652 TRANSACTIONS OP THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, 



STEEL-PLATED SHIPS. 



Mr. Stetson adverted to the report that the Emperor Napoleon 

 had countermanded the order for the construction of steel-plated 

 ships, and said that that report needed confirmation before it 

 should be credited. Sir Howard Douglas had taken the ground 

 that iron-plated ships would not be able to withstand the immense 

 force of modern projectiles. Other authorities were almost unan- 

 imous in the opinion that they were destined to create a revolu- 

 tion in naval warfare. France and England were now changing 

 wooden for iron vessels. When ship was matched against ship, 

 there would be no question as to the superiority of iron-plated 

 vessels. With regard to land batteries, however, — earthwork, 

 timber or masonry against plated ships — it became a diJBferent 

 question. Timber ships were not expected to resist cannon balls. 

 What would be the result with iron-plated vessels ? If a ten, 

 jBfteen or twenty-inch cannon ball would make a hole suf- 

 ficient to drive a horse and cart through, in consequence of 

 the crushing in of the iron, then it would become a grave ques- 

 tion whether iron plates were practicable. Mr. Stetson re- 

 ferred to an attack on a fortress in the Crimea by three French 

 iron-plated vessels, where the fortress mounted more and hea- 

 vier guns and more men, yet the attack was successful. 



The President inquired if the result of the modern improve- 

 ments in warfare would not be that fortresses would be found to 

 be more than a match for ships, causing them to stay at home. 



Capt. Bartlett, late of the United States Navy, thought that 

 question could be answered by the fact that the introduction of 

 the Colt pistol had not made men any more peaceable, but the 

 reverse. As to iron-plated vessels, he considered them vulnerable 

 at the two ends, where they were not plated. General James, of 

 Rhode Island, had succeeded in making a cast-iron shot, of the 

 Minie rifle ball character, and had, as he thought, perfected it. 

 The iron shot was made explosive — that is, so as to explode 

 when it strikes the object at which it is fired. The practical 

 efiect of this invention was to render a 24-pounder Columbiad 

 equal to a 48-pounder, without adding one ounce to the gun, and 

 it would last longer and fire further than if used for round shot. 

 The rifling of the gun could be done without taking it to the 

 foundry. The shot was cast hollow, and was provided with a 

 plunger and percussion cap. He had seen a shot fired at a sand- 

 bank, and it exploded at the instant of contact. And yet one of 



