Furthermore, until the Armstrong wire-wound breech-loading 12-inch of 1894, the Navy’s heavy ordnance failed to shake off a reputation for exploding. Although in reality the incidence of burst guns was very small, it was sufficient to engender acute nervousness among those who had to work them. Sailors were superstitious; and it was not unknown for the petty-officer who was supposed to pull the lanyard to faint with fear and for ratings to report sick to avoid being present. For their part, officers hated gunnery practice for, like funnels, gunfire meant dirt, and that cost them money. While
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