520 Modern British Ordnance and. Ammunition. [October, 



new things may be the most rare and desirable. This pre- 

 ference for the general supposed course of true science 

 sometimes blinds them. 



6. Although we think this the age of inventions, we are 

 in every corner in want of more. It is for the good of the 

 nation and the world that they should be produced more 

 rapidly. They would be if encouragement were given ; the 

 better kind would probably soon supersede the lower. It 

 is proposed that every obstruction now depressing the 

 minds of inventors, and keeping back some of the best, shall 

 be removed, and an attempt be made to put in its place an 

 encouragement or facility. 



VI. ON MODERN BRITISH ORDNANCE AND 

 AMMUNITION. 



By Lieut. S. P. Oliver, Royal Artillery. 



Trunnions- 



JfLN the last number of the " Quarterly Journal of Science, " 

 Jlf the new ir6-inch gun* of 35 tons was alluded to as the 

 ^ latest addition to the British Service ordnance. The 

 following details of its dimensions and construction are 

 given beneath, viz.f : — 



Inches. 



Nominal length . . 191*5 



Total length . . 195 =16 ft. 3 in. 



Inches. 



'Width between . . 56 



Diameter ... 13 



Width .... 775 



.Axis from breech end . 73* 15 



T ,, r (Bore .... 162*5 

 Length of | Rifling # _ .135 



Twist increasing from to } 5 calibres 406 



n (Width ... 1-5 



Grooves 9 | Depth ... .* 



Vent : hardened copper placed at an an angle of 45 with 

 the vertical, and enters the bore at 12 inches from bottom of 

 bore, so as to strike a battering charge of 120 lbs. pebble 

 powder at 4-ioths of its length from the end of cartridge.]; 



* This gun has since been bored up to 12 inches, with at present doubtful 

 advantage. 



f Ante, Minute 28,806. , 



% See Proceedings of Department of the Director of Artillery, Minute 

 28,879. 



