108 REPORT—1862. 
cavity is formed in the projectile of the size required to contain the bursting 
charge of ordinary powder. The rear is closed entirely by a screwed plate 
or cap. The uncertain complications of percussion-fuses, and also the sim- 
pler time-fuses, are wholly dispensed with. No fuse or detonating substance 
of any kind is used. On firing his shell through iron plates, Mr. Whitworth 
found that by the force of impact and friction sufficient heat was generated 
to fire the bursting charge without any fuse at all. In practice the action 
upon the powder was found to be even too rapid. To retard its action for 
the time necessary to enable the shell to effect a complete penetration and 
then to burst, Mr. Whitworth interposes between the metal of his shell and 
his bursting powder-charge a substance that is a non-conductor of heat: by 
preference he encloses the powder in a flannel case, and finds that by simply 
diminishing or increasing the thickness of his flannel he can burst his shell 
in the armour-plate or in the timber-backing, or after it has passed through 
both. The fragments of the shell now before the Section are those of one 
which was fired through this armour-plate, and which burst and shattered 
this backing of timber, 9 inches thick, placed behind the plate. There is one 
point in connexion with the Shoeburyness trials which should be specially 
noticed, and itis this, that all the previous experiments against the ‘ Warrior’ 
target had been confined to the short range of 200 yards; at longer distances 
the smashing, monster smooth-bores cannot be made to hit the mark ; whereas 
Mr. Whitworth has proved that at a good fighting-range of 600 yards he can 
hit his mark to a few inches, and can at that distance—and there is good reason 
to believe at twice that distance—send his shells through the ‘ Warrior’s’ sides. 
That 600 yards may be fairly called a good fighting-range will be admitted 
when we remember that the ‘Agamemnon,’ at Sebastopol, fought all the guns 
of Fort Constantine at a range of 500 yards; and the ‘ Albion’ signalled, 
“‘ Well done, Agamemnon!—where you lead, we will follow.” ‘With respect 
to the 120-pounder gun itself, it should be explained that it was made at 
Woolwich, under the able superintendence of Mr. Anderson, at Mr. Whit- 
worth’s own request, and according to drawings originally supplied by him. It 
has the same bore as the Armstrong 110-pounder, stated by Sir William not 
to be effective against iron-plated ships. It is a built-up gun, and its hoops 
are made of coiled iron, welded ; but that method of manufacture was adopted 
by Mr. Whitworth in the first built-up gun that he made, and was well 
known in this country many years before rifled guns were introduced into 
the service. 
Mr. Whitworth has himself employed by preference the homogeneous 
metal, which he has found to answer perfectly for small arms and field guns, 
as well as for the penctration-shells which have been described. Practical 
improvements have been made in the process of forging and annealing the 
metal, which now enable it to be worked in masses of any required size, 
whose quality may be henceforth depended upon with certainty. 
Whitworth heavy guns are now being made with both interior tubes and 
outer of homogeneous metal of the improved manufacture, so that the guns 
will be constructed throughout of one uniform metal without any welding at 
all. Experience justifies the expectation that they will be free from the 
objections which it is well known are inherent in all welded guns, and be 
fully able to resist the severe and searching strain which is sure, sooner or 
later, to disable a gun built up of forged coiled tubes, if it be called upon to 
do its full work by discharging heavy rifled projectiles at the most efficient 
velocities, 
