424 REPORT— 1866. 



Dcck-plaukiug, lower 4 



„ upper 4 



Iron knees to each beam. 



Small Plate. — This target represents the ordinary construction of a wooden 

 sliip armour-pLated, the armour plates being of small area, and secui-ed by- 

 large Avood screws, The target was faced with four rows of plates of the 

 following dimensions : — • 



Two upper rows 59x27x 4-75 



Two lower rows 5 9x25x5-9 



The following arc the scantlings: — Timber frames 11"; inner planking 

 6" ; outside planking 10". 



The target was furnished with deck-beams, waterway, and deck-plauking. 

 Massive wooden knees to each beam. 



The Ilercuhs. — This was the strongest target ever fired at at at Shoebury- 

 ness ; indeed, it is probable that a structure of such immense strength has 

 never yet been tried in any other country. 



The upper half of the target was faced with a wrought-iron plate 9 inches 

 thick, and the lower half Avith a similar plate 8 inches thick. Behind both 

 plates was a compact backing consisting of 12-inch timber, laid horizontally, 

 and divided by four liorizoutal iron plates placed edgewise. This baekii:g 

 rested against a skin of two |" plates. The whoJe was secured to the iron 

 ribs, which were 10 inches deep, AA'ith vertical timber worlicd in between 

 them. Eehind the ribs were two hnings of horizontal timber IS inelies 

 deep, confined by 7-inch iron ribs inside all, and an inside iron sldn. The 

 armour plates were secured by 3-inch bolts. 



The total thickness of the target, wood, and iron, exclusive of the 7-inch 

 inside ribs, was : — At top, 51*25 inches; at bottom, 47*25 inches. It may 

 easily be imagined that a structure such as this, 4 feet thick, presented 

 a very serious obstacle to the passage of any nature of projectile. 



Mr. Chalmers's Target. — This target was composed of 3-75-inch hammered 

 armour plates, with a compound backing 10-75 inches thick, formed of 

 horizontal layers of wood and iron plates. Eehind this was a second armour 

 plate 1;^ inch thick, with a cushion of timber 3-75 inches thick between it 

 and the f-inch plate, which formed the skin of the ship. 



The iron plates used in the backing were f -inch in thickness, and 5 inches 

 ai)art from centre to centre. 



The armour plates were secured by through bolts. 



7i-inch Target — This target consisted of a 7-5-inch roUed armour jJate 

 11' 9"-25 X 3''8"-37 X 7"-5, backed by 7 inches of wood, and secured to 

 the frame of Mr. Samuda's target* (2g inches thick), the plates being secured 

 by 2|-ineh conical-headed bolts with double nuts. 



Gk-Inch Target. — This target consisted of a 6|-inch rolled armour plate, 

 backed by 17 inches of wood, and on ' Warrior' skin and frame t. 



Portsmouth A. — This target consisted of a rolled armour plate 5-5 inches 

 thick, bolted to the sides of a wooden line-of-battle ship. The backing was 

 therefore about 25 inches of oak. 



Portsmouth B. — Exactly the same as the above, with the exception of the 

 armour plate, which was 6 inches thick. 



Portsmouth C. — Exactly the same as the above, M'ith the exceiition of tlie 

 armour plate, which was 4*5 inches thick. 



* Transactions, p. 102 (1862). f Ibid. p. 173 (1803). 



