Thought this would be of interest to WW1 naval enthusiasts. Found it in a stack of old papers in my file cabinet.
[ DEI/36 ]
EXTRACTS FROM VARIOUS PAPERS DEALING WITH THE QUESTION OF ACCUMULATION OF CORDITE AT GUN STATIONS.
- - - - - - - - -
G.16264-18. –
“On the other hand, it has always been a guiding principle that accumulations of ammunition near the guns were to be avoided, as the ignition of such by enemy’s fire might prove disastrous.
I do not think this principle should be departed from, and if it be considered desirable and necessary to stow ammunition in cases on deck for preservation, they should, in my opinion, be opened up and the contents distributed in K.A. cases immediately action is imminent.”
(Sd) … F.C.T.Tudor
D.N.O.
4th June, 1913.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.2077813. -
”Further experience has shown that the ammunition supply in this ship is so poor, that a great loss of life and probably the complete loss of the ship from the enemy’s shell fire is likely to be the result of guarding against a local cordite fire by not keeping a ready supply at the guns.”
(Sd) … Fred.C.Dreyer
Captain, H.M.S. “Amphion”
16th Octr., 1913.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.12683-14. -
“If, however, the cordite be retained in ammunition boxes or cases it is less liable to ignition than if in K.A. cases, but, if ignited, the initial conflagration would be more fierce since about five charges in a more or less confined space would be affected, and an explosion of some force would probably result.
The explosion would, however, be mild in comparison with the explosion of the enemy shell which caused it, and is therefore not of great account.”
(Sd) … F.C.T.Tudor
D.N.O.
29 Jan, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.14474-14 -
“These trials show that the rate of supply depends on the work inside the magazines of removing cartridges from cases. I am of opinion that a supply of cartridges should be removed from their cases when the ships “prepare for war” and be kept ready in bags in the magazines. By taking the risk of possible explosion ( in the event of a cartridge being struck ) and starting with 10 projectiles at each gun, the rate of supply should be adequate.”
(Sd) … N. Berkely Milne,
Admiral, Commander-in-Chief,
9th April, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14 -
“DAY ACTION” In the older ships regards must be had to the possibility of fire caused by the ignition of cordite charges being communicated to the ammunition passages and possibly to the magazines; in the newer ships, except light cruisers, this danger is very much less as there are no trunks for flame to pass down, no ammunition passages where large quantities of ammunition are exposed, and supply is made from small ready use magazines which would not have a great deal of cordite in them.”
(Sd) … G.N.Callahan
Admiral,
27th April, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"Preparation for Night Torpedo/Attack. A rapid and sustained fire delivered at the moment the Torpedo craft are sighted is essential. The danger of the charges being ignited by the fire of enemy's heavy ships may be disregarded."
(Sd) ... S.C. Colville
Vice Admiral
15th April, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"It is considered more important to have the ammunition provided and ready for immediate use and to risk the chances of a cordite fire, rather than to guard against a fire, and to have the ship unprepared for an attack."
(Sd) ... G.Warrender,
Vice Admiral Commanding
Second Battle Squadron
12th. April, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"Although 20 rounds per guin, in the case of the 6-inch, would mean a large amount of cordite in the 6-inch battery, it is considered to be more important to provide ammunition for the guns to fire at the enemy, and accept the remote chance of a local cordite fire ( when attached by Torpedo craft ), than to guard against such fire by having too little ammunition at the gun ( i.e. no chance of hitting the enemy ), resulting probably in the destruction of one's own ship."
(Sd) ... R.K.Arbuthnot,
Rear Admiral Commanding
2nd. Battle Squadron
23rd, March, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"It is considered more important to provide ammunition for the guns to fire at the enemy and accept the remote chance of a local cordite fire, than to guard against such fire by having little or no ammunition at the gun - i.e. no chance of hitting the enemy, resulting probably in the destruction of one's own ship.
(Sd) ... Fred.C.Dreyer
Captain, H.M.S. "Orion"
4th April, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"The likelihood of having to repel a Destroyer attack during day action renders it imperative to have an ample supply of cordite at the 6-inch guns."
(Sd) ... Walter Cowan,
Captain, H.M.S. Zealandia
27th March, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"During Day, I do not think it advisable to leave cordite in unprotected positions unattended."
(Sd) ... David Beatty,
Rear Admiral,
15th Apl, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"It is not considered advisable to leave cordite on the upper deck or in unprotected positions during a day action.
2 - The 4-inch crews in this ship have orders to take that ammunition below with them when they retire behind armour. The number of rounds supplied is therefore limited to twice the number of men available for manning the 4-inch guns, which amount, in the case of Battle Cruisers, to 14 rounds per gun."
(Sd) ... Osmond de B.Brock.
Captain, "Princess Royal"
1st Apl, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14.
"It should be laid down in the Gunnery Manual that the risk of explosion of stacked ammunition is secondary to maintaining a rapid fire which should afford the best protection to the stacked ammunition."
(Sd) ... C.E.Madden,
Rear Admiral
10th April, 1914
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"I would suggest that for "FEARLESS", "ACTIVE" and "FORWARD" stowage at the guns be provided for 30 rounds in boxes. This should meet all requirements for day or night as a ready supply. The boxes are recommended in preference to the racks, as it is considered that with such a considerable of the ship's allowance of Cordite at the guns every possible care should be taken to protect it from the weather."
(Sd) ... R.Y. Trwhitt (sic),
Captain T.,
22nd. April, 1914
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"It is generally accepted that the risk of local cordite fires must be taken in order that a ship may be ready to instantly develop her maximum power of gunfire."
(Sd) ... F.C.T.Tudor
D.N.O.
11/5/14.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.042-15. -
Gunnery Orders
1915.
1st,Feb.1915
Experience has shown the great danger of allowing cordite to accumulate in gun positions and causing severe fires. This accumulation should therefore on no account be allowed."
B
[ DEI/36 ]
EXTRACTS FROM VARIOUS PAPERS DEALING WITH THE QUESTION OF ACCUMULATION OF CORDITE AT GUN STATIONS.
- - - - - - - - -
G.16264-18. –
“On the other hand, it has always been a guiding principle that accumulations of ammunition near the guns were to be avoided, as the ignition of such by enemy’s fire might prove disastrous.
I do not think this principle should be departed from, and if it be considered desirable and necessary to stow ammunition in cases on deck for preservation, they should, in my opinion, be opened up and the contents distributed in K.A. cases immediately action is imminent.”
(Sd) … F.C.T.Tudor
D.N.O.
4th June, 1913.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.2077813. -
”Further experience has shown that the ammunition supply in this ship is so poor, that a great loss of life and probably the complete loss of the ship from the enemy’s shell fire is likely to be the result of guarding against a local cordite fire by not keeping a ready supply at the guns.”
(Sd) … Fred.C.Dreyer
Captain, H.M.S. “Amphion”
16th Octr., 1913.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.12683-14. -
“If, however, the cordite be retained in ammunition boxes or cases it is less liable to ignition than if in K.A. cases, but, if ignited, the initial conflagration would be more fierce since about five charges in a more or less confined space would be affected, and an explosion of some force would probably result.
The explosion would, however, be mild in comparison with the explosion of the enemy shell which caused it, and is therefore not of great account.”
(Sd) … F.C.T.Tudor
D.N.O.
29 Jan, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.14474-14 -
“These trials show that the rate of supply depends on the work inside the magazines of removing cartridges from cases. I am of opinion that a supply of cartridges should be removed from their cases when the ships “prepare for war” and be kept ready in bags in the magazines. By taking the risk of possible explosion ( in the event of a cartridge being struck ) and starting with 10 projectiles at each gun, the rate of supply should be adequate.”
(Sd) … N. Berkely Milne,
Admiral, Commander-in-Chief,
9th April, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14 -
“DAY ACTION” In the older ships regards must be had to the possibility of fire caused by the ignition of cordite charges being communicated to the ammunition passages and possibly to the magazines; in the newer ships, except light cruisers, this danger is very much less as there are no trunks for flame to pass down, no ammunition passages where large quantities of ammunition are exposed, and supply is made from small ready use magazines which would not have a great deal of cordite in them.”
(Sd) … G.N.Callahan
Admiral,
27th April, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"Preparation for Night Torpedo/Attack. A rapid and sustained fire delivered at the moment the Torpedo craft are sighted is essential. The danger of the charges being ignited by the fire of enemy's heavy ships may be disregarded."
(Sd) ... S.C. Colville
Vice Admiral
15th April, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"It is considered more important to have the ammunition provided and ready for immediate use and to risk the chances of a cordite fire, rather than to guard against a fire, and to have the ship unprepared for an attack."
(Sd) ... G.Warrender,
Vice Admiral Commanding
Second Battle Squadron
12th. April, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"Although 20 rounds per guin, in the case of the 6-inch, would mean a large amount of cordite in the 6-inch battery, it is considered to be more important to provide ammunition for the guns to fire at the enemy, and accept the remote chance of a local cordite fire ( when attached by Torpedo craft ), than to guard against such fire by having too little ammunition at the gun ( i.e. no chance of hitting the enemy ), resulting probably in the destruction of one's own ship."
(Sd) ... R.K.Arbuthnot,
Rear Admiral Commanding
2nd. Battle Squadron
23rd, March, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"It is considered more important to provide ammunition for the guns to fire at the enemy and accept the remote chance of a local cordite fire, than to guard against such fire by having little or no ammunition at the gun - i.e. no chance of hitting the enemy, resulting probably in the destruction of one's own ship.
(Sd) ... Fred.C.Dreyer
Captain, H.M.S. "Orion"
4th April, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"The likelihood of having to repel a Destroyer attack during day action renders it imperative to have an ample supply of cordite at the 6-inch guns."
(Sd) ... Walter Cowan,
Captain, H.M.S. Zealandia
27th March, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"During Day, I do not think it advisable to leave cordite in unprotected positions unattended."
(Sd) ... David Beatty,
Rear Admiral,
15th Apl, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"It is not considered advisable to leave cordite on the upper deck or in unprotected positions during a day action.
2 - The 4-inch crews in this ship have orders to take that ammunition below with them when they retire behind armour. The number of rounds supplied is therefore limited to twice the number of men available for manning the 4-inch guns, which amount, in the case of Battle Cruisers, to 14 rounds per gun."
(Sd) ... Osmond de B.Brock.
Captain, "Princess Royal"
1st Apl, 1914.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14.
"It should be laid down in the Gunnery Manual that the risk of explosion of stacked ammunition is secondary to maintaining a rapid fire which should afford the best protection to the stacked ammunition."
(Sd) ... C.E.Madden,
Rear Admiral
10th April, 1914
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"I would suggest that for "FEARLESS", "ACTIVE" and "FORWARD" stowage at the guns be provided for 30 rounds in boxes. This should meet all requirements for day or night as a ready supply. The boxes are recommended in preference to the racks, as it is considered that with such a considerable of the ship's allowance of Cordite at the guns every possible care should be taken to protect it from the weather."
(Sd) ... R.Y. Trwhitt (sic),
Captain T.,
22nd. April, 1914
- - - - - - - - - -
G.15134-14. -
"It is generally accepted that the risk of local cordite fires must be taken in order that a ship may be ready to instantly develop her maximum power of gunfire."
(Sd) ... F.C.T.Tudor
D.N.O.
11/5/14.
- - - - - - - - - -
G.042-15. -
Gunnery Orders
1915.
1st,Feb.1915
Experience has shown the great danger of allowing cordite to accumulate in gun positions and causing severe fires. This accumulation should therefore on no account be allowed."
B
statistics: Posted by Blutarski — 8:45 PM - 1 day ago — Replies 11 — Views 193