286 
MEPPEN EXPERIMENTS. 
readied the extreme power of muzzle-loading guns, simply because we are 
unable further to increase their length. We have made them as long as they can 
be for use on board ships and in casemates. Guns of greater power are demanded, 
but we cannot arrive at greater power without greater length, and we all know 
that naval guns are limited in length by the small space available for recoil. The 
bore of this gun of Krupp’s is 23 calibres in length, while our 38-ton gun is, I 
think, 18 calibres, and that of the 80-ton gun is about the same. There is no 
doubt that the power of the Krupp 71-ton gun is greater than that of the 80-ton 
gun at present, but if we could put on a few more feet at the muzzle of the latter, 
we could realise a far greater energy. Well, in order to increase the length of 
the gun, you must introduce a breech-loading arrangement. As to the question 
of the weakness of breech-loaders, we must remember that the gun which burst 
on board the German training ship was an old gun, and that it was the gun itself 
which gave way, and not the breech-loading arrangement. Therefore that occurrence 
affords no argument against breech-loading, although it may be an argument 
against making guns of steel. In 1868 the Ordnance Select Committee very 
strongly recommended a trial of breecli-loading guns, but there were said to be 
very good reasons why the recommendation was not followed. We have got 
a great number of short guns, very good of their kind beyond doubt, but never¬ 
theless unequal to longer B.L. guns which might have been produced of the same 
weight. We have two officers of high rank in the navy now present, and you may 
be glad to hear their views on the subject. 
Admiral H. Boys, said:—The navy is fully in accord with the opinion of 
Sir John Adye, that it is desirable to test the merits of this question by experiments, 
and adopt the system best calculated to promote efficiency; and whether the result 
be breech-loading or muzzle-loading, the Admiralty and the War Office are in entire 
agreement in desiring only the system which is most perfect. As to the points at 
issue between muzzle and breech-loading guns, I suppose no one would have breech¬ 
loaders without very good reasons. The advantage would have to be considerable 
on their side, both in power and convenience, to justify their adoption* especially 
when we consider the vast change of stores throughout the services which the 
authorities would have to sanction if they introduced a new system. As to rapidity 
of fire, I may mention that three or four years ago one of our ships was prize¬ 
firing, steaming round a 12-ft. target, at a range varying from between 500 and 
2000 yds., and that in the course of eight rounds, one gun—a muzzle-loader of 
12-tons—would have hit a gun boat every time, and that the eight rounds were 
fired in minutes. No breech-loader could have done better than that. Then, 
as to the protection afforded to the gun’s crew, I think the advantage is also 
on the side of the muzzle-loaders; for if you load at the breech on board ship, 
and your gun is run out, the port is open, but with a muzzle-loader the port can 
be closed and the rammer staff passed through a small hole in the port, thus giving 
the gunners more protection from small-arm fire. With reference to accuracy, we 
have the experiment at Shoeburyness with an 18-ton gun, which showed that out 
of five rounds three can hit a 10-ft. moving target at 2000 yds., which, I think, 
would be sufficiently accurate for the navy. However, notwithstanding all these 
considerations, we have to look at this question with modem lights, and under 
altered conditions. We have now different kinds of gunpowder, and different 
modes of combustion, and our newer experiences certainly point to increased length 
of gun as a necessity. But the ships cannot carry such long guns if they are to 
load at the muzzle ; and as we have progressed hitherto, so we must progress still, 
and with the determination of having the best gun for the country and the services. 
(Applause). 
