1862.] a?id its JResistance to Projectiles at High Velocities. 501 



buryness clearly demonstrate that no vessel, however well protected by 

 armour-plates, could resist the effects of such powerful artillery ; and 

 instead of the contest between the * Merrimac * and the * Monitor,' and 

 that of the SOO-pounder gun being against, they are to every appearance 

 in favour of forts. Should this be correct, we have now to consider 

 how we are to meet and how resist the smashing force of such powerful 

 ordnance as was levelled against the * Warrior * target. 



During the whole of the experiments at Shoeburyness I have most 

 intently watched the effects of shot on iron plates. Every description 

 of form and quality of iron has been tried, and the results are still far 

 from satisfactory ; and this is the more apparent since the introduction 

 of the large 300-pounder, just at a time when our previous experiments 

 were fairly on the balance with the 40, 68, ICO, and 126-pounders. 

 They now appear worthless, and nothing is left but to begin our labours 

 again de novo. 



It has been a question of great importance, after having determined 

 the law of resistance and the requisite quality of the iron to be used as 

 armour-plates, how these plates should be supported and attached to the 

 sides of the ship. Great difference of opinion continues to exist on 

 this subject, — some are for entirely dispensing with wood ; probably 

 the greater number contend for a wood backing, the same as the 

 * Warrior * and the ^ Black Prince.* I confess myself in the minority 

 on this question ; and, judging from the experiments, I am inclined to 

 believe from past experience that wood combined with iron is inferior 

 to iron and iron in its power of resistance to shot ; and I am fully per- 

 suaded that ultimately the iron armour-plates must be firmly attached 

 to the side, technically called the skin, of the ship. It must, moreover, 

 form part of the ship itself, and be so arranged and jointed as to give 

 security and stability to the structure. 



The experiments instituted by the Committee on Iron Plates have 

 been well considered and carefully conducted : tliey commenced with a 

 series of plates selected from different makers of varying thicknesses, 

 and these have been tested both as respects quality and their powers of 

 resistance to shot. They have, moreover, been placed at different 

 angles and in a variety of positions, and we had just arrived at the 

 desired point of security, when the thundering 300-pounder smooth 

 bore upset our calculations and levelled the whole fabric with the 

 ground. We are, however, not yet defeated ; and true to the national 

 character, we shall, like the knights of old, resist to the last — 



" And though our legs are smitten off, 

 We'll fight upon our stumps." 



And thus it will be with the Iron Committee and the Armstrong 

 and the Whitworth guns. 



In conclusion, allow me to direct attention to a drawing of the 

 'Warrior' target, with wood backing and its compeer entirely of iron. 

 The first underwent a severe battering, previous to the attack from the 

 300-pounder, but the other sustained still greater, with less injury to 



