WWI warship firing salvos - GIF

Imperial German Navy's coastal defense ship Odin firing salvos, c. 1900.

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Previously:

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...604#post170430
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...591#post174237
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...392#post116759
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...800#post163735
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...896#post144544

Interesting design...

Two main guns (24 cm) in separate turrets facing forward (and one facing aft behind superstructure)

A submerged torpedo tube pointing forward.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Odin

What were they using in the guns for propellant? Certainly smokeless powder existed before 1900.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mklotz

Interesting design...

Two main guns (24 cm) in separate turrets facing forward (and one facing aft behind superstructure)

A submerged torpedo tube pointing forward.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Odin

What were they using in the guns for propellant? Certainly smokeless powder existed before 1900.

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My first thought as well History and Technology - Naval Propellants - A Brief Overview - NavWeaps sez that they started using smokeless propellants in 1900.

Maybe this was something 'for the cameras' to look more impressive?

I don't think you can burn that much power, even smokeless, and not make some smoke...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-5ATYP...&enablejsapi=1

The Germans Navy started using smokeless Ballistite in 1898, which is very similar to Cordite which the British started using around the same time. Doesn’t mean they weren’t using up old ammo though. I would expect to see lots of muzzle flash/powder burning at the muzzle if it was black powder, but as it is probably a colourised black and white film clip, perhaps that’s why there is none visible. I also note that only one of the big guns made any smoke. Perhaps the ship is just “making smoke” from some form of smoke maker, and she is making funnel smoke too. The Royal Navy practice of hiding from enemy spotters in your own smoke screen was common practice well into the 1960’s. Even though it doesn’t hide you from Radar, it prevents anyone from calling the fall of shot. RN ships still used Cordite propellants well into the 1980’s, and may still do. The “smokeless” smoke from Cordite fired 4.5” gun turrets is my favourite toxic smell. If you ingest enough of it, your farts smell like Cordite for the next day or two. i.e. Nice.

They can fire at the enemy and hide in a smoke screen at the same time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floradawg

They can fire at the enemy and hide in a smoke screen at the same time.

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Of course, in the days before radar, optical range finders were the norm, so smokescreens were great for retreating, not so good for attacking.

That was my attempt at humor, oh well.