The Barr and Stroud range-finder is used in all Japanese ships, and acted excellently at the bombardments of Port Arthur in February, 1904.
The Barr and Stroud transmitters are also fitted to all first-class warships. By means of these the range, projectile, and so forth is telegraphed from the conning-tower to a dial in each turret and casement. Without some such device a range-finder is of no particular service, as by the time the range is passed down it will have altered.
The Grenfell system of transmission is also understood to be under experiment. This differs in details from the Barr and Stroud, but in general principle is much the same thing.
The theoretical objection to the Barr and Stroud is that the electric leads may be cut by a hostile shot. They might be, but as the wires are carried in duplicate under the armour deck the chances of failure are about one in a million! Throughout the war with Russia all these instruments have worked perfectly, and proved particularly serviceable in the bombardments of Port Arthur.
CANET 27-CM. (10.6-IN.)
JAPANESE COAST GUN OF 36 CALIBRES.
3. Torpedoes.
The Japanese service has three torpedoes:—