The Drydock - Episode 117

Cool. Thanks. I'd like to add that my description of gun manufacturing is based on a single source. Therefore, it should be taken with a BIG grain of salt.

Kevin Kennelly

Hi Drac, I'm just reading through Norman Friedman's US cruisers volume again, boy do I love his volumes, great technical books, plus he's a readable author. Now for the question, I know I've read the explanation before, but I don't have your eidetic memory so here it is. He referred armour lay outs a such and such width of armour backed by 20lb STS. What does the poundage refer to, and what is STS mean? Thanks and keep up the great work.🤔

Hi Drach. Just finished listening to Drydock Episode 114 (your endurance is not to be underestimated…). I have a follow up relating to your response on the importance of the ship’s galley to overall crew performance. When did the Royal Navy formalize fare for officers and crew? Am I correct in assuming that the practice of a “rum ration” goes back further than standardized fare? When was the first RN authored cookbook introduced?

Any chance of ever doing any exploration of the WW2 naval operations conducted in the Black Sea?

Robert Henry Illston

I shall address in the drydock after the pattern one for this month :)

Drachinifel

I should have been MUCH more specific with my 'relining the barrel' question. I'm aware of barrel replacement ... the brute force method to address a barrel who's rifling is shot. It's the word 'relining' that intrigues me. My understanding about gun manufacturing is that the barrel is built (a gross oversimplification of the process), it is then lowered into a circular pit (as deep as the barrel is long) that is lined with heaters. A few teravolts of electricity is pumped into the heaters. This causes the barrel to expand. Then the 'rifled liner' is inserted into the barrel, it is left to cool and shrink back to a snug fit around the liner. My question should have been phrased around this process....and if/how it is reversed? Is the liner somehow 'extracted' from the barrel and replaced? How do they do THAT?

Kevin Kennelly