of other nations, based on the new conditions of defense brought prominently forward by the introduction of iron-clads into every navy afloat, demands heavier metal and rifle-guns of not less than 12 inches in cal iber. These enormous masses, hurling a shot of 700 pounds, can alone meet many of the requirements of the national defenses. They must be provided, and experiments on a large scale can alone give the data necessary for the determination of the question. A suitable proving ground, with all the facilities and conveniences referred to by the Chief of Ordnance, with a liberal annual appropriation, is an undoubted necessity. The guns now ready for trial cannot be experimented with without funds, and the estimate of $250,000 for the purpose is deemed reasonable, and is strongly recommended. The constant appeals for legislation on the "armament of fortifications" ought no longer to be disregarded, if Congress desires in peace to prepare the important material without which future wars must inevi tably lead to disaster. This subject is submitted with the hope that the consideration it deserves may be given it at the present session. EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 20, 1875. U. S. GRANT. ORDNANCE OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT, SIR: I have the honor to submit for the action of the Secretary of War the following: I. In my annual report, submitted in October last, I expressed the belief that, prior to the meeting of Congress, much valuable information would be obtained from experiments with certain experimental guns, then nearly ready for trial, as would enable this Bureau to report understandingly on that most important subject, the "armament of our fortifications." Although the information is not as complete as was expected, sufficient has been done and reported upon which to base the following recommendations. There are at present in our forts the following heavy guns: 321 15-inch Rodman guns, smooth bore. 1,294 10-inch Rodman guns, smooth bore. 90 8-inch Parrott rifles. 40 10-inch Parrott rifles. These Parrott rifles, even if reliable when using the heavy battering charges required in modern warfare, of which doubts are entertained, are so few in number as to constitute but an unimportant item among the 4,181 guns required for our forts, when ready for their armament. Rifle-guns ranging from 8 inches to 12 inches in caliber, with power sufficient to penetrate at considerable distances the armor of iron-clad vessels, must be provided. The heaviest rifles are the guns of the present, as they will be of the future, and while smooth-bores may for some time to come play a secondary part, for want of a more powerful weapon, they must inevitably yield to the rifle in every important juncture, as the old smooth-bore musket has given place to the breech-loading rifle in the hands of the soldier. While thus expressing the conviction that the days of smooth-bore ordnance are passing away, 1 desire to call attention to the fact that the first grand stride toward the introduction of great guns in any service was made in this country by the late General Rodman, of the Ordnance Department, whose reputation as an ordnance officer is world-wide, and that the 15-inch gun he first made in 1861 was the most powerful weapon then known, soon to be surpassed by his 20-inch smooth-bore, made in 1864, weighing 116,000 pounds, and throwing a shot weighing 1,080 pounds. The introduction of iron-clads in modern warfare calls, however, for the penetrating power of heavy rifles, and the smashing and racking effect of a 15-inch smooth-bore must yield to the working energy of a 12-inch rifle that will pierce the thickest iron armor at long distances. How best and most economically to provide for this great want has exercised the brain and skill of the most distinguished officers in every country, and caused the expenditure of millions of money. There is little doubt that steel is the best material for guns, but the product is by far too costly to be considered now, and, besides, would have to be procured abroad. Wrought-iron guns lined with steel, as adopted by England, have not given that satisfaction that would justify an expenditure of several millions of money in plant for their manufacture. In this country, the success of the Ordnance Department in improving the quality of our cast iron for cannon has been marked and satisfactory, and we may lay claim, with good reason, to the best cast-iron guns in the world. They require, however, to be strengthened when subjected to the enormous strains which as rifles they are to withstand; and the success abroad of lining cast iron with wrought iron or steel, has sug gested an easy and economical mode of converting our cheap cast-iron smooth-bores into powerful and efficient rifles. Our trial thus far with a 10-inch Rodman gun lined with wrought iron and converted into an 8-inch rifle gives promise of success; and another lined with steel, now nearly ready for firing, may probably give equal, if not better, results. This 8-inch rifle has already been fired 328 rounds,* with battering charges of 35 pounds of powder and 180-pound shot, giving an average velocity of about 1,425 feet, and a working energy of nearly 5,000,000 foot-pounds; capable of penetrating seven inches of iron armor at distances from 500 to 1,000 yards. This success enables us at comparatively small cost to utilize the 1,294 10-inch smooth-bore guns, which as smooth-bores are utterly useless against iron-clads, by converting them into 8-inch rifles capable of penetrating 7 inches of iron armor. The value and interest of this proposed conversion is all the greater from the fact that the casemates of our forts, designed many years since, are too contracted to accommodate a gun of much larger size than the 10-inch Rodman; and this very gun intended for that special purpose can thus be strengthened and increased in power, to meet the greater demands that modern improvements in naval attack and defense make upon it. In again urging upon Congress the absolute necessity for some action that will enable us to place our forts in fighting condition by providing their armament, I will be excused for stating an undeniable fact, which appears to be entirely ignored, that a fort is worse than useless without guns to arm it; indeed, that it is not a fort at all without its armament— more like a body without a soul; and that other fact, which also seems to be lost sight of, that cannon cannot be purchased ready-made in market, but have to be manufactured specially, and must be provided in time of peace. It is certainly the part of wisdom to be prepared for future wars that occur in the life of every nation, but should our appeals be constantly disregarded and the next war find the country unpre pared, and our sea-coast defenseless and at the mercy of an enterprising enemy, the responsibility for all subsequent disasters cannot rest on the Ordnance Department of the Army, nor on the Secretary of War, nor the Executive. I have, therefore, the honor to recommend that an appropriation of $250,000 be made by Congress for converting smooth-bore guns into rifles by lining with wrought iron or steel. The above sum will enable us to convert at least 140 guns. II. In 1872 Congress appropriated $270,000 "for experiments and tests of heavy rifled ordnance." The guns "designated by a board of officers appointed by the Secretary of War," under the provisions of the act, have been in preparation under the supervision of their respective inventors, and the whole number will probably be ready for trial in the early spring. The necessity and convenience of having a proving and experimental ground in near proximity to the city of New York has forced the Department, with your approval, to establish a temporary one on the Government reservation at Sandy Hook, New York Harbor. Even in the trial of the 8-inch rifle, referred to above, this Department has been hampered by the want of funds, and these important experiments, that will eventually lead to a determination of the question so vital to the national defense, have had to be conducted under great embarrassments, and with the rudest appliances and conveniences. *Up to date, December 19, this gun has been fired 448 rounds. It is expected that by the opening of spring eight guns, varying in caliber from 8 inches to 12 inches, and in weight from 16,000 to 85,000 pounds, will be ready for firing. The firing of a 12-inch rifle is a very expensive business, each round fired costing about $100. As the gun may stand 500 rounds, its trial will cost $50,000, and only in a less degree will the expense be in the trial of guns of smaller caliber. Funds necessary for this purpose should be appropriated; and, added to this, a sum sufficient to provide all the carriages, depressing and others, buts and platforms, and all the appliances, conveniences, and labor required for the prosecution of such exact and important work. I know of no military or naval power that has not provided an experimental and proving ground with every facility for conducting trials upon a grand scale; and there is no way of avoiding considerable expenditure, while seeking and obtaining the necessary data from which to draw conclusions, that will lead to such large expenditures in the future in arming our fortifications. I have, therefore, the honor to recommend that an appropriation of $250,000 be made for proving-ground and experiments and tests of heavy ordnance. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. V. BENET, Brigadier-General, Chief of Ordnance. The Hon. SECRETARY OF WAR. DECEMBER 24, 1874. The gun up to this date has been fired 513 times, 500 of which with battering charges. After the most careful examination and measurements, no damage to the rifling or enlargement of the bore can be detected, and the gun apparently is in perfect order-serviceable in every respect. S. V. B. REPORT OF TRIAL OF AN 8-INCH RIFLE, CONVERTED FROM A 10-INCH CAST-IRON SMOOTH-BORE RODMAN GUN, BY LINING WITH A COILED WROUGHT-IRON TUBE, INSERTED FROM THE MUZZLE. ORDNANCE OFFICE, October 9, 1874. SIR: I have the honor to recommend that a board of ordnance officers be convened in the city of New York, on the 21st of October, instant, or as soon thereafter as practicable, for the consideration of such ordnance subjects, and the trial of such of the experimental guns prepared under the "act of June 6, 1872," as may be submitted to it by the Chief of Ordnance, to whom its reports shall be made. The following-named officers are respectfully recommended for detail: Maj. S. Crispin, Ordnance Department; Maj. T. J. Treadwell, Ordnance Department; Maj. T. G. Baylor, Ordnance Department; Capt. Geo. W. McKee, Ordnance Department, as recorder. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. V. BENÉT, Brigadier-General, Chief of Ordnance. The Hon. SECRETARY OF WAR. [Special Orders No. 221.] WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, (Extract.) * 6. A board, to consist of Maj. S. Crispin, Ordnance Department; Maj. T. J. Treadwell, Ordnance Department; Maj. T. G. Baylor, Ordnance Department, and Capt. George W. Kee, Ordnance Department, as recorder, is appointed to meet in New York City, N. Y., on the 21st day of October, 1874, or as soon thereafter as practicable, for the consideration of such ordnance subjects, and the trial of such of the experimental guns prepared under the "act of June 6, 1872,” as may be submitted to it by the Chief of Ordnance, to whom its reports will be made. By order of the Secretary of War. E. D. TOWNSEND, S. V. BENÉT, Brigadier-General, Chief of Ordnance. |