415 
THE NEW AUSTRIAN R.B,L. (15 om ) 6-IN. SIEGE GUN 
OF BRONZE-STEEL. 
BY 
MAJOR J. F. OWEN, R.A. 
The mode of manufacture of the so-called “ bronze-steel,” as well 
as the construction of a gun from this metal, have already been des¬ 
cribed in these “Proceedings” (Yol. IX. No. 4); and full details 
were given in the same (Yol. X. No. 1) as to the Austrian field guns 
of pattern 1875 made from this material. 
So satisfied are the Austrians with these guns, that they have for 
some time past been experimenting with a 6-in. B.L. gun, throwing a 
shot of 85 lbs. with a muzzle velocity of 1476 f.s., and which is con¬ 
structed also of bronze-steel, as described further on. 
In Germany, also, experiments have been lately carried out with 
steel-bronze guns, in the Arsenal at Spandau, and it is not improbable 
that even larger guns than that treated of here may be made, having 
steel-bronze barrels strengthened by rings of the same material, secured 
by shrinkage. 
In the “ Revue d^Artillerie ” for January and June of the current 
year we find a full account of the experiments which have led to the 
final adoption of the (15 cm ) 6-in. bronze-steel gun in Austria. This 
account is also interesting as showing the progress made abroad in 
artillery, and as proving that investigations of the description given, 
when carefully conducted, lead to satisfactory results. 
So long ago as 1864, experiments were commenced in Austria iu 
connection with the construction of a cast-iron B.L. (15 cm ) 6-in. gun, 
to replace the B.L. gun of this calibre (of pattern 1861). 
In order to increase the power of the piece sufficiently to enable it 
to pierce thin armour-plates, the chamber was enlarged, the size of 
powder-grain increased, and the charge raised from 4*73 lbs. to 
