THE “ INFLEXIBLE ” AND HER ARMAMENT. 
67 
In order to load, the muzzle is depressed until it comes opposite 
to an opening made in the upper deck before the turret, and 
protected by a sloping armoured glacis. A hydraulic rammer 
works in guides through this hole, and the rammer-head is 
hollow, and is so constructed that when it is driven into the 
recently fired gun, and comes in contact with the sides of the 
powder-chamber, a valve opens, and it discharges through a 
number of holes small jets of water, thus acting as a sponge, 
and extinguishing any remnants of the charge or of the products 
of the explosion which may have remained smouldering in the 
bore. It is then withdrawn, and a hydraulic shot-lift raises up 
to the muzzle of the gun the charge, the projectile, and a 
retaining wad, and then a single stroke of the rammer drives 
them into the gun and home to the base of the bore. Again the 
rammer is withdrawn, the hydraulic ram under the breech of 
the gun elevates the muzzle, the turret swings round, and the 
shot is fired. A 9-inch gun, mounted experimentally in a turret 
at Elswick, and loaded on this system, was brought to the load- 
ing position, sponged, loaded, and brought back to the firing 
point in twenty-three seconds. Equally rapid loading was 
effected with the 38-ton gun during the experimental trial of 
the hydraulic gear on board the Thunderer . Thus the first 
advantage of the system is rapidity of fire ; the second is 
economy of labour. One man only for each gun is stationed in 
the turret, another works the hydraulic rammer on the main 
deck, six or eight others are employed in bringing up the ammu- 
nition to the shot-lift by means of a small tramway. There are 
two sets of loading gear for each turret ; but even if both were 
put out of order, the gun could still be loaded, with an ordinary 
rammer and sponge, by a number of men stationed on the main 
deck. 
The adoption of the system enables very heavy guns to be 
carried in comparatively small turrets. Those of the Inflexible 
are very little larger than those of the Devastation ; so that 
with the old plan of having a numerous crew in the turret, and 
running in the gun in order to load it by hand, only the 38- ton 
gun could be carried. As it is, it is quite possible that the 
Inflexible will be armed with even a more tremendous weapon 
than the 81-ton gun. This has been held in view in designing 
the ship ; and, by a slight modification, it will be possible to 
mount in each of her turrets a pair of 160-ton guns, with a bore 
of 30 feet and a calibre of 20 inches. 
A minor feature, which will perhaps be introduced in con- 
nection with guns of large calibre, is a steel plug containing 
within it a detonating apparatus for firing a charge of powder. 
This is intended to be fixed in the vent of a heavy gun, in order 
to prevent the upward escape of the gas and the consequent 
F 2 
