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In designating the position of and in marking test specimens they will be guided by the following instructions:

Test specimens taken from metal to be used in ordnance construction (excepting those taken from billets for wire drawing) will be marked on both ends to show:

1. The caliber of the cannon for which the metal is intended: 32 for 3.2 inches; 8 for 8 inches; 10 for 10 inches; 12 for 12 inches, etc.

2. The kind of cannon for which the metal is intended: R for steel rifle; MR for mortar; WR for wire-wound rifle; CIR for cast-iron rifle, etc.

3. The number of the cannon of the particular caliber and kind: 1, 2, 3, etc. 4. The part of the cannon for which the metal is intended: T for tube; J for jacket, etc. In the case of cast-iron cannon, or cast-iron bodies for cannon combined of steel and cast-iron, where the specimens are ordinarily taken from the initial tension rings, the abbreviation will be TR, showing that the specimen is from the initial tension ring; and if more than one initial tension ring is taken from either end, the abbreviations TR, TR,, etc., will be used.

5. The end of the piece from which the specimen is taken: B for breech; M for muzzle.

6. The direction in which the specimen is taken: T for tangential, or those taken parallel to a tangent at the circumference; L for longitudinal, or those taken parallel to the axis of the cannon; R for those taken radially.

7. The number of the specimen: 1, 2, 3, etc. The same series of numbers to be used for each end (breech or muzzle) of the piece.

8. The position with reference to the interior and exterior surfaces of the piece of metal: I for inside specimens, or those taken near the interior surface; O for outside specimens, or those taken near the exterior surface; M for middle specimens, or those taken midway between the interior and exterior surfaces.

9. The fact that the specimen has been laid off and stamped in the presence of the inspector or his assistant, and that its identity is vouched for; this is indicated by the inspector's private stamp-the escutcheon of the Ordnance Department, one-quarter of an inch in diameter, on hardened steel.

These marks will appear in the order indicated; those required to indicate the points numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 (which show from what the specimen is taken) being in one line, the remainder (which show how the specimen is taken) being in a second line just below the first as seen when looking at the end of the specimen. The marks and the inspector's private stamp should always be on the specimen from the time it is laid off until finished, and before they are effaced in one place by any finishing operation must be transferred to some other place in the presence of the inspector or his assistant.

The ring, slice, or piece which is to furnish test specimens, and the forging from which it is to be cut, will each be marked before the cut is taken, and close to the cut, to indicate the points numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 9. These marks on forgings should always be on the piece, and before they are effaced in one place by any rough-finishing operation must be transferred to some other place in the presence of the inspector or his assistant.

ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT,

S. V. BENÉT, Brig. Gen., Chief of Ordnance, U. S. A

Washington, D. C., September 10, 1888.

Appendix C.

TESTS TO BE APPLIED TO COMPLETED GUN PRESENTED FOR

TEST.

BOARD OF ORDNANCE AND FORTIFICATION,

War Department,, 1889. SIR: The act making appropriations for fortifications, etc., approved September 22, 1888, provides that

Whenever any party shall present for test a completed single-charge breech-loading steel gun of ten or twelve inches caliber, and of weight and dimensions to be prescribed by the Board with the proper supply of ammunition for the test of the same, such gun shall, in the presence of the party presenting it, be subjected to such tests as the Board shall have prescribed; and should such gun be shown to the satisfaction of the Board by such tests to fulfill the requirements previously prescribed in respect to accuracy, range, power, endurance, and general efficiency, the gun and ammunition shall be paid for at a fair valuation, including cost of transportation, and contract shall be made at a price reasonable in the opinion of the Board with the party presenting the best of such guns for a further supply of similar guns, to be subjected to the usual service test before acceptance, the experimental gun and all guns purchased hereunder to be subject to inspection at each stage of manufacture, as follows, namely: For not less than fifty ten-inch steel guns; and for not less than fifty twelve-inch steel guns.

To meet the requirements of this act the following conditions recommended by the Board of Ordnance and Fortification, have been approved by the Secretary of War, viz:

FOR A GUN OF 10 INCHES CALIBER.

The weight shall be about 30 tons (long).

The length of bore, 34 calibers, measured from the face of the obturator to the face of the muzzle of the gun. (In order that the gun may not require a special carriage for its proof it is desirable that the diameter of the trunnions be 12 inches, and the distance between rimbases 42 inches.)

The power shall be such as may be expressed by a muzzle energy of not less than 15,000 foot tons.

The range shall for 20 degrees of elevation be about 13,650 yards, and corresponding ranges shall be obtained with lower elevations.

The standard of accuracy shall be as given in the following table, and shall be approximately obtained:

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The endurance test should not be less than 300 rounds with full charges. After 250 or more rounds may have been fired, the gun may be lined wholly or in part, when at least 50 rounds more will be fired to fully test the strength of the construction. After this the general soundness and efficiency of the gun should not be materially impaired, except so far as may have resulted from erosion.

Should any material modification of the construction be made during the trial, at least 50 rounds, with full charges, shall be fired thereafter. The weight of projectile to be used with the full charge shall be about 575 pounds.

Three hundred rounds of ammunition shall be the "proper" amount to be supplied with the gun for test.

As a proof of general efficiency the breech mechanism should work freely and be convenient for operating, the opening and closing of the breech to be performed without great difficulty by one man. The projectiles shall admit of being readily handled; inserted and centered in the bore, and not be subject to injury or deformation either in handling or transportation.

A rapidity of fire of 15 rounds per hour shall be attainable, using such appliances for loading as are employed by the Ordnance Department, U. S. Army.

The repairs allowable during the entire trial of a gun, exclusive of the insertion of a lining tube, will be confined to repairing or renewing parts injured during trial. No alterations that may affect the general construction of any part will be made without the sanction of the Board.

FOR A GUN OF 12 INCHES CALIBER.

The weight shall be about 52 tons. The length of bore shall be 34 calibers. (In order that the gun may not require a special carriage for its proof, it is desirable that the diameter of trunnions be 14.5 inches, and the distance between rimbases 49.8 inches.) The power shall be such as may be expressed by a muzzle energy of not less than 26,000 foot tons. The range shall for 20 degrees elevation be about 14,700 yards, and corresponding ranges shall be obtained with lower elevations.

The accuracy shall be the same as that prescribed for a 10-inch gun. The endurance shall not be less than 250 rounds, and a lining may be inserted after 200 rounds.

The weight of projectile for full charges shall be about 1,000 pounds. Other conditions of test shall be the same as for a 10-inch gun, except

that under general efficiency a rapidity of fire of 10 rounds per hour shall be attainable.

It is not considered practicable for the Board to determine, at this time, what will be a "fair valuation" of an experimental gun which shall have fulfilled the requirements prescribed, nor what price would be "reasonable" for a further supply of similar guns. It is believed to be better on all accounts to leave these questions for determination after the actual cost and value of such guns can be known; it being understood as the duty of the Board to act in such matters with entire impartiality as between the United States and any party who shall attempt to supply the desired guns.

The act of Congress does not fix, and does not seem to authorize the Board to fix, any limit of time within which experimental guns shall be presented for test. It is therefore considered sufficient to say that it is regarded by the Board as desirable that the experimental guns be submitted as soon as practicable, and within three years from the present time. Respectfully, your obedient servant,

Captain Ordnance Department, U. S. Army,
Recorder of the Board.

Appendix D.

TEST OF CAST-IRON MORTAR.

[House Ex. Doc. No. 158, Fifty-first Congress, first session.]

REPORT RELATIVE TO THE ORDNANCE PROVING GROUND, SANDY HOOK, N. J.

LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING A REPORT OF THE TEST OF THE 12-INCH RIFLED MORTAR, PRESENTED BY THE SOUTH BOSTON IRON WORKS, AT THE ORDNANCE PROVING GROUND, SANDY HOOK, N. J.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 27, 1890.

The Secretary of War has the honor to transmit to the House of Representatives, for the information of the Committee on Appropriations, an extract of the proceedings of the Board of Ordnance and Fortification of December 12, 1889, together with the report of Lieut. Col. A. Mordecai, Ordnance Department, United States Army, of the test of the 12-inch cast-iron breech-loading rifled mortar, presented, under the provisions of the first paragraph of section 6 of the act approved September 22, 1888, by the South Boston Iron Works, at the Ordnance Proving Ground, Sandy Hook, N. J.

REDFIELD PROCTOR,
Secretary of War.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

EXTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF ORDNANCE AND FORTI

FICATION.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., December 12, 1889.

*

The Board then considered the report of the tests of the 12-inch breech-loading cast iron rifled mortar of the South Boston Iron Works, submitted by the Chief of Ordnance under date of November 1, 1889, and referred to the Board November 4, 1889, by the Secretary of War.

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