Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: April 30, 2025
However, there was an arrangement whereby a small automatic quick-firer could be sent up to a platform built on top of the gas envelope itself, and a man stationed there could shoot at a rival airship directly overhead. But the main deck guns could be elevated to an angle of nearly forty-five degrees, so they could take care of nearly any hostile aircraft that approached.
'We've got to, Ken answered quickly. 'Once they get that quick-firer posted, it's all up with our lads down below. They'll rake the trench from end to end. 'Let's wait till it's in place, and rush it, suggested Horan recklessly. 'We ought to be able to wipe out the gun crew before they nobble us. 'What's the use of that? retorted Ken. 'It's the gun itself we want to wreck not the crew.
We had a special target-practice that afternoon all for Antonio. As I told my crew me bein' captain of the port-bow quick-firer, though I'm a torpedo man now it just showed how you can work your gun under any discomforts. A shell twenty six-inch shells burstin' inboard couldn't 'ave begun to make the varicose collection o' tit-bits which we had spilled on our deck.
Without a moment's delay he sprang over into the pit. The place was a regular shambles. Ken was amazed at the ruin wrought by the one small bomb. Three men lay dead in the bottom. One had his head almost blown off. Fortunately, perhaps, Ken had no time to dwell on such horrors. With all possible speed he got the remaining bomb out, and with a handkerchief tied it to the breech of the quick-firer.
Then Milsom rang down to the engine-room for half speed; and a little later, when the Maranon was hull-up and the two vessels were closing fast, he ordered the forward port twelve-pound quick-firer to be loaded with a blank charge.
Men whose nerves had been steeled to the crash of the big guns, or the monotonous roar of Maxims and the rattle of Mauser fire, found a new terror in the malignant 'ploop-plooping' of the automatic quick-firer.
It was the maddest enterprise, and if either had stopped to think they would have realised this fact. Two against four, and the latter armed with a quick-firer! And by way of improving matters, the two had outrun all their companions and were far out in a country swarming with enemy troops.
The big fellow was splashed with blood and dripping with perspiration, but in his eyes was a gleam which told of his delight at the result of the charge. Ken gave a gasp of joy. 'The very man, Horan! Kemp and three Turkish gunners have just gone into the trees opposite. They've got a quick-firer. Are you game to hunt 'em down?
'Room for the captain's 'ammick! The captain's servant Cockburn 'is name was had one end, an' our newly promoted Antonio, in a blue slop rig, 'ad the other. They slung it from the muzzle of the port poop quick-firer thort-ships to a stanchion. Then the old man flickered up, smokin' a cigarette, an' brought 'is stern to an anchor slow an' oriental. "'What a blessin' it is, Mr.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking