THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
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weight was essential, but it seemed a considerable sacrifice to lose so 
much attacking power as 10 tons, 
Lieut. Jones said he had understood Captain Morgan to explain that 
the gun, being in two divisions, would be easier to move than a gun of 
less weight; so that the extra 10 tons would be of no disadvantage in 
that respect. 
Captain Harrison said his objection was, the ship would lose power 
by the sacrifice of this 10 tons. Another ship might be met, armed with 
a gun of the service weight, and another 9-inch gun in addition. 
Lieut. Stewart said it was very doubtful whether they could make 
a gun so large as a 1200 -pr. yet. 
Captain Harrison said there need be no difficulty on that ground. 
He thought they would find Colonel Campbell quite prepared to make 
a gun of that weight if necessary. 
Colonel Miller. —What is the weight of the heaviest gun made ? 
Captain Harrison. —Twenty-five tons. 
Captain Noble. —We can make them up to 37 tons at present. 
Colonel Miller asked if he was to understand that there was a demand 
for a 15-inch gun, or that they ought to anticipate such a demand, and 
provide for its construction before they required it ? 
Captain Morgan said he believed that they must advance to that 
weight, and they must consequently provide for the emergency. 
Colonel Miller said it seemed to him that there were two questions 
involved. First, was it necessary to have these very heavy guns ? for 
if so, they must consider how to make them. But if there was no reason 
to expect that they would be required, it was doubtful whether it was 
worth while to proceed in a proposal which would involve so much 
expense and such loss of power. 
Captain Browne said: Captain Morgan had already stated that such 
a gun was required for piercing armour-plates ; for that, if they had 
15 and 20-inch plates, they must have 15 and 20-inch guns to pierce 
them. As to the objection raised by Captain Harrison respecting 
the weight of the gun, he thought the additional 10 tons was but a 
small consideration in comparison with the weight necessarily entailed 
by the plating, fittings, carriage, ammunition, &c., belonging to each 
gun on board ship. 
Captain Harrison said his objection had been misunderstood. He 
believed that if they employed a service gun, the spare room could be 
more profitably employed by putting another gun in the same turret. 
Thus, supposing they had a 7-inch gun of the service pattern in the 
turret, they might find room for a 9-inch gun besides. This he thought 
would be preferable to “putting all the eggs in one basket.” 
Captain Strange said, if he comprehended Captain Morgan's design, 
it was to save material in the gun rather than add to it, because 
there was no necessity for a breech-piece. 
Captain Morgan said he could not take credit for any saving of 
material. He calculated that in a gun of the size proposed, 10 tons 
would be added to the service weight. 
Captain Browne said it should be shown that a 9-inch gun could 
be put into the same turret with a 15-inch, before basing arguments 
on such an arrangement. 
