a conical pin, driven through the pin-wheel
and the shaft. In order to drive this pin out, it is necessary to remove
the screw which closes the hole on the top of the breech-block ; then by
inserting a punch into this hole the pin can be knocked out and the
pin-wheel b unscrewed from the shaft; this removed, it is only necessary
to take out the four screws e e . , which connect the frame with the breech,
and the latter can then be withdrawn and the whole gun seperated.
3
CHAPTER II.
THE
AMMUNITION.
THE COMMON SHELL. — STEEL SHOT. — CANISTER SHOT. — THE METALLIC
CARTRIDGE-CASE.—HOTCHKISS PERCUSSION FUZE.—DESMAREST FUZE.
(See plate 6.)
The ammunition for the Revolving Cannon consists of a centre-fire
metallic cartridge of special construction, holding in each one the powder,
the projectile, and the percussion-primer, arranged in a similar manner
to the ammunition generally used for small arms.
Three different kinds of projectiles are used, viz. :—
A.
B.
C.
Common shell.
Steel shot.
Canister shot.
A.
COMMON S H E L L .
The shell is a brass-coated, hollow cast-iron projectile, which is forced
through the polygrooved bore of such diameter that it can only receive it
by the lands cutting their way into the soft guiding-band*
The shell is cylindro-ogival in shape, slightly ogival at the near end; its
length varies from two-and-a-half to three calibres, according to the model
of gun. For field service it is generally fitted with the Hotchkiss percussion
fuze. For naval service the Desmarest fuze is sometimes used.
The coating which takes the rifling is a soft brass guiding-band of about
one calibre in length, and placed symmetrically from the centre of gravity.
19
This coating is contracted over the projectile, which is provided with a
number of grooves encircling the body under the band. The pressure developped on the ignition of the charge moulds the coating into these grooves,
so that it presents a cannalured surface before entering the rifling. This
disposition reduces the strain and friction caused by forcing the projectile
through the bore to a minimum.
The coating of the projectile is conical at its front part, corresponding
with the cone in the projectile chamber, so that it is exactly centred in the
bore as soon as the forward motion commences,
For bursting charge, dimensions, etc., see table, page 25.
The projectiles are turned smooth all over, and are made with great care
and exactness, with only a very small deviation in dimensions; they are
painted with black lacquer.
B.
STEEL
SHOT.
The steel shot resembles the common shell very closely in exterior
shape, the head is, for better penetration, brought up to a sharp point and
is hardened in oil. The steel shot is cored; but no bursting charge is
employed.
The arrangement of the guiding-band is the same as that of the shell.
Steel shot is generally only used for naval service, where great penetration is necessary.
C.
CANISTER
SHOT.
The case is made of tinned iron, the front end is closed by a conical
zinc cup ; the base, on which rests a wrought-iron disc, consists of a lead
cup cast to the body; its form causes it to be expanded by the force of the
charge, and to thus close the windage.
The balls are made of lead and antimony, and are packed in sawdust.
Canister shot is seldom used for other than flanking purposes.
THE
CARTRIDGE-CASE.
The cartridge-case consists of a slightly conical, spirally-rolled tube of
20
sheet-brass, strengthened at the base with an inside and an outside cup of
the same material. The head is punched out of sheet-iron, and is fastened
to the body with rivets.
The primer consists of a brass case, holding the anvil, and is closed at
the bottom end by a cap containing the fulminate ; it is fitted into a hole
which penetrates the head and both cups, and it projects through into the
inside of the cartridge-case. The cups are pushed up around the primercavity, so as to form a gas-check for the primer.
The construction of the body of the cartridge allows it to expand to
the chamber of the gun without tearing the metal; after the discharge it
contracts itself again, thus leaving the fired case perfectly loose in the
chamber for extraction.
This cartridge has proved itself to be of a very durable quality, and it
can be reloaded, after having gone through the process of cleansing, reforming and repriming, on the average, eight times.
The projectile is pressed into the neck of the cartridge, and is then
clenched at four points, this being enough to hold it absolutely secure. Of
course, by the construction of the ammunition the powder charge is rendered
safe against influences of weather and danger of explosion.
T H E HOTCHKISS P E R C U S S I O N
FUZE.
This percussion fuze is generally used with the Revolving Cannon for
field and naval service; it has been found to be perfectly safe, and withstands well the roughest usage and transport in the limbers. It is of the double reaction system, requiring the concussion of the
discharge to prepare it for work, and the sudden retarding of the projectile
to cause it to act.
It consists of a gun-metal case, closed at the front end with a screwcap ; it has a conical hole at the rear, which is closed with a lead plug (the
safety-plug), pressed in very tightly; the plug projects a little through the
base of the body-case, towards the inside.
The plunger, holding the detonating composition, is composed of lead,
cast into a brass casing, to strengthen it and to prevent the lead being upset
by the shock of discharge. Two brass wires, cast into the lead oji opposite
21
sides of the plunger, hold it suspended, the wires going through the hole in
the bottom of the case, and they are arranged in such a manner as to prevent
any independent rotation of the plunger during the flight of the projectile ;
they serve at the same time to hold the plunger securely in position by
means of the safety-plug, before the discharge.
The plunger holds a detonating-cap, and in its axis it has a small
chamber, filled with tightly-pressed powder, which takes a fraction of a
second to burn, and thus allows the projectile to rise after it has struck on
graze before the explosion takes place.
The operation of the fuze is thus :—The safety-plug is dislodged backwards into the interior of the projectile by the shock of discharge; the wires
then not being held tight in the hole, the plunger is disengaged, and rests on
the bottom of the fuze-case, and is free to move in the line of axis. When
the flight of the projectile is suddenly retarded by its striking any object,
the plunger, in consequence of its inertia, is driven forward, and the primer
strikes against the point of the screw-cap, thus igniting the powder in the
channel, and so firing the bursting charge of the projectile.
The Hotchkiss percussion fuze acts well on graze, as on direct impact; it
requires no adj ustment before use; it is waterproof, and is perfectly safe
during all manipulations of the projectile, as the plunger is held securely by
the safety-plug, which must first receive the shock of the discharge to dislodge it from its hole, and thus liberate the plunger.
THE DESMAREST PERCUSSION FUZE.
This fuze has been adopted by the French Navy for the Revolving Cannon.
I t does not explode well on graze, but it has the advantage of being very
simple in its construction.
The body-case is made of gun-metal, and it has a cavity at the base,
which holds the cap containing friction-primer composition.
The plunger consists of a plunger of light wood, into which is screwed
the roughened steel point, which serves to explode the capsule by friction.
The wood plunger is pressed into the case tightly, and is then held securely in
position by two brass suspending-wires, the mouth of the body is closed by
putty to make it water-tight.
22
No preparation is necessary before using the fuze, which acts by direct
impact in the following manner :—When the projectile strikes an object, the
plunger is driven backwards by the shock, and the roughened point penetrates the cap and explodes the same.
The wood plunger being very light, the concussion on the discharge of
the gun does not move the same, it being also held by the suspending, wires;
but premature explosions occur occasionally, nevertheless.
CHAPTER III.
THE
DIFFERENT
CALIBRES
OF THE
REVOLVING CANNON. — THE
CANNON FOR FIELD SERVICE, FOR FORTIFICATIONS, ETC.
PECULIARITIES, BALLISTICAL
REVOLVING
ITS CONSTRUCTIVE
FEATURES, ETC. — PRINCIPAL WEIGHTS AND
DIMENSIONS.—FIELD CARRIAGE FOR REVOLVING CANNON.—THE LIMBER.—THE
AMMUNITION-WAGGON.—PRINCIPAL WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS OF CARRIAGE
LIMBER AND AMMUNITION-WAGGON.—RANGES OF 37 mm REVOLVING CANNON
(LIGHT AND HEAVY MODELS).—BURSTING OF THE PROJECTILES.—DIRECTIONS
FOR WORKING THE REVOLVING CANNON IN FIELD, OR SIMILAR SERVICE.
THE DIFFERENT CALIBRES OF THE HOTCHKISS REVOLVING
CANNON, THEIR PURPOSES, CONSTRUCTIVE PECULIARITIES AND BALLISTICAL FEATURES.
At present six different models of the Revolving Cannon have been
constructed, viz. :—
1. The light 37 m m °gun of 225 kiL for field service, firing an explosive
shell of 455gr' in weight, with an initial velocity of 402 met> per second.
2. The powerful 37mm gun, weighing 475 k% for field service and for
flank defense, etc., firing an explosive shell of 525gr' with an initial velocity
of 458 met> per second.
3. The 40 mm gun of 460kiL in weight, specially constructed for flanking
ditches of modern fortifications.
4. The light 37 mm Revolving Cannon of 200kiL for naval service, firing
an explosive shell of 455 g% with an initial velocity of 402 met' and a steel shot
of 590 g% with an initial velocity of 353met>
* In these pages the French measurements of length and weight are thus abbreviated:—" met." for
metre ; "cm." for centimetre ; " mm." for millimetre ; " kil." for kilogramme ; "gr." for gramme.
24
This gun is mounted on a swivel, and is trained and fired from the
shoulder by.one man.
5. The 47 mm naval gun of 550 k \ Weight of explosive shell, 1,100 k i \
Initial velocity, 425 met. Weight of steel cored-shot, 1,100 M1.
This gun is similar in construction to the light naval model; it is also
mounted on a swivel, and is trained and fired from the shoulder by one man.
6. The 53 mm Revolving Cannon of 1100 l d \ Weight of explosive shell,
1,800 k i \ Initial velocity, 450 met.
REVOLVING CANNON FOR F I E L D SERVICE, FOR
FORTRESSES, ETC.
(See plates 1, 2 and 3 J
The Revolving Cannon was designed to serve as a powerful auxiliary to
the modern field systems, as well as for employment in fortresses, siegeworks, etc. Its capacity for delivering a deadly, incessant and widespread
shell fire at all field-ranges; its superior rapidity, total absence of recoil,
abolishing all bat the initial pointings, give it, for many special purposes,
decided advantages over ordinary field cannon.
The necessity of suppressing the recoil and still conserving a good initial
velocity of the projectile, with the weight generally admitted for a gun for
field service, has made it necessary to limit the weight of the projectile to
about 525 gr ', and consequently to adopt the calibre of 37 mm. With a charge
of 110 gr of French Ripault ordinary cannon powder, the projectile attains
an initial velocity of 458met" per second and a maximum range of about
5000 metThe carriage is provided with a lateral training-apparatus, as well as
with the ordinary elevating-screw, so that it is possible to point the gun in
elevation and in direction without moving the trail of the carriage. The
gunner can thus rectify his fire, during the operation of the gun, by observing the explosions of the falling projectiles.
Lately, a lighter model of the Revolving Cannon has been constructed
for field service, as the question of mobility is of vital importance, and for
bad roads the powerful model is often found too heavy.
25
The calibre of this light gun is also 37mm, but the weight of the gun
has been reduced to 225kil*. To still be without recoil it was necessary to
reduce the charge and the weight of the projectile. The latter weighs 455gr*.°
The charge is 80gr', giving an initial velocity of 402 met' with French Ripault
powder, and a maximum range of about 4500 met-%%
The carriage and limber, and the other material also, have been considerably reduced in weight, and the track of the wheels is narrower.
Four horses, or mules, are sufficient for the transport.
PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS OF THE REVOLVING
CANNON FOR FIELD SERVICE.
A. GUN,
Total weight of projectile
.
Weight of bursting charge
.
Entire length of projectile
.
Weight of metallic cartridge-case
Charge of powder
.
.
Total weight of complete cartridge
Total length of complete cartridge
Initial velocity of projectile
.
475 ML
5
OOK kil.
6&V
Weight of Kevotving Cannon
Barrels of
Number
Calibre
Whitworth's
Length
.
.
.
.
fluid-compressed
Weight of each barrel .
steel.
Number of grooves .
Depth of grooves (uniform)
Helicoidal
Width of lands (uniform).
rifling.
Pitch of rifling, one turn in
i Twist
.
.
.
.
Total length of gun .
Preponderance at the breech
B.
Heavy 37mm
model.
Light 37mm
model.
5
orj mm
orj mm
mm
1276 mm
36 ML
10
0.4 mm
740
U ML
12
0.4 mm
O mm
o mm
mm
1250 mm
1107
left hand .
right hand
1180 mm
15 k i l - .
1990 mm
30 kiL
AMMUNITION
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
455gr
22gr
93 mm
95gr
80 gr
630gr
167 mm
402 met
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
..
525
25
gr
gr
.
Illmm
..
..
..
.
.
110 gr
110 gr
750 gr
206mm
458met
* This is above the weight allowed by the St. Petersburgh Convention for explosive bullets.
** The same charge (80g r ) of- Curtis & Harvey's E.F.G.2 powder gives an initial velocity of 435 met , and
necessarily a slight increase of range.-
26
FIELD CARRIAGE FOR THE REVOLVING CANNON.
(See plates 1, 2 and 3.)
For this gun a special steel and iron carriage has been constructed.
This was found necessary, as the ordinary field gun-carriage is not provided
with the means for procuring an excellent and immovable rest for the gun.
The trail of the carriage is formed of two bracket sides, connected
together by two transoms and bolts, and the gun-metal rest for carrying the
trunnion-saddle, the rear end being connected by the trail eye-piece, made
of cast-steel, to prevent wear on the limber-hook. The brackets diverge
against the trunnions.
The axle-tree is made of tough steel. The wheels have metallic naves
and ring-tires.
This carriage has a traversing arrangement capable of giving 4deg* deflection to the gun ; it consists of a cast-steel saddle, with trunnion bearings,
and works in the gun-metal rest riveted to the brackets.
The elevating and traversing arrangement consists of a steel ball-andsocket elevating-screw, which allows the breech of the gun to move freely
in any direction. The elevating-screw works in an oscillating bearing ; this
bearing, or nut, and with it the elevating-screw, can be traversed right and left
by means of a small hand-wheel on the left side of the trail, and this causes
the trunnion-saddle with the gun to pivot around the centre of the saddle.
On the right side of the trail there is a compressing-handle to lock the
elevating-screw, so as to make it immovable during fire, and whilst travelling.
The handspike, of iron tubing, is hinged to the trail so as to fold back
for travelling. A tool-box is placed between the trail, this at the same time
makes another solid connection of the trail-brackets.
To suppress the recoil of the gun, and to take out all vibrations from the
slack of the wheel-hubs on the axles, etc., a brake of the following description is used :—
Each axle-arm has a screw cut on its extremity, this carries a nut
forming a conical cap, partly enveloping the back side of the wheel nave,
which is likewise conical, to fit the inside of the cap; this has a crank by
which it can be revolved on the axle. When screwed up, this cap grips
the cone of the nave of the wheel, and the tighter the cap is screwed up so
the wheel turns with more difficulty on its axiSj until it gets immovably
27
locked on the axle by the friction of the cones. When the cap is unscrewed
it is disengaged from the wheel, which then can turn freely on the axle.
The screws on the ends of the axle-arms have right and left-handed threads,
so that the caps become tightened by the effect of the recoil.
This break is used at the same time as an ordinary travelling-brake, and
it can be applied without the carriage being stopped, as is necessary with the
shoe-brake, commonly used on gun-carriages.
The carriage of the Revolving Cannon is sometimes provided with a
light steel shield for the protection of the gunners from small-arms fire.
This shield is of three parts, made to fold together, thus forming seats
for two men. It can immediately, when coming into action, be unfolded, and
only the muzzles of the barrels and the wheels of the carriage are exposed to
the enemy. The steel plates are 5 mm in thickness and proof against the fire
of any existing military rifle, should even two bullets strike on the same spot.
The carriage carries the following implements, namely :—A sponge on
the right bracket and two handspikes beneath the trail.
The tool-box contains:—The feed trough, hand-crank, rear sight, screwdriver, oil-can, reserve spring, reserve firing-pin, hammer, pin-driver, universal
wrench, etc.
T H E LIMBER. (Seeplate
2)
The steel and iron limber is formed of four futchells—the outside ones of
flat steel, the inside futchells and the splinter-bar being of angle-iron—a
platform-board and footboard of oak. The axle-tree is of hollow wroughti r o n ; the wheels and track are the same as for the gun-carriage.
The futchells and splinter-bar are all riveted together, and the cast-steel
limber-hook is riveted-in between the inside futchells, the axle-tree is
secured to the bed by three bearings, and the whole forms together a solid
framework.
The limber has swing splinter-bars of steel, to which the traces of the
horses are attached, and the shaft is arranged for double draught. The
swingle-tree is also of steel.
The limber carries an ammunition-chest made of steel-plate, conveying
three hundred rounds of ammunition, one hundred of which are packed in
ten galvanised steel "feed-cases" ready for rapid firing.
28
The limber carries the following implements, namely :—Set of entrenching tools and axe, water-bucket, traction-rope, cushions for seats on ammunition-chest, etc.
The inside of the ammunition-chest is also fitted for carrying grease-tin
and divers small tools.
THE
AMMUNITION-WAGGON.
The ammunition-waggon consists of the waggon limber—with steelplate ammunition-chest—identical with the gun limber; and the rear-waggon,
conveying two ammunition-chests similar to those of the limber.
It is constructed entirely of steel and iron, and is fitted with brakes
similar to those of the carriage. There are two foot-boards, and arrangements
for carrying spare wheel, entrenching tools, spare pole, swingle-trees, and
other accessories.
PRINCIPAL
WEIGHTS
LIMBER AND
AND
DIMENSIONS
OF
CARRIAGE,
AMMUNITION-WAGGON.
CAEEIAGE AND LIMBEE.
Extreme angles of elevation and depression
Greatest angle of dispersion with horizontal training apparatus
Weight of carriage with tools and accessories ,
Weight of limber (empty)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Weight of limber charged with 300 rounds
.
.
.
.
Track of wheels
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Diameter of wheels
.
.
.
.
.
.
Total weight of gun, carriage and limber, charged with 800 rounds
ammunition and all accessories
.
.
.
.
.
.
Light 37mm
model.
.-5 + 18degr4 deg
250M27 0 MI.
. 460 M11200 mm
. 1150mm
of
1400k
.
Heavy 37mm
" model.
-5 + 20 deg4 deg>
. 450 kiL
. 415kiL
. 640 kiL
. 1600 mm
. 1400 mm
. 2050kil-
AMMUNITION-WAGGON.
Waggon limber, identical with carriage limber
Eear-waggon with two ammunition-chests
Track and diameter of wheels same as carriage
Weight of ammunition-waggon (empty) .
.
.
.
.
650
Total weight of ammunition-waggon, charged with 1200 rounds of
ammunition and all accessories
1400
1100 ML
2050 kil
29
The weight of 1400 m for the light 37 mm gun, with its carriage, limber
and outfit, distributed over four horses, gives 3 4 4 ^ per horse.
The weight of the heavy 37 Imn gun, etc., 2050kil*, distributed over six
horses, gives 342kn* per horse, so that both guns possess the quality of easy
transportability to a satisfactory extent.
RANGES O F 37 mm CALIBRE R E V O L V I N G CANNON (LIGHT
AND HEAVY MODEL).
LIGHT 37ram MODEL.
HEAVY 37nim MODEL.
WEIGHT OF PKOJECTILE.
455 gr.
525 gr.
INITIAL VELOCITY.
402 met.
458 met.
Angle of Elevation.
Range in met.
Eange in met.
3°
5
°
10"
1199
1614
2616
30?8
3526
4123
4360
4473
1240
1723
2842
3460
3916
4240
4580
4700
15"
20°
25"
30"
35"
BURSTING OF T H E P R O J E C T I L E S .
Twelve projectiles of 525^' weight, and charged with 25gr> of musket
powder, were burst in a box filled with wet sand, so that nearly all the
fragments were obtained after the explosion. (See plate 7\)
The average number of fragments from each projectile were eighteen of
iron, three of the brass band, and the fuze, comprising :—
Two pieces weighing between 80 ^ and 50^
Nine
„
„
„
50 „ 25
Eleven „
„
under 25
It will be seen that the bursting is very regular, and the weight of the
fragments as good as can be desired for a gun of this class.
30
DIRECTIONS FOR WORKING T H E R E V O L V I N G CANNON
F I E L D OR SIMILAR
IN
SERVICE.
The number of men for service with each gun should be six, although
four can serve the piece in case of necessity.
The first gunner on the right flank works the crank, and also gives the
rough pointing by means of the handspike.
First gunner on the left flank lays the piece, and regulates the fire by
means of the elevating and traversing screws.
Two second gunners relieve each other in feeding the gun with cartridges.
They each carry a cartridge-pouch holding ten cartridges, around their waist,
and besides this a feed-case for rapid fire, which is charged with ten rounds,
and is suspended from the shoulder, under the left arm, in a small pocket. 0
The two third gunners, at the limber, fill the feed-cases and hand them
to the second gunners.
After the gun is unlimbered, it is roughly laid by means of the handspike. The traversing apparatus should be set in its centre position, which
is indicated by a point corresponding to a mark on the transom immediately
behind the elevating screw. Then the wheels should be clamped by means
of the wheel-brakes, the levers of which must be turned down tight by
pressing on them with the foot, then the exact sighting in elevation and
direction is done by means of the elevating and traversing screws. After
this the hand-crank and the feed-trough are mounted, and the gun is ready
for loading.
At the command u Load " the second gunner puts a feed-case containing
ten cartridges in the feed-trough (supposing the loading to be done by means
of feed-cases). The case opens automatically, and the cartridges roll into
the feed-trough, and are ready to be fed into the barrels the moment the
command " Fire " is given.
At the command " F i r e " the first gunner on the right flank turns the
crank, and at each complete revolution of the same one round will be discharged, so that it takes ten turns of the crank to fire the ten rounds.
* i t is sometimes preferred to do all the loading by means of the feed-cases, as greater rapidity can be
attained in this manner.
31
After having discharged the ten rounds, and the gun is in proper position to continue fire, the feed-case is withdrawn, and another one is inserted
into the feed-trough, and so forth.
If a continuous and rapid fire is required, the feed-cases are inserted into
the feed-trough in rapid succession by the two second gunners. In this manner
the fire can be kept up any length of time required, without intermission, at
the rate of from sixty to eighty rounds per minute, and the projectiles can be
distributed over a sector of 4deg', by working the traversing-wheel, without
moving the trail of the carriage.
As the gun is entirely without recoil, the sighting can be regulated
during the fire by observing the explosions of the falling projectiles, and
no time is lost in finding the elevation when the enemy changes its position
rapidly as long as it is within range of the projectiles.
If some cartridges are left in the gun after " Cease fire" has been
ordered, they can be extracted, without discharging them, by opening the
breech-door ; this door being open, the spring does not act on the firingpin, and this therefore does not strike the primer, but the extractor
withdraws the loaded cartridge in the same manner as it does the fired
cartridge-case.
To limber-up the gun it is first necessary to unscrew the recoil-brakes.
This is done by running the carriage a few inches forward, the brakes then
unscrew automatically, and by lifting back the tightening levers, the wheels
become entirely loose on the axle for travelling.
C H A P T E R IV.
RESULTS OBTAINED IN EXPERIMENTS MADE WITH THE REVOLVING CANNON.—
RESULTS OF FIRING AT SANDY HOOK, U.S.A.—COMPARISON OF THE RESULTS
OF HOTCHKISS REVOLVING CANNON WITH THOSE OBTAINED FROM OTHER
GUNS.—CONCLUSIONS.—GENERAL REMARKS ON THE SYSTEM.
RESULTS OF FIRING WITH HOTCHKISS REVOLVING CANNON
(FIELD MODEL OF 1874) AT SANDY HOOK, U.S.A., SEPT. 11,
1876, TO FEB. 15, 1877.*
Mean observed velocities of the projectiles at 30m6t- from muzzle of gun.
Weight
of
Charge
of
Kind
of
at
Projectile,
Powder.
Powder.
30 met,
520gr
nogr-
99
>>
"
>?
New mortar.
Musket.
Old mortar.
Velocity
- 394,4
479,1
445,4
EAPIDITY OF FIRE.
Nov. 23, 1876.
Jan. 25, 1877.
20 rounds fired in 14J seconds
51
48
33
40
71
10
Mean rapidity
of fire
70 rounds per minute.
' 2
* See Annual Report of the Chief of Ordnance to the Secretary of War, U.S.A., for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1877. Washington, 1877.
33
ACCUEACY, AND EFFECT OF FIRE, AGAINST TARGETS AT
DIFFERENT RANGES.
Results at 183 metres (200 yards).
Targets A and B. {Seeplates 10 and 11.)
A. Ten targets 15m.et* long, l,8met- high, placed 15met> apart. Distance of
first target from gun, 180 met- ; of last target, 318 me \ 102 rounds fired, giving
2140 hits.
The destructive effects are apparent. The fire was directed on to the
front target, and executed in two groups ; the direction of gun being slightly
changed for the second group.
B. Two targets 15,6met- long, 3,3met' high, placed 22,5met- apart. Distance,
of first target from gun, 183 m e \ 100 rounds fired, giving 1045 hits.
The fire was so directed that the shells burst a little in front of the
targets, so that the fragments might ricochet on to the same.
Results at 915 metres (1000 yards).
Targets A and B. {See plates 12 and 13.)
A. Four targets 7,8met< long, 3,3met> high, placed 18met' apart. Distance,
of first target, from gun, 915 me \ 143 rounds fired, giving 1285 hits.
B. Ten targets 15met* long, l,8met- high, placed 15met' apart. Distance of
first target from gun, 915 met. 112 rounds fired, giving 1626 hits.
Results at 1830 metres (2000 yards).
{See plate 14.)
Four targets 7,8 met long, 3,3met' high, placed 18met" apart. Distance of
first target from gun, 1830 me \ 170 rounds fired, giving 963 hits.
The "U.S. Ordnance Board say, in the before-cited report, with regard to
these results :—
" As the rapidity of fire is about 70 rounds per minute, an analysis shows that at
a range of 1000 yards a continuous and dangerous fire (about 590 hits per minute in the first
series A) can be secured. In the series B, firing at 10 targets, representing a regiment in
columns, 100 shells were used; 1626 hits were noted. This gives a continuous and dangerous fire of 1800 hits per minute, and using only 52 M1 of metal—results not yet attained
in any other machine-gun, nor with our present field artillery. The range of 915 mefc(1000 yards) is one too long for accurate effects, generally, from the lighter calibre of other
machine systems, fired eyen with great deliberation.
5
34
The targets made at the distance of 1830 mefc' (2000 yards) were accomplished by firing 170 rounds, and the total number of hits was 963, giving a
continuous and dangerous fire at this range of 370 hits per minute.
" Any comparison at this distance (1830 met-) ceases with other machine-guns ; and we
have to consider the system at this range, as a competitor of field cannon.
" No direct comparisons have been as yet made by the Board between the Hotchkiss
Revolving Cannon and the ordinary field-pieces, but it is thought well to allude in this connection to the more recent practice with the most approved field artillery. The recent
experiments in Austria* are probably the best so far made, and will afford us a fair comparison. This comparison will be incomplete, but this incompleteness will favour the
field artillery rather than the Hotchkiss system.
"The records alluded to show that 40 shells, ' with double walls/ weighing in the
aggregate, say 254kiL, gave 1497 hits on targets placed at 1500 met* (1658 yards). The time
required for accurate firing could not have been less than ten minutes. This amount of
metal, if delivered from the Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon, would, if a ratio following from the
results already quoted is accepted, give 2000 hits and at a distance of 1830 met- and in a time
of seven minutes.
" Comparison cannot be made at maximum ranges (3660 met-) reported by the Austrian
artillery, as no records are yet made at this distance with the Revolving Cannon.
The Revolving Cannon which served in these experiments was covered
with a tarpauling, and was left out on the beach at Sandy Hook until November, 1878, when some new experiments were carried out with it, and although
the gun was very rusty and had become much clogged with sand and dirt, it
required nothing else but oiling to render it fit for work, and the series of
trials were carried out with the gun in the state it was found, after being
exposed to the influence of the weather for nearly a year.
COMPARISON OF THE RESULTS OF HOTCHKISS REVOLVING
CANNON WITH THOSE OBTAINED FROM OTHER GUNS.
A part of the trials made by the French Navy at Gavre, in July, 1873,**
comprised some practice with a Revolving Cannon under exactly the same
conditions as with four Gatling guns of different calibres, which had shortly
before been under experiment by the same commission, with a view of comparing the effects of these different kinds of arms.
* See " Mittheilungen tiber Gegenstande des Artillerie und Genie-Wesens," VI Jahrgang, Wien, 1875.
** See " Memorial de l'artillerie de la marine," 2 e livraison, Paris, 1874.
35
The Gatling gun, which is admitted to be one of the best mitrailleuses ;
a comparison of the results of the Revolving Cannon with that system will
be of some interest.
The guns under test were as follows :—
Weight of
NATUBE OP ARM.
37mm Revolving Cannon . . .
25,5™ Gatling Gun
16 6mm
1 I mm
Hmm
Charge.
Projectile.
Mountain Gatling . . .
Bursting
Weight of
Charge.
Gun.
gr.
gr.
gr.
kil.
490,00
256,85
97,52
24,20
24,20
85,00
31,77
19,33
5,16
5,16
20,00
475
347
335
170
64
j
FIEST EXPERIMENT : Firing against a battalion of infantry in columns 1
divided into three troops or companies, represented by 3 targets, each 1,8'met.
high, and 70 met long, placed at distances 70met" apart. Distance of all guns
from the first target, 1650 m*\
Number of Hit
Ammuni tion
Effec
Power.
Total N
Percer tage of Hits.
3rd Ta rget.
8.1
2nd Ta rget.
jrofHit
3£
1st Ta rget
Mountain G a t l i n g . . .
r-4 >d
80
53,6
3
39
13
55
70
1,04
36,40
8°25'
400
15,7
24
2
45
45
11,25
2,85
26,32
10°15'
435
17,1
10
0
16
16
3,70
0,89
8,62
. Angle
ll
©
NUMBER OF HITS.
6°36'
o
mm
0
o
Expenditu
NATURE OF ARM.
a
Number
1
levation.
d
Ammun ition
Ll.
T A B L E I.
a
CO
©
1
The superiority of the Revolving Cannon is here well marked.
: Firing against a battalion of infantry in columns,
divided into peletons, represented by 6 targets, each 1,8met" high, and 35mefc<
long, placed 35 met ' distance apart. Distance of all guns from first target,
1795 met<
SECOND EXPERIMENT
36
Gatling Gun. 6°14' 216
16,6
139 173,7 2,59 90,32
3
3
172
5
1
40
4th Target.
1
300 113,4 12 76 66 12
36,5
Number of Hits per kil. of
Ammunition expended.
3rd Target.
2nd Target.
2 49 42 25 20
1st Target.
6th Target.
Gatling G u n . 6°1'
mm
Percentage of Hits.
53,6
Total Number of Hits.
80
mm
NUMBER OF H I T S .
5th Target.
25,5
Expenditure of Ammunition |
in kil.
1
Revolving Cannon . . 6°30'
Number of Rounds fired.
NATURE OF ARM.
Angle of Elevation.
1
TABLE I I .
3
6
6 20
44,1 1,45
33,82
18,9 0,90 31,49
In this case, also, the Eevolving Cannon in results much surpasses the
Gatling gun.
CONCLUSIONS FROM T H E F O E E G O I N C .
In comparing the results obtained in Table I, we find that the number
of hits per 100 shots fired with the Eevolving Cannon, during an equal length
of time, are six times greater than those obtained with the l l m m Catling Cun,
and twenty times greater than with the l l m m Mountain Catling.
The number of hits per kil. of expended ammunition is less for the
Eevolving Cannon than for the Field Catling, but more than for the Mountain Catling, while the effective power * is :—
For the Revolving Cannon
For the Field Gatling
For the Mountain Gatling
.
.
.
.
.
.
36,40
26,32
8,62
* By the effective power of an arm is understood the compound quantity which is governed by the
number of hits on the targets, the time of firing, the distance the targets are placed from the gun, and the
dimensions of these targets.
In the determination of the effective power, there are, besides the unit of time, two quantities, which are
fixed by the conditions of the practice, viz., the range and the dimensions of the targets, and as these are chosen
analogically to the circumstances under which the arms to be tested are subjected in actual service, we have
the means of comparing different kinds of arms1 under the practical conditions they are employed in.
Observe that the effective power under the above stated conditions affords no judgment of the weight
of ammunition expended, and as there are certain cases, where it is not only important to know what effect
can be produced with an arm, but what quantity of ammunition it requires to produce this effect, it is necessary to compare these two figures with each other, and we can thus form a true judgment of the merits of the
different arms.
37
In Table I I . the percentage of hits of the Eevolving Cannon is four
times higher than of the 25,5mm Gratling, and nine times higher than that
of the 16,6mm Gatling, and the number of hits per kil. of expended ammunition
is nearly double of those obtained with the 16,6 ^ Gratling. The effective
powers are :—
For the Bevolying Cannon
For the 25,5mm Gatling
For the 16,6mm Gatling
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
90,32
33,82
31,49
That is to say, in this case the Revolving Cannon obtained an effect three
times as destructive as the Gatling guns, with an expenditure of half the
weight of ammunition.
Too much importance should not be attached to these comparative
results, on account of the small number of shots fired, and the limited kinds
of application, yet it must be admitted that the great accuracy and range,
combined with the quantity of projectiles which can be fired in an equal unit
of time, makes the Revolving Cannon a very superior weapon.
It must also be remarked that these results were obtained with a gun of
the first model, built in 1871, of inferior ballistical capacity, with a projectile
weighing 490 gr ' and a charge of 85gr" Since this time the inventor has augmented the power of his arm, so that there is reason to expect from the guns
of most recent date, using a projectile of 525gl% and a charge of 110g% some
results much superior to those obtained in 1873, and it is to be regretted that
sufficient data for making a comparison of the effects obtained with the latest
models does not exist.
The superiority of the Revolving Cannon over mitrailleuses becomes the
more remarkable the greater the distance at which it is used ; whilst at ranges
up to 250 or 300met, and for purposes of flank defence, etc., canister-shot, also,
can be used with success.
G E N E R A L R E M A R K S ON T H E SYSTEM.
On thus examining the results obtained by the Revolving Cannon, it is
found to be an arm of very superior capacity and of well-calculated proportions. The power of the powder is utilised in a high degree, for, with a projectile weighing 525gr> and with a charge of about one-fifth, there results an
38
initial velocity of 458 met and a range of about 5000 met '; an effect which only
recently has been obtained with regular field artillery, whilst the precision of
the fire, in both range and direction, is remarkable, and will bear comparison
with the most approved systems of field artillery.
The trajectory of the gun is, for its effective range, low, and a very
precise, rapid, and effective fire can be kept up at distances up to 3000 m<%
corresponding with an angle of elevation of 12deg'
This machine-gun has, besides its great accuracy and range, the peculiar
and valuable advantage of firing explosive shells, producing the greatest
moral and physical damage to the enemy, and enabling at the same time to
rectify its fire by observing the explosions of falling projectiles, thus giving
it an incontestable superiority over all other machine-guns and mitrailleuses.
As there is no recoil and no change of direction during the fire, the gun,
once laid, will continue to throw from sixty to eighty explosive shells—
representing in weight from 30 to 40kil* of cast-iron—per minute, at ranges
approaching to those of field artillery. This is about three times the amount
of work which can be performed by the most recent and perfect systems of
ordinary field-pieces.
As each shell of the Revolving Cannon gives, in the mean, on bursting,
ten fragments between 40 and 80gr" in weight, besides twelve smaller fragments,
which are also capable of doing considerable damage to men and horses, this
gun is capable of delivering a continuous fire at the rapidity of at least
60 shells per minute, giving 60 dangerous zones of explosion and divided
into a hail of about 1300 fragments of sufficent power to put men, horses and
materiel hors de combat
If we imagine the action of a battery of these guns, during a decisive
moment of an engagement, and take the rapidity of fire at only 60 rounds
per minute (a figure which can be considerably surpassed), the six guns
would discharge about 190ki1, of iron, consisting of 360 explosive shells and
producing 7900 dangerous fragments per minute, and this very destructive
fire can be brought to bear with great accuracy on objects within the effective range of over 3000 met '; it even conserves much of its power up to the
maximum range of 5000met'
The projectiles ricochet up to about 3000met*
The essential mechanical arrangement of the system is simple and compact ; the working parts are strong and of simple form, and they are all
39
encased within the solid breech, and not one of them is exposed to the shock
of discharge.
The brass coating of the projectiles affords an excellent bearing for the
grooves of the rifling, and at the same time obviates the difficulties of leading
and fouling of the bore, while the circular grooves, cut into the body under
the band, reduce the friction to the smallest possible extent, thus giving a
satisfactory velocity with a minimum of strain on the gun.
The metallic cartridge always produces an absolutely gas-tight closure
of the breech.
Another feature of this arm, to be well estimated in actual service, is its
facility of manipulation. The operation of loading is simple, and the gunners
only require the briefest instruction, and it is almost impossible, by the
roughest usage and ignorance of the construction, to derange the mechanism,
or to disturb the proper working of the gun.
The traversing apparatus on the carriage enables the gun to be pointed
in a horizontal direction as well as in elevation, without moving the trail of
the carriage, and the projectiles can thus be distributed, during the fire, over
a sector of a circle within its range, by adjusting the traverse.
The gun has no movement during fire, its relative weight to that of the
projectile/combined with the wheel-brakes, being sufficient to resist the recoil
of each discharge.
The simplicity, strength and durability of its mechanism better qualify
the Revolving Cannon for actual service than other machine-guns, or mitrailleuses, hitherto constructed.
CHAPTER V.
NOTE ON THE TACTICAL USE OF THE KEVOLVING CANNON.—FOR FIELD SERVICE.
1. AGAINST INFANTRY.
2. AGAINST CAVALRY. 3. AGAINST ARTILLERY.—ATTACK
AND DEFENCE OF FORTIFIED POSITIONS.—COAST DEFENCE.—DIVERSES PURPOSES.
—CONCLUSIONS.
NOTE ON T H E TACTICAL USE OF T H E
HOTCHKISS
R E V O L V I N G CANNON (FOR FIELD SERVICE).
1st. AGAINST INFANTRY.—The Revolving Cannon may act with powerful effect against troops within 2000met' range, which comprises the distances
within which the different groups of the infantry batallions of the first line
are generally engaged, the different fractions of this force would then be in
the most efficacious zone of action of these guns, and it is difficult to conceive
how these fractions, even when profiting by all the favourable circumstances of
the formation of the terrain, could manoeuvre and properly maintain their
connections under a well-conducted fire of the Revolving Cannon.
It would appear from the preceding that the Revolving Cannon may
really have the advantage over ordinary field guns whenever there arises the
necessity of concentrating a rapid and deadly fire against a given point, so as
to produce very powerful effects, during a short period of time.
It is of course evident that these considerations do not apply to cases
when the troops are well covered by resisting obstacles, against which only
heavier calibres can produce efficient effect.
When acting defensively, the Revolving Cannon batteries should, after
having performed their-work during the first period of an engagement, withdraw to the rear, to previously chosen points, so as to be able, if possible, to
flank the principal line of defence, and to rake the approaches to the position.
41
Earthworks, against musketry fire, should be rapidly thrown up in front
of the guns ; this will permit them to hold their position until the last,
when they can be withdrawn from position and replaced in battery to meet
the critical moment of an assault.
If they can hold out until the assault takes place, they should, when the
infantry has arrived within about 300met>, open a lively fire with canister;
this would cover the front of attack with about 7000 balls per minute, and
per battery. Under such conditions the success of an assault by the enemy
would be very improbable.
2nd. AGAINST CAVALRY.—That which has been said concerning the
mode of action of the Revolving Cannon against infantry will evidently
apply to its use against cavalry, in any such case in which they might have
the audacity to expose themselves to its fire.
3rd. AGAINST ARTILLERY.—The Franco-German war of 1870-71 demonstrated the inefficiency of the mitrailleuse against field artillery. This
inefficiency had several causes, of which the following are the most prominent :—
(a) The want of sufficient precision, and tension of trajectory, at long
ranges.
(b) The impossibility of regulating the fire by observation of the falling
projectiles.
(c) Lastly, the nature of the projectiles (bullets), which were only
effective against men and horses, but totally powerless against materiel.
The question is quite different with the Revolving Cannon. Its projectiles are powerful enough to damage field guns and their carriages—which
are to-day very complicated and delicate machines—to blow up ammunitionchests, smash wheels, etc.
In the point of facility and rapidity of laying the gun, and finding the
range, the Revolving Cannon has an incontestable superiority over field
cannon ; and though the dangerous zone of its traj ectory is of less extent
than that of the larger calibre field-pieces, the total sum of the dangerous
zones swept by its projectiles during a given time, will be considerably greater
than the space swept by the field-piece during the same period of time.
The enemy's guns would run greater risk of being obliged to suspend
fire through loss of gunners, as the men would be quickly swept away by the
rapid and severe fire of the Revolving Cannon, even at ranges up to 3000 me \
6
42
Suppose the two different guns in presence of each other, at a range
between 1500 and 2000met>—that is to say, in the ordinary conditions of an
artillery engagement.
The fire of the Revolving Cannon, rapidly regulated, as before mentioned, would run at the rate of 40 to 50 rounds per minute, and the 700 to
800 fragments be directed against the enemy's materiel, their men and horses.
This would not leave their gunners an instant quiet, and the incessant
arrival of projectiles and the storm of fragments from the explosions would
hardly allow them the coolness necessary to serve and properly point their
guns.
On the other hand, the field-piece would only be able to direct 2 rounds
of shell per minute, against the Revolving Cannon and its materiel, giving
from 80 to 100 fragments.
In opening a shrapnel fire, specially directed against men and horses, the
field-piece could discharge three shrapnels in two minutes, giving about 340
balls and dangerous fragments per minute.
It would be extremely difficult to keep up a fire of this intensity if the
enemy were exposed to the fire of the Revolving Cannon, and therefore the
above figures could hardly be attained with field-pieces.
En resume, the Revolving Cannon is able to discharge about 27M1, of
metal, consisting of 50 shells, and furnishing 800 fragments, during the same
unit of time that the most perfect field-piece could discharge 14kiL of metal,
consisting—according to the employment of shell or shrapnel—of 2 or 1^
projectiles, furnishing in the first case 100, in the second case 340 dangerous
fragments.
Under these conditions it may be supposed that a battery of Revolving
Cannon, well commanded and served, could hold its position on the battlefield with advantage, at the greatest distances at which artillery engagements
are conducted, against a battery of ordinary field guns, and the Hotchkiss
Revolving Cannon therefore certainly appears to merit a serious study as to
its application for field service.
A T T A C K AND D E F E N C E OF F O R T I F I E D P O S I T I O N S .
ATTACK.—For the attack and defence of fortified positions the Revolving
Cannon appears also capable of rendering important services. The attacking
43
force may employ it advantageously to keep up a plunging fire at long ranges,
which would prove very troublesome if directed against the places d'armes,
roads of communication and assembling points of the garrison. The gun
once directed is subject to no movement—either from recoil or other reasons
—which might derange its direction, so that the fire can be interrupted and
resumed at irregular intervals, and can be carried on without difficulty during
night as well as day ; in this manner the defending forces would be harassed
without intermission.
During a bombardment, the batteries armed with Revolving Cannon
should direct a slow but incessant fire against such centres of the attacked
place, where fire has broken out, and thus prevent the approach of assistance,
so as to allow the conflagration to spread with the desired rapidity.
The Revolving Cannon could be well employed for the armament of
batteries to prevent a sortie, to rake the faces of certain works, etc.
Of course, it must be borne in mind that in the different above-stated
cases the Revolving Cannon will act particularly against the personnel, for its
projectile is not sufficiently powerful to be destructive against the materiel de
place.
DEFENCE.—The Revolving Cannon, can be employed to cover the enemy's
works with shell, particularly whilst establishing the batteries of the first
period and at the moment of opening the trenches. Later some of these
engines might be brought into position to be used for close attack; their
incessant fire, directed at the head of the trenches, would make it very
difficult and perilous for the enemy to advance. The projectiles of the
Revolving Cannon are sufficiently powerful to destroy the gabionage by their
explosion.
It is a very suitable weapon for arming the counter-approaches, destined
to rake the trenches and parallels of the enemy.
Lastly, the Revolving Cannon, arranged specially for canister-fire, constitutes an excellent gun for flanking the long ditches of modern fortifications,
as it is capable of sweeping the same by a storm of 1400 to 1500 balls per
minute.
This application of the gun has been experimented in the most thorough
manner by the French artillery in the new forts of Paris.
44
COAST D E F E N C E .
Flying batteries, organised to protect certain parts of the coast—to
prevent landing of troops, or a sudden attack on accessible parts of a coast
line—cannot be armed with any system of gun so appropriate as the Revolving Cannon, for the effects of its rapid shell-fire against boats, and troops
entirely without cover, landing on the shore, would be of the most deadly
character and much superior to the fire of ordinary field cannon.
DIVERSE PURPOSES.
The Revolving Cannon constitutes a very valuable weapon for arming
railway waggons, protected by light steel shields against small-arm fire, such
as were used by the French in the Franco-German war of 1870-71. For
the defence of bridges, passes, villages, etc.; it has always advantages over
the mitrailleuse, as its explosive shell enables the effect produced to be seen
and the laying of the weapon altered if necessary.
CONCLUSIONS.
The aforesaid suggestions and considerations will suffice to call attention
to the services which the Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon can render in field
artillery work. The experiments already made by different governments and
those which are in course of execution appear to confirm the ideas of the
inventor in that respect.
It should be remembered that the great advantages of the Revolving
Cannon become particularly apparent when the fire is carried on under conditions, approaching as much as possible to those of regular service on the
battle-field—that is to say, when the targets are placed at unknown distances, the piece harnessed and run up to action in any accidental position,
and nothing else being designated but the object, or target, to be acted
against. It would be of much interest to compare the results obtained
under such circumstances by the Revolving Cannon with those of ordinary
field-pieces and the mitrailleuse.
C H A P T E R VI.
THE LIGHT 37mm KEVOLVING CANNON FOE NAVAL SEKVICE. — DESCRIPTION AND
SPECIAL CONSTRUCTIVE FEATURES.—PRINCIPAL WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS OF
GUN AND AMMUNITION—RANGE, DEFLECTION, DEVIATION, ETC.—PENETRATIVE
EFFECTS OF THE PROJECTILES AGAINST DIFFERENT OBJECTS.—TABLE OF PERFORATIVE
EFFECTS OF SHELL. — ACCURACY OF FIRE IN SERVICE AFLOAT
AGAINST RAPIDLY-MOVING OBJECTS.—COMPARISON OF THE RAPIDITY OF FIRE
OF THE REVOLVING CANNON WITH THAT OF MITRAILLEUSES.
T H E L I G H T 3 7 ^ R E V O L V I N G CANNON FOR N A V A L SERVICE.
(See plates 4 and 5.)
The light 37 mm gun was specially designed for service afloat, to aid in
the defence of vessels against the attack of torpedo-boats and boarders,
mounted in the tops to cover the deck of an enemy's vessel with a hail of
small explosive shells, to prevent the crews working the guns mounted en
harhette, and to create disorder on board, for the armament of boats, further
to protect a landing of troops, etc.
Besides absence of recoil and rapidity of fire, it has been found necessary to have arrangements by which it should be made possible for one and
the same man to hold and fire the gun, and to lay it for each round, in order
to be able to efficiently repulse an attack of the rapidly-moving torpedoboats.
To attain this end the Revolving Cannon is mounted on a universalforked pivot £7", the socket of which is fitted on the hand-rail, or any other
convenient part of the vessel. A directing handle T is attached to the
under part, at the rear of the breech. The gunner grasps this handle, whilst
he bears the gun by means of a shoulder-piece 8 to his left shoulder, and
46
with his right he turns the crank f, which operates the mechanism ; during
this time he keeps his eye constantly on the sights, and can thus direct the
gun on any given object for each round he fires.
To give sufficient steadiness to aim and fire at the same time, the handcrank has been mounted at an oblique angle to the barrels, instead of turning
in a plane parallel to the length of the gun, and its position is fixed in a
manner that it may be rotated so far until the crank is close to, and can be
stopped by the outstretched thumb of the left hand, whilst grasping the
directing handle T under the breech. In this position the crank is near
the firing-point, which is indicated by a point; the gunner then stops and
takes aim, then, by a slight forward movement of the crank, he fires the gun.
Two men are necessary to work the gun. One places the cartridges in
the feed-trough, whilst the second with the shoulder-piece at his shoulder
lays and fires.
This arrangement enables the gunner to follow a moving object and to
easily regulate his fire by observing the projectiles as they strike the object,
or the surface of the water, although the distance and direction of the enemy
may be varying very rapidly.
For naval service " feed-cases " are not generally used, as volley firing is
but seldom required. The cartridges are usually carried in a cartridge-pouch,
holding twenty rounds, which is suspended by a belt around the shoulders
of the man who feeds the gun. The gunner simply lays a cartridge in the
feed-trough every time a shot is discharged, taking care to keep four to five
cartridges continually in the feed-trough, so as to equalise any irregularity
in the feeding of the gun.
The pivot, in which the Revolving Cannon is held by its trunnions, is of
gun-metal, and works in a gun-metal socket, in which it can rotate through
an entire circle, so that the gun may be moved in a vertical, as well as in a
horizontal plane, by the man handling the same.
The trunnion-caps can be clamped, and so can the pivot be clamped in
its socket, so that the gun can be fixed immovably, when not in use, by tightening the clamping-handles.
These clamping-handles are not intended to be used when firing the
gun, as it has been found absolutely necessary to have the same entirely
mobile in every sense during action.
The maximum rapidity of fire of this light naval gun is about 80 rounds
per minute ; but in regular service, when exact sighting is necessary, so that
47
each shot may be effective, 30 to 35 rounds per minute may be regarded as
the average, because the gun should be pointed for each round on observing
the bursting of the previous shot fired; in this manner, when the range is
great, the fire will be slow, but it will increase in rapidity as the enemy approaches, and when arrived near, rapid fire may be employed with advantage,
but, of course, accuracy of fire should never be sacrificed for rapidity.
For naval service a folding sight is used with the Kevolving Cannon.
It is a bar which has a certain number of fixed sights, with the usual notch,
corresponding to the elevations for ranges from 200 to 200met', and giving at
the same time the permanent derivation, so that the gunner may pass rapidly
from one range to another, without interrupting the fire, by simply moving
his eye from one sight to the other.
The front sight is a plain steel point, screwed into a collar which is
fitted on the frame of the gun directly over the front disk of the barrels.
The crank, the feed-trough and shoulder-piece can be dismounted and
kept in the accessory-chest, which accompanies each gun. The door covering
the introduction-trough is closed, and all is then made snug, when not in use.
These are the essential modifications found necessary in order to render
the Revolving Cannon practical for service afloat. It will be seen that these
arrangements tend to make the gun sufficiently simple, light and well
balanced, and to give it complete mobility in every sense. The addition
of the shoulder-piece and directing-handle, and the sighting apparatus, make
it possible for one and the same man to hold, sight and fire the gun with
perfect ease, whilst it is being supplied with cartridges by a second gunner.
P R I N C I P A L WEIGHTS, DIMENSIONS, ETC., OF T H E 37 mm N A V A L
GUN AND I T S AMMUNITION.
A.
GUN.
Weight of the Eevolving Cannon .
.
.
.
Weight of pivot with its socket .
.'
.
.
.
Barrels of
/ Number .
.
.
.
.
.
Whitworth's
I Calibre
fluid-compressed j Length (20 calibres)
[ Weight of each barrel .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
200 kil.
55 kil.
5
mm
37
mm
740
14= kil.
48
Number of grooves .
Depth of grooves (uniform)
Width of lands (uniform).
Pitch of rifling (in calibres)
Angle of rifling
Preponderance at the breech
Pressure of the shoulder-piece.
Total length of gun (without the shoulder-piece)
12
Helicoidal
rifling.
Left-hand twist.
B
0.4 mm
2 mm
29.9
6 deg.
15.2 Ml.
9.5 kil.
1180 mm
AMMUNITION.
455 gr
22 gr
93 mm
95 gr
80 gr
630 gr
167 mm
Total weight of shell
Weight of bursting charge .
Length of projectile
Weight of metallic cartridge-case
Charge of powder .
Total weight of complete cartridge
Total length of cartridge
Initial velocity, with ordinary French Eipault cannon powder
jnomet*
RANGE, DEFLECTION, DEVIATION, ETC.
EXPERIMENTS AT GAVRE (FRANCE), OCTOBRE, 1877.
Weigt of projectile (common shell) .
Charge of powder (ordinary French Eipault cannon)
Initial velocity
.
.
.
.
.
.
Mean variation in velocity .
.
.
.
.
Angle of relevement ( p o s i t i v e ) . . . .
Elevation
Number
of
of rounds
gun.
fired.
Degrees.
3
5
8
10
12
15
20
25
35
20
20
19
20
19
20
19
20
19
Mean
range.
deflection.
Metres.
Metres.
6 , 2 to left
4,9
6,4
32.3
60,8
10.4
51,3
159,5
A mln
Time
MEAN DEVIATION.
Mean
1199
1614
2157
2615
2951
3028
3526
4123
4473
455 «*
80 gr
402 met
1,49 met
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
7 2 , 0 to right
of
Longitudinal
Lateral.
flight.
Metres.
Metres.
Seconds.
14,8
14,8
18,34
21,5
21,1
33,7
32,2
31,9
55,3
0,88
1,37
1,41
3,1
3,0
2,3
5,3
7,4
6,7
3,5
6,0
8,9
10,9
12,9
14,8
18,8
23,1
29,0
The charge of 80 s r of Curtis & Harvey's R.F.G.2 powder gives an initial velocity of 435 met .
49
P E N E T R A T I V E E F F E C T S OF T H E P R O J E C T I L E S OF T H E
37mm N A
v A L GUN AGAINST D I F F E R E N T OBJECTS.
Experiments made at Gavre (France), in England and Austria, and at
the Hotchkiss Ordnance Works, have shown that the shell of the light naval
Revolving Cannon is capable of completely perforating the steel-plating of
torpedo-vessels of the " Lightning " class, up to a range of 2500 met>, if striking
nearly normally, and up to 2000 met* if they strike the vessel within an oblique
angle of 30deg'. ( See plate 8 J
The common shell will also perforate steel plates of 12 mm thickness
within a range of 500 me \
The Thorny croft steam torpedo-boats—even when running end on
towards the gun, and the projectiles striking the vessel at an oblique angle
up to 70deg' (see plate 9.)—are completely perforated by the fire of the
Revolving Cannon within 500met> range. The projectiles will burst after
having passed through, and fragments will damage the bulkheads and the
machinery.
Within a range of 700met' the steel shot will perforate the boiler, after
having passed through the sides of a torpedo-vessel, if it strikes at any
oblique angle up to 35 deg\
Maximum thickness of steel plate which can be perforated by the steel
shot at 200met- range: 25 mm .
Experiments made at St. Petersburgh have demonstrated that within a
range of 300 met" the common shell (without bursting charge) will pass through
a steel torpedo-boat when coming end on, and will completely perforate three
steel bulkheads of 2 m m thickness each. The steel shot fired from the same
gun, and at the same distance, passed through the bow of the torpedo-boat,
then through three steel bulkheads, and lastly knocked a hole in the plate
representing the boiler.
The range-tables of the French Navy for the 37 mm Revolving Cannon
give the perforative effects of the shell in the following tabular form :—
7
50
PEEFORATIVE EFFECTS OF THE COMMON SHELL OF HOTCHKISS
37mm EEVOLVING CANNON AGAINST DIFFERENT TARGETS.
Obliquity
I
Plates. 1
Distance
up to which.
Id
to tlie
Obstacle.
Perforation
takes place.
mm
degrees
metres
CD
NATUEB OP TARGET.
/ Thornycroft
1 TorpedoTough 1
boats.
] Upper plating
Steel / of the frigate
1 " Friedland."
of Fire
\
I
)
J
>
)
6
15
(
\
300
460
400
0 ] point-blank
20
30 )
CO
I
100
°
20
30
CO
I
I
o o o o
/
3000
2800
2400
500
400
250
I 30
24
22
21
\
( 20°
0
1
30 )
range.
4000
3800
800
400
point-blank
range
REMARKS.
The shell, fitted with percussion
fuze, bursts in passing through
steel plates up to 15 mm thickness
and through oak timbers up to
30cm thickness, and projects dan- i
gerous fragments behind these
obstacles.
Up to 1000met- range this shell,
fired at boards 25 mm thick, bursts
in passing through or immediately
after perforation.
|
i
i
1
Within ranges up to 1000met- the
shell bursts on striking the water
or on the first ricochet,
Thickness of oak timber necess ary to stc>p the passa^je of the shell fired at
point-blank range .
.
.
.
Penetration of the shell iii oak t imber of 7 0 cm thicknes 3 .
70cm
53 c m
ACCURACY OF FIRE IN SERVICE AFLOAT, AND DIRECTED
AGAINST RAPIDLY-MOVING OBJECTS, SUCH AS STEAM
TORPEDO-VESSELS, ETC.
Some of tlie most interesting experiments were made at Helder (Holland)
in September, 1878, to determine the accuracy and rapidity of fire of the
Revolving Cannon on board of vessel and when directed against fast steam
torpedo-boats.
The 37mm Revolving Cannon—light naval pattern—was mounted in
the starboard bow of the iron-clad ram " Guinea." The target consisted of
51
a full-sized model of the steam torpedo-boats, built for the Dutch Government by Messrs. Thornycroft & Co. (See plate 15 J
The torpedo-boat was anchored in the roads between Helder and the
Island of Texel. The " Guinea' 7 was under steam.
In all the tests common explosive shell were used ; but only the direct
through hits were counted, as it was supposed that hits from fragments of
shells, which had burst on striking the water, would be powerless against the
steel plates of the torpedo-boats.
EXPERIMENTS ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1878.
1st. EXPEEIMENT.—Sea calm. Force of wind 1-2. A strong current
running.
" Guinea" stopped at 600met< from torpedo-boat; boat taken
nearly on broadside.
24 rounds fired in 1 min. 20 sec.
12 direct hits = 50 %.
Besides this, the boat was struck by about 40 fragments of shell, which had
burst on striking the water, before the target.
2nd. EXPERIMENT.—"Guinea" stopped at 600 met from torpedo-boat;
projectiles striking at an angle of incidence of about 5 0 ^ .
28 rounds fired in 1 min. 30 sec.
20 direct hits = 81i %.
The target was hit also by numerous fragments.
EXPERIMENTS ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1878.
3rd. EXPERIMENT.—Sea slight. Force of wind 3. " Guinea " steaming
ten knots. Fire striking torpedo-boat at an angle of incidence of about
30deg-. Commenced fire when vessel had arrived within 800met' from boat,
and continued until " cease fire" was ordered, when the " Guinea" had
come nearly up to same.
46 rounds fired in 2 min. 30 sec.
28 direct hits = 61 %.
4th. EXPERIMENT.—Sea moderate. Force of wind 3. " Guinea " steaming twelve knots. Fire striking torpedo-boat at an angle of incidence of
52
about 45 d9g \
boat.
Commenced fire at 1050met>; ceased fire at about 500 met 'from
20 rounds fired in 1 min. 30 sec.
12 direct hits = 60 %.
5th. EXPERIMENT.—Sea rough. Force of wind 4. " Guinea" steaming
ten knots and a-half. Fire striking torpedo-boat end on. Commenced fire
at 1050met" and continued until nearly up to boat.
53 rounds fired in 3 min. 15 sec.
4L direct hits = 77 %.
The hits from fragments were uncountable, and the boat was entirely
riddled by fragments of the shells which burst inside and passed through the
opposite side of the vessel.
It will be remarked on examining the targets how well the shots can
be grouped in the most vital part of the torpedo-boat, and to what advantage
the greater mean deviation in range of the gun, to that in direction, can be
utilised for covering the whole length of the same with projectiles, when she
is running end on towards the gun.
It was here demonstrated that it would be absolutely impossible for any
torpedo-boat to approach a vessel armed with the Hotchkiss Revolving
Cannon : she would be disabled or sunk as soon as she came in sight; and
if a vessel is armed with several of these guns, as is the case, for instance, in
the French Navy—of which some ships have as many as eight Revolving
Gannon—it would be rashness for a whole fleet of torpedo-boats to continue
the attack on such vessel, and they could be easily kept at sufficient distance
that even the Whitehead torpedo, discharged from such boats, would have no
chance of reaching the object.
Of course, in future wars, in which the torpedo-boat is called to play a
very important rdle, the attack of vessels by these much-feared little boats
will principally be carried out during dark. In consideration of this, most
Navies are furnishing their ships with one or more electric lights, in order to
be better enabled to detect the approach of these craft at some distance from
the vessel. It is easy to imagine the valuable service the Revolving Cannon
will be capable of rendering, when used in conjunction with the electric light.
Besides these experiments, the accuracy of fire, etc., was determined
against a fixed target. The results are contained in the following table :—
53
RAPID FIEING. THE Q-TJN TRAINED FROM THE SHOULDER.*
Range.
Number
of rounds
Time
Dimensions
of
Number
of
fired.
firing.
targets.
hits.
Vertical.
cm
cm
15
16
11
14
14
111
106
82
91
69
98
163,5
76
127
90
Metres.
Seconds.
500
500
900
900
20
20
20
20
47
30,5
63
60
1400
20
80
\
5 met -X5 met \ 10 met - high
) 5 met - broad
MEAN DEVIATIONS.
of
Horizontal.
!
COMPARISON OF T H E R A P I D I T Y OF F I R E OF R E V O L V I N G
CANNON W I T H T H A T OF M I T R A I L L E U S E S .
In comparing the rapidity of fire of the Revolving Cannon with that of
the well-known mitrailleuses of Gatling, Palmcrantz and Montigny,** it must
be remarked that the apparent greater rapidity of fire of the mitrailleuses is
illusive, because under rapidity of fire must be understood the time necessary
to load, point and discharge a gun, and not the time required to load and fire
only. This may be called rapidity of the mechanism, but it is often mistaken
for rapidity of fire.
At a comparative trial between the 37 mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon
and the Service Gatling Grim of the British Navy, at Portsmouth, in July,
1878, when both guns were mounted side by side on board H.M. gunboat
" Comet," and were worked under steam, at Spithead, against floating targets,
it was proved that at sea, where sighting is necessary for each round, the
rapidity of fire of the Revolving Cannon is about equal to that of the
" Gatling,' 7 although the rapidity of mechanism of the latter is at least three
times as great. Resides this, the steel plates of torpedo-launches are proof
* It must be remarked tliat on this occasion the gun was worked by two different men, which accounts
for the great irregularity in the deviations.
** The two last-named inventors, following the idea of Mr. Hotchkiss, have lately, too, endeavoured to
construct their guns so as to fire a small explosive shell.
54
against the bullets of the Gatling gun, and the accuracy of its fire, as well
as the range, was considerably inferior to that of the Revolving Cannon.
It must also be borne in mind that each shell of the Revolving Cannon
gives on explosion from 15 to 19 dangerous fragments, so that the bursting
effect compensates for rapidity of fire, and its fire is thus rendered more
effective than that of any class of mitrailleuse.
For naval service, where a gun is subject to all movements of the vessel
itself, and has to fire against rapidly-moving objects, the Revolving Cannon,
mounted on its universal pivot, and trained from the shoulder something in
the style of a rampart gun, so that it can be pointed for each round, a rapid
and very precise fire can be opened at 2000met* range, of sufficient power to
disable or destroy any torpedo-boat in service at the present day.
The Revolving Cannon is capable of delivering a slow fire of great precision at long ranges, whilst it possesses at the same time the advantage of
being able to direct a stream of explosive shells, or steel shot, with the
rapidity of about 60 rounds per minute, when the assailant has perhaps,
during dark, arrived unobserved within close quarters.
CHAPTER VII.
THE REVOLVING CANNON FOR CERTAIN PARTICULAR PUEPOSES.—THE HOTCHKISS
MITRAILLEUSE.—THE 40 mm GUN FOR FLANKING THE DITCHES OF MODERN
FORTIFICATIONS.—THE 47 rani REVOLVING CANNON FOR NAVAL SERVICE.—THE
53mm
REVOLVING CANNON.
The system of the Revolving Cannon is not restricted to any particular
calibre ; it can be constructed either as a mitrailleuse, which employs smallarm ammunition, or of calibres much larger than the before-described guns.
Guns as large as 53 m m calibre are manufactured; and there is no practical
difficulty in constructing still more powerful calibres, thereby affording the
advantage of uniformity in the system of armament, as far as concerns
machine-guns.
T H E HOTCHKISS
MITRAILLEUSE.
This arm entirely resembles the Revolving Cannon in its construction ;
but it is generally made with nine instead of five barrels, the motion of the
crank being accelerated by two helical wheels, to give a rapidity of fire of
about 200 shots per minute. This comparatively slow fire has been adopted
to insure the perfect and reliable action of the gun, as it is known that most
of the defects in the working of other systems of mitrailleuses are due, in
great part, to the excessive speed at which the mechanism has to work, and
the impossibility of being able to supply the gun with ammunition with the
necessary precision and order.
The rapidity of 200 rounds per minute allows the application of the
simple mechanism adopted for this arm, and it is also with it to be less
feared that ammunition may be unnecessarily wasted, as is the case with
guns firing excessively fast.
56
The cartridges, packed parallel to each other, are carried in feed-cases,
each case holding twenty-five cartridges.
Mr. Hotchkiss does not manufacture his gun to fire small-arm ammunition, unless specially desired, as it is the use of a small explosive shell which
is one of the particularly valuable features of the Hotchkiss system.
T H E 40 mm R E V O L V I N G CANNON, FOR F L U N K I N G
THE
D I T C H E S OF MODERN FORTIFICATIONS.
This gun is specially construted to fire canister shot, as well as explosive shell.
By an entirely new ballistical principle it has been made possible to
cover a prismatical ditch, over its entire length with an equally well-divided
hail of bullets—1500 to 1600 per minute—from a few metres from the muzzle
of the gun to a distance of several hundred metres.*
Weight of gun
450kiL
Weight of canister shot
.
.
.
.
.
870 gr
Number of balls in each canister
.
.
.
. 24
Weight of explosive shell
680 gr
Charge of powder .
.
.
.
.
.
90 ^
T H E 47 mm R E V O L V I N G CANNON FOR NAVAL
SERVICE.
In the 47 mm Revolving Cannon the general disposition of the light 37 mm
naval gun has been adhered to. It is mounted in the same manner, on a
universal pivot, and is directed and fired from the shoulder by means of the
stock, so that each round can be pointed with great rapidity and precision
during slow, or rapid fire.
Like the 37 mm gun, this gun has no perceptible recoil; and as it discharges either a steel shot, or explosive shell, weighing l,100 kiL , it may be
regarded as a regular small rapid-firing cannon, in which no time is required
for loading or running out, etc.
* It is desired that the details of construction of this special model of the Revolving Oannon should
for the present not be known, therefore no explanation is given of the manner by which the somewhat
curious results are obtained.
57
This gun is designed principally for arming launches, and its weight—
550 —does not much surpass that of the guns, with their carriage, ordinarily
used for this purpose. This gun, on account of its greater power, will
sometimes be preferred to the 37 mm model for the armament of ships.
Its projectiles are capable of perforating steel plates of 20 mm thickness
up to 2000 met< range, and at an oblique angle of fire within 30deg', so that it
can be used for damaging the superstructure and unarmoured parts of ironclads and powerful vessels of the merchant navy, which are fitted out as
cruisers during a war, as well as any torpedo-boat it might be possible to
construct for some time to come.
The new rapid steel cruisers and despatch vessels which are now being
introduced in some Navies will not be able to resist the punching power of
the projectiles of this gun.
The rapidity of fire of this 47 mm calibre Eevolving Cannon is nearly the
same as that of the light 37 mm model—that is to say, from about 20 carefullyaimed shots per minute, up to about 60 rounds, during a critical moment of
an engagement.
In this model two turns of the hand-crank are necessary to complete the
operations of loading, firing and extracting the empty cartridge-case. The
gun gives an accoustic signal to the gunner when the two turns of the crank
have been completed ; he then (as in the 37 mm gun) stops, points and by a
slight forward motion of the crank, he fires the gun.
The stock, or shoulder-piece, of this gun is of a somewhat different construction to that of the 37 mm model. The bottom arm is extended downwards and is fitted with three handles, one above the other, so that the gunner,
in bearing the stock to his left shoulder, grasps (according to the required
elevation or depression) one of these handles with his left hand, instead
of a directing-handle under the breech, his arm being then in a vertical,
outstretched position. This arrangement tends to give more leverage for
pointing and working the gun.
ML
PRINCIPAL WEIGHTS, DIMENSIONS, ETC.
Weight of gun
Weight of universal pivot with its socket
I Number
) Calibre
els.
Length (25 calibres)
Weight of each barrel
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
550kil135 m5
47 mm
1175 mm
44 kil.
8
58
Number of grooves
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
16
Depth of grooves .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0,4 mm
Billing. { Width of lands
3 mm
Pitch of rifling, one turn in
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1500 mm
Twist, depth and width uniform
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Total length of gun
1,730 met
AMMUNITION.
Weight of steel cored-shot
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Total weight of shell
Weight of bursting charge
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Entire length of projectile
Weight of metallic cartridge-case .
.
.
.
.
.
.
Total weight of complete cartridge
.
.
.
.
.
.
Total length of complete cartridge
Charge of powder
Initial velocity of projectile
1,100 ML
1,100 HL
.
.
45 gr
135 mm
.
. 150 gr
.
1470 gr
234 mm
200 g r
425 met
.
REVOLVING CANNON OF 53 m m CALIBRE.
Up to this date the 53 m m gun is the heaviest calibre which has been
constructed on the Hotchkiss system; it is principally intended for certain
services in fortifications, and to be used as a bow and stem chaser on
vessels, etc.
This gun resembles in general features the heavy model Revolving
Cannon for field service, but it is a gun of much greater power.
The
ammunition is also similar to the before-mentioned gun. A metallic cartridge-case holds the charge, projectile and primer, combined in one. The
cartridges are placed singly in the feed-trough of the gun, and from thence
they are automatically distributed to the barrels and then fired. Like all
other machine-guns on the Hotchkiss system, this, too, is without recoil,
and the barrels are without movement at the moment of the discharge.
The rapidity of fire is about 30 rounds per minute.
59
PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS OF THE
53mm REVOLVING CANNON AND ITS AMMUNITION.
Calibre
Total length of bore (24 calibres)
.
.
.
.
.
.
Pitch of rifling one turn in .
.
.
.
Twist, depth and width of grooyes uniform
Number of grooyes
.
.
.
.
.
1
Depth of grooves .
.
.
.
V Width of lands
Total length of gun
Weight of gun
/ Total weight of projectile (shell)
I Bursting charge .
.
.
.
Ammunition. < Length of projectile
.
.
.
I Length of entire cartridge .
.
\ Weight of complete cartridge .
.
Charge of powder
Initial velocity of projectile
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
58 mir
1272 mn
. 1507 mn
.
.
. 1 6
.
.
.
.
.
!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0,5 mn
3 mn
2me'
. 1100kil1,800 kil
75 gr
170 mn
310 mn
2,460 kiL
360 gr
450 mel
LIST OF PLATES.
1. Geometrical Drawings and Sections of Gun and Carriage.
2. Revolving Cannon, Carriage and Limber.
3. Revolving Cannon on Field Carriage.
4. Geometrical Drawings and Sections of Revolving Cannon for Naval Service.
5. Revolving Cannon, as Mounted for Service Afloat.
6. Ammunition used with the Gun.
7. Twelve Burst Projectiles, showing Fragmentation of same.
8. Steel Targets Perforated by Common Shell of the Revolving Cannon.
9. Steel Target representing the Bow of H.M. Torpedo-Boat
a
Lightning" Perforated by
Common Shell of the Revolving Cannon.
10-14. Series of Targets made with the Revolving Cannon at Sandy Hook, U.S.A.
15. Targets representing a Steam Torpedo-Boat (Experiments in Holland).
Printed by T. SYMOTSDS, 10, Rue Rochechouart, Paris.
HOTCHKISS REVOLVING CANNON. FOR FIELD SERVICE
Elevation 110
Plate'I.
Vertical section through the trunnions
Elevating and lateral training apparatus
Front- view
of breech-block 1: 5.
Plan 1:5.
DETAILS
OF
THE
MECHANISM
Scale 1.5.
/j"ran==\7^"
JKz
T
Hand- crank
Crank-shaft
Worm.
-^ar-
Firing-pin
Extractor-crank. Thumb-screw.
EES
Cog-wheel
Spri 11
Extractor
Loading-piston.
1
.S raise-et Ccfartter 4 3 . R.cfa Dwtkercjue,i Fares (j^J
PLATE
HOTCHKISS
REVOLVING
CANNON
FIELD CARRIAGE AND LIMBER
%.
PLATE
HOTCHKISS
ON
REVOLVING
FIELD
CARRIAGE
CANNON
3
HOTCHKISS REVOLVING-CANNON. FW
NAVAL SERVICE
Plate *
(HS5) A.Braise et Courtier 43.HdeMwikcrque
Ptaie . ( ?s)
PLATE
|
IIOTCHKISS
REVOLVING
AS M O U N T E D
FOR
SERVICE
CANNON
AFLOAT
o
PLATE
AMMUNITION
FOR
HOTCHKISS
REVOLVING
1. Projectile, showing grooves under band.
3. JSteel shot..
CANNON
2. Fired projectile.
4. Canister-shot.
5. Complete cartridge, with explosive shell.
0
Plate 7.
Photo6lyptie Lemercier & C"1 Paris
BURST PROJECTILES OF HOTCHKISS REVOLVING
m
CAL.37 /m.
WEIGHT 525 <5r. BURSTING CHARGE 25gr. 12 SHELLS. 3 0 8
CANNON
FRAGMENTS
PLATE
t
•
4
FRONT
OF
Target N ' 1.
AND
i
^
t
BACK
r
^
VIEW
HOTCHKISS
•
#
:
OF
TARGETS
REVOLVING
Steel plate (i mm thickness.
PERFORATED
CANNON,
CAL.
37M.M.
BY
COMMON
NAVAL
SHELL
MODEL
Striking velocity l-i'met. corresponding to 2 0 0 0 m e t
Fs° 2.
A
12 «
2115 «
MO n
N» 3.
(( 1,') ((
330 «
230 «
range
8
PLATE
TARGET REPRESENTING THE BOW AND FIRST BULKHEAD OF H. M. TORPEDO"BOAT • LIGHTNING- »
PERFORATED
BY COMMON
S H E L L O F H O T C H K I S S R E V O L V I N G C A N N O N , 3 7 M M . CAL., NAVAL
Direction of fire parallel t o line of keel. Striking velocity 330 l n e'-, corresponding to 230'"*'- range.
PATTERN.
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TRIALS WITH HOTCHKISS REVOLVING CANNON S/'WCAL.AT SANDY HOOK N.Y.
Plate. 11..
25 January 1877
RESULTS at 2 0 0 yards (183m-et)
.
r
Weight of projectile •_ 520 Or? f"
dumber of rounds fired • 100
j
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A Hits
not through.
*
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OT to/rt 1 , 2 . 6 / 9 2 . 63
Total numler of hits on
loth targets MS.
+
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(Sfyned,) Frank H:Fhipj>s
t0*>^
(
,
Capt. of
- - •
&v
< :
Ordnance,
Recorder.
Distance of first target from gun 183 mfl
(U4rZ) A Jrffisc &> CnurtUr, 43 JL del)unkerju^foris (1*.$
TRIALS WITH HOTCHKISS REVOLVING CANNON 3 7 * * C A L . A T SANDY HOOK N.Y.
2 December 1876
Plate 12
RESULTS at 1000yards (915^)
A
" • / •
A
#
+
t^4
•
4
Weight of projectile • __ 520£r
NiimbeT of rounds fired: 143-
A
#
A
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A
•
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#
(If round* fired lofvnil lh& dcvtrflvnj)
• >r
1
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/
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/ 276
/ 2S4
/ 194
A 9
A 102
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Total mimler of hits on the 4 targets 1285.
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TRIALS WITH HOTCHKISS REVOLVING CANNON 37"WCAL.AT SANDY HOOK N Y .
2.DecemW.1876
Plate. 14.
RESULTS at 2000 yards (1830m-et)
Weight of projectile: 520 Gr.
Number of rounds fired : 170
(7 Rounds firaL to find' ihc elevations)
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Recorder
81
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of hits on the 4 targets— 96$
(UU15) A.imst. k Cvurticr, lii.K.JcDvtniurgtu.Tuna i^ujt)
TRIALS WITH HOTCHKISS REVOLVING CANNON,AT HELDER (HOLLAND) 11-12 SEPT. 1878.
GUN
MOUNTED ON STARBOARD BOW OF
IRON-CLAD RAM ."GUINEA"!
Plate. 15.
^-k*
DIMENSIONS OF TARGET
representing a Thomycroft steam
torpedo -"boat (fcul-sizej
length, over all
Width
23
met
; ...*./...
Height aiorc water, bow.
lenath
*. ..stern,
of cabin
Width, of cahin,....
Heiaht of cabin- abort deck
1.0 ,
0.7 - „
13.0 ,
Diametre of auto
OJ .
Duxnutro of ditto ....
% rounds fired ut
6oo"? from torpedo-boat.
It
direct hits
lnt20s
Z ~ * Guinea, at anchor
600™* from brpedo-boat.
- $0 %
Z8 rounds fired
20 du>cct hts - J11/z %
0.6$'.. .
0.3$ ,
of funnd
f.t Guinea, at anchor
1. 3$.
Heiaht of connma torrer
Height
0°
1.0$.
...O.M .
3^*GuwMz~\<baminay 70 knots
c^mnverued jfir& at 800"^front torpedo boat
and centinzuul until nearly up to same;.
{
M roiuuls firad in £~J<?.4
28 direct litis * 61 °/o.
A fz Guinea/ steam/ho JZ JutoCs.
commenced fire at 1060™^front torped- boat
stopped fire; at aiouf Soo "***'
{
20 round? fir^l
1Z direct*kits.-
in. 7m30A
#0 %.
0™: Guinea, * sUamfna 10titknots
comnunced /ire'at 70SOnutfrom toyed/) hat
and continued until nearly up to samv.
J
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r
3?/$'
f3 rounds fired ut
*? direct hits * 77 %
3$SS A.ftroisv r/ CourhJcr tB-JUtf cU' Dunktraiu?. Tans /S.