430 



REPORT 186G. 



Table IX. — Showing the probable distance at which various guns would 

 penetrate existing iron-clad vessels, provided they were fired with full ser- 

 vice-charges and solid steel shot. 



Resume of Experimental Results against Bached Plates. 



The experiments which have hitherto been made in this country in con- 

 nexion with targets representing iron- clad vessels, have been of such a 

 decidedly practical nature that it is difficidt to make any theoretical deduc- 

 tions from the results. 



The trials have been chiefly for the purpose of testing various specimens of 

 armour-plated vessels ; and the guns employed have been of a very varied 

 nature, mostly experimental. The results of such experiments have furnished 

 much valuable practical information ; but as they were conducted under such 

 varying circumstances, it is difficidt to base any theoretical conclusion on the 

 facts established. "VVe can, however, make several deductions which, if not 

 absolutely, wiU be relatively true, and vnll give us some approximation of 

 what is required. 



Thus, if we examine the experiments which from time to time have 

 been carried out against targets representing the ' AVarrior'f, wc find that 

 the target was completely penetrated by a steel shot which strack with a 

 " work" repr^ented by about G3 foot-tons per inch of shot's circiunfercnco 

 (round 1018), and that 59 tons failed to penetrate, although it cracked the 

 inner skin (round not numbered). 



"We may therefore assume that a force of about GO or 61 foot-tons w uld 

 be the minimum to ensure the absolute penetration of the ' Warrior ' Avith a 

 steel shot of good quality, striking dii-ect J. 



The round quoted above (1018) consisted of a hemispherical-headed steel 

 shot of 99-56 lbs. and 6-91 inches diameter, moving with a velocity of 1-111 



* At present afloat (August 1860). t Sec Table XIIL (in the Appendix). 



X This applies only to hemispherical-headed shot. 



