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the Wizern, and it is now being generally adopted in the Service. As a defence against torpedo-boats the Nordenfeldt gun has been proved to be a much superior weapon to the Hotchkiss in a very essential particular—that of penetration—the only apparent advantage of the latter over the former being the rapidity of its delivery. The power of the Nordenfeldt is such that perfect penetration has been effected through ½ inch of best Bessemer steel at 200 yards, and through ¼ inch of a target of similar metal at 500 yards distance. The projectile is a pointed steel bullet ¾ inches in length and one inch in diameter, the entire cartridge being 5 inches long. The gun is simple in structure, apparently not easily deranged, and of great strength; it has four barrels in a row, which are fed from a case placed upon the top containing four tiers of 40 rounds: these can be discharged as single shots with time intervals, or the four can be fired almost simultaneously, and the action of refilling the breeches ejects the empty cartridge.
The gun is easily shifted from one part of the ship to another, and, being placed upon a swivel, can be fired round the compass. Some trials recently made on board the Iris, in the Medway, gave great results. In one case the torpedo-boat model was completely riddled and cut to pieces by 115 hits in the course of a 400 yards run only, the Iris going at a speed of eight knots. In another trial on the same ship whilst going a registered speed of 17.2 knots, and the tide was moving at the rate of 2.4 knots more, the gun really travelled over 20 miles an hour; from 700 yards distance to close up, 102 shots were discharged in 1min. 9sec., and afterwards 111 shots in 1min. 10sec., and the target was found to have been hit by 110 shots out of the 213; which is 93 shots per minute fired and 48 hits per minute recorded, and since that 158 shots and 104 hits have been made in the same time.
The guns' crews were from the Iron Duke, and had no further preparation than a couple of days' drill by Mr. Pascoe, the gunner of the Wivern. These men did remarkably well, with both ordnance and Nordenfeldts, considering all the circumstances. The practice was at unknown distances from 800 to 1,500 yards, and on the whole the direction was very good, and seemed to be highly satisfactory to the array of gunnery talent assembled from the various ships. Sixteen rounds were fired from the turrets and a hundred from the Nordenfeldts, and all the time the ship had way on and sometimes was going at a good speed. I did not see the target until after it was cast adrift, but it was a barrel, apparently no larger than a kilderkin, with a staff and flag stuck on it. Of course, this was a very small object at 1,500 yards, but more than once it was thought to have been smashed, so near did the shots fall to it. The men deserve praise for the smart manner in which they executed the order "prepare for action," as the bulwarks on both sides were lowered, the flying bridge hoisted, and the rigging eased in in 64 seconds; at the word "action" the upper deck was cleared as if by magic, every man having dived down below to his post. This part of the drill was got through with much smartness and no bungling.
Soon after "cease firing" was sounded the crew were again on deck, and in a very short space of time the ship assumed her usual appearance; and, being headed for the Shingkimoon Pass, she steamed up between Caps D'Aguilar and Beaufort Island and so towards Hongkong Harbour through the Ly-co-moon Pass.
I must not omit to mention that I met on board the Wivern the jolliest-looking old Chinaman I have ever seen. With a perfectly bronzed face and long white moustaches, and such a merry twinkle in his eye as is seldom seen in men of any age, he so attracted my attention that I asked who he was, and was informed that he was Mr. Woo Soo, who 10 years ago piloted Admiral Parker's ship up the Canton River, and has continued to pilot British war ships ever since. It occurred to me that, so far as appearances go, the old man might be piloting ships 40 years hence.
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the Wizern, and it is now being generally adopted in the Service. As a defonce against torpedo. boats the Nordenfeldt gun has been proved to be a much superior weapon to the Hotchkiss in a very essential particular-that of penetration--- the only apparent advantage of the latter over the former being the rapidity of its delivery, The power of the Nordenfeldt is such that por- fect penetration has been effected through of An inch of best Bossemer steel at 200 yards, and through of an inch of a target of similar metal at 500 yards distance. The projectile is a pointed steel bullet 24 inches in length and one inch in diameter, the entire cartridge being 5 inches long. The gun is simple in structure, apparently not easily deranged, and of great strength; it has four barrels in a row, which are fed from a case placed upon the top containing four tiers of ton 40 rounds: these can be discharged as single shots with time intervals, or the four can be! fired almost simultaneously, and the action of refilling the breeches ejects the empty cartridge, |- The gun is easily shifted from one part of the ship to another, and, being placed upon a swivel can be fired round the compass. Some trials) recently made on board the Iris, in the Medway, gave great roaults. In one case the torpedo-boat model was completely riddled and out to pisces by 115 hits in the course of a 400 yards run only, i the Iris going at a speed of eight knots. In an- other trial on the same ship whilst going a re- gistered speed of 17.2 knots, and the tide was moving at the rate of 24 knots more, the gun really travelled over 20 miles an hour; from 700 yards distance to close up, 102 shots were dis. charged in Iuin. 9sec., and afterwards 111 shots in Imin. 10sec., and the target was found to have been hit by 110 shots out of the 213; which is 93 shots per mínate fired and 48 kita per minute recorded, and since that 158 shots and 104 hits have been made in the same time.
The guus' crews were from the Iron Duke, and had no further preparation than a couple of } days' drill by Mr. Pascoe, the gunner of the Witern. These men did remarkably well, with both orduauge and Nordenfeldts, considering all the circumstances. The practice was at unknoWR distances from 800 to 1,500 yards, and on the whole the direction was very good, and seemed to be highly satisfactory to the array of gunnery talent assembled from the various ships. Sixtoon rounds were fired from the turreta and a hundred from the Nordenfeldts, and all the time the ship had way on and sometimes was going at a good speed. I did not see the target until after it was cast adrift, but it was a barrel, apparently no larger that a kilderkin, with a staff and flag stuck on it. Of course this was a very small object at 1,500 yards, but more than once it was thought to have been smashed, so near did the shots fall to it. The men desorve praise for the smart manner in which they executed the order "prepare for action," as the bulwarka on both sides were lowered, the flying bridge hoisted, and the rigging eased in in 64 seconds; at the word "action" the upper deck was oleared as if by magic, every man having dived down below to bis post. This part of the drill was got through í with much amartness and no bangling. Soon; after "coase firing" was sounded the crew were again on deck, and in a very short space of time the ship assumed her usual appearance; and, į being headed for the Shingskimoon Pass, she steamed up between Caps D'Aguilar and Bean- fort Island and so towards Hongkong Harbour through the Ly-co-moon Pass,
I must not ouit to mention that I met on board the Wivern the jolliest-looking old Chinsman I I have ever seen. With a perfectly bronzed face and long white moustaches, and such a wercy twinkle in his eye as is seldom seen in men of any age, he so attracted my attention that I asked who he was, and was informed that he was Mr. Woo Soo, who 10 years ago piloted Admiral Parker's ship up the Canton River, and has con- !
It tinued to pilot British war ships ever since. occurred to me that, so far as appearances go, the old man might be piloting ships 40 years hence.
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