[COPYRIGHTED] U. S. NAVAL INSTITUTE, ANNAPOLIS, MD. U. S. NAVAL RAILWAY BATTERIES By LIEUT. COMMANDER L. B. BYE, U. S. Navy When the history of the great war is written, the various activities of the United States Navy in co-operating with the Allies and in contributing in various ways to the offensive measures which finally caused the downfall of the enemy, will be disclosed. The navy's work in transporting troops, the operations of the destroyer flotilla, the convoy system, the activities of the naval bombing squadrons, the success of the North Sea mine barrage, and the many other naval operations conducted at a distance of 3000 miles through Vice Admiral William S. Sims, commander, United States naval forces operating in European waters, will emphasize the fact that the United States Navy was a big factor in overcoming the submarine menace and causing the ignominious surrender of the demoralized German fleet. This article will describe the navy's contribution ashore in the great battles during the closing days of the war with Germany. The navy actually had engaged on the Western Front from September 6, 1918, until the signing of the armistice, five 14-inch. 50-caliber guns on railway mounts which were designed and built. under the direction of the Navy Bureau of Ordnance, transported to France, erected and put in operation at a time when the necessity for such long-range weapons was vital. The story of this accomplishment is believed to be of interest to all readers of the NAVAL INSTITUTE PROCEEDINGS. From the beginning of the European War the range of artillery both on land and at sea attracted a great deal of attention. Mounts and guns of increasing range were continually being produced by both the Allies and the Germans. At the time the United States entered the conflict, this competition of long-range guns was at its greatest height, with the advantage on land decidedly in favor of the Germans. In the early part of November, 1917, a report was received from Lieut. Commander G. L. Schuyler, U. S. Navy, giving information concerning the maximum range of German guns, mounted near Ostend, which were firing into Dunkirk. These guns were known as the "Leugenboom" guns, and it was ascertained by the British that they were capable of a range of as much as 50,300 yards, or slightly over 28 statute miles. None of the British guns in this sector could equal this range, and it was evident that the Germans were making great strides in modifying their naval guns so that they could be used on land for long-range bombardments. In previous wars, the personnel of the navies engaged gave valuable assistance to the armies by landing parties from ships manning naval guns. During the Mexican War, three 64-pdrs. and three long 32-pdrs. were used by General Winfield Scott in his attack on Vera Cruz. During the Boer War one of the British cruisers was practically stripped of her guns, they being taken to Ladysmith, Colenso, and Spion Kop. Naval guns were used during the Boxer Rebellion in China. The French, English and Germans in this war manned their naval guns on shore with naval personnel. The traditions and calling of the sea naturally led to this practice, as being the most promising one to adopt to attain the most satisfactory results. The guns and their mounts are heavy and differ in many respects from those ordinarily used by armies. Many different difficulties arise which are recognized by seamen as things to be overcome without outside help. Stress of weather and life at sea have imbued the seaman with the idea that on him alone does his own safety and that of his shipmates depend. He must be a doer, and on the moment. The cruel sea waits for no man. This feeling of self-reliance, instilled in the seaman, makes his character peculiarly suitable for such enterprises as operating naval guns on shore. The Bureau of Ordnance was giving particular study to events of the war, and was continuously endeavoring to formulate some plan whereby the ordnance resources of our navy could be brought into active offensive engagements with the enemy. The Navy Department welcomed suggestions from all of its personnel, and circular letters were sent out to the entire service requesting any person in the service to submit such suggestions as he might have for the improvement of the material of the navy, any ideas for a plan of attack or any scheme for defeating the Germans. Rear Admiral Ralph Earle, the chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, was so impressed by the progress of the long-range bombardments on the Western Front that, on November 12, 1917, he suggested to the chief of naval operations the possibility of mounting several naval 14-inch guns along the Belgian coast as an answer to the long-range German bombardments of Dunkirk." The possibilities of this plan appealed to the chief of naval operations, and he requested that the plan be developed in more. definite terms as to the number of guns and mounts available, the probable range, the time necessary to prepare for shipment, and the material required to accomplish such an expedition. The United States Naval Gun Factory, the right arm of the Bureau of Ordnance in the many problems connected with the design 1 November 12, 1917. From: Chief of Bureau of Ordnance. Subject: Long-range bombardments. 1. From reports of activities, dated September 29, 1917, along the Flemish dunes, the Bureau notes: "On the Dune Sector, the British naval guns were unfortunately considerably outranged by the German guns. There are no British guns larger than 12-inch mounted on shore here. The big German gun which fires into Dunkirk is generally referred to as a 17-inch. . . . . Its range has been measured as 50,300 yards." 2. The above suggests the possibility of our mounting several naval 14-inch guns along the coast, fitted with high angles of fire, and with specially formed shell, fitted with delayed action fuses, in order to outrange these German guns. Manned by our seamen, a battery of four of these guns might not be a bad answer to the long-range German bombardment of Dunkirk. Of course, in order to develop this range the bureau must have its auxiliary proving ground granted and operating. 3. Even were the guns mounted on vessels off the Belgian coast, and there given a range of over 30,000 yards, considerable damage may be done to German positions. Such a vessel fitted-as it would be-with our new, smoke-producing apparatus, might materially assist Admiral Bacon's monitors in their operations. (Signed) RALPH EARLE. and manufacture of naval ordnance, was informed on November 28 of Rear Admiral Earle's ideas, and was requested to make recommendations concerning such an expedition. The calculations of the Bureau of Ordnance indicated that with the standard 14-inch naval shell then available, a range of about 48,000 yards could be obtained with the 14-inch 50-caliber gun. Figures as to what a light 14-inch shell would do were gone into, and it was indicated that a range greater than that obtained by the German "Leugenboom" gun might be expected. The navy's 16-inch gun could easily have outranged those of the Germans, but it was unfortunate that at that time 16-inch guns were not available in sufficient numbers. Fourteen-inch ammunition in quantity was on hand, and by the entire personnel of the Bureau of Ordnance it was believed entirely feasible to provide all the equipment necessary for the operation of ten 14-inch guns on shore, if such an undertaking should be decided upon. The shipment of 14-inch 50-caliber guns abroad was known to be feasible, for during the summer of 1917 shipments of 14-inch 45-caliber guns had been made without difficulty to the British Admiralty. It appeared from all investigations made in the bureau that if a suitable shore mounting could be developed the navy could have in operation in France a number of 14-inch guns within a period of six months from the time of approval of such a project. The Bureau of Ordnance considered the subject from all points of view, and discussed the project with many officers. The deeper the matter was gone into the more enthusiastic they became, and the more certain they felt that if these guns could be placed at some point in Flanders and operated by the navy, a useful tactical result was probable of attainment, and valuable assistance would be rendered to the Allied armies. The drafting-room force at the Naval Gun Factory, under the supervision of Commander Harvey Delano, U. S. Navy, had been over-worked from the beginning of the war, in developing the vast number of new naval ordnance designs which were under way. Nevertheless, they became so interested in developing a suitable device for countering the long-range bombardments of the Germans that they completed their preliminary investigations on December 10, and submitted to the Bureau of Ordnance an outline descriptive of a shore mounting for the 14-inch 50-caliber gun, Mark IV.2 The gun factory's thorough efficiency is demonstrated by its. letter, which the bureau forwarded, without change, to the chief of naval operations, urging that an undertaking of this sort be approved. 2 BUREAU OF ORDNANCE December 10, 1917. Subject: Shore mounting for heavy guns. Inclosure: Description of above mounting for 14-inch 50-caliber gun, 1. There is forwarded herewith a description and accompanying plates of the proposed railroad mounting for the 14-inch 50-caliber gun, also a description of the train carrying the personnel and equipment necessary for the operation of such a gun in the field. 2. It is the intention to use the 14-inch 50-caliber gun, Mark IV, mounted in slide Mark IV. In order to mount this gun and slide on the proposed railroad car, it will be necessary to make a new deck lug and jacking mechanism for raising the gun from the stowed position necessary for transportation to its firing position. A new elevating gear of the arc and pinion type will be required, as the screw type now used will require raising the gun too high from the tracks for stability in transporting. 3. The railroad mounting and equipment for a gun of this size will be of great value in assisting to overcome the fire from large German guns now being used against the lines of the Allies "on the Dune Sector" in Belgium. In addition to this advantage such a railroad mounting would be of considerable value in this country as a mobile battery to act in conjunction with the army in case of invasion. 4. It is estimated that four gun cars and their accompanying trains can be constructed by contract within 90 days after the receipt of drawings, provided the work can be given government priority, both in securing the material and the manufacturing work involved. It is estimated that by giving this work precedence in the drafting room, and with the hearty cooperation of all concerned, the drawings and necessary specifications can be completed by the 1st of February. 5. It is recommended that four gun cars and their trains be manufactured, making four complete batteries of the type described in the accompanying description, and that the six remaining 14-inch 50-caliber guns with the slides be held as spares to replace any of the guns in the battery when worn out or injured. (Signed) A. L. WILLARD. |