ON THE PENETRATION OF ARMOUR-PLATES WITH LONG SHELLS. 433 



recorded in the paper were made with a gun of smaller calibre, from consi- 

 derations of economy and convenience ; but I hare always found that what 

 I could do with the smaller calibres of my system, could be reproduced in the 

 larger sizes; and from my past experience I feel warranted in asserting that 

 the effect of penetration now exhibited could be repeated on a proportionate 

 scale with my 9-inch guns at Shoeburyness, or with the 11 -inch guns my 

 firm are now engaged in constructing. 



A glance at the formidable nature of the projectiles thrown by these guns, 

 and a consideration of the effects they may be expected to produce, will show 

 the importance attaching to the question of penetration of plates by long 

 projectiles. The 9-inch guns to which I have referred weigh 15 tons each, 

 and are capable of firing powder charges of 50 lbs. A 9-inch armour shell, 

 5 diameters long, weighs 535 lbs., and will contain a bursting-charge of 25 lbs. 



I have no hesitation in saying that these projectiles would pierce the side 

 of a ship, plated with heavy armour, at a distance of 2000 j^ards, and at 

 some depth below the water-line. The 11-inch guns will weigh 27 tons, and 

 wiU be capable of firing 90 lb. powder-charges. The 11-inch shells, 5 dia- 

 meters long, will weigh 965 lbs., and will contain bursting-charges of 45 lbs., 

 and would pierce the side of the ship ' Hercules,' plated with 9-inch armour, 

 at a distance of 2000 yards. 



Were it not that the increased destructiveness of war must tend to shorten 

 its duration and diminish its frequency (thus saving human life) the inven- 

 tion of such projectiles could hardly be justified ; but believing in the really 

 pacific influences of the most powerful means of defence, I call these long 

 projectiles the " anti-war " shell. The principle I have always insisted upon, 

 and laid down for my own guidance in artillery experiments (when either a 

 low trajectory or penetration is required), is, " that every gun should be in 

 strength capable of withstanding the largest charge of powder that can be 

 profitably consumed in its bore." I have dravm up the accompanying Table 

 of the sizes of the bores of my guns, with their proportionate powder-charges, 

 and the guns wiU all be fully equal to this duty, and I believe the greatest 

 possible effect from the consumption of a given quantity of powder will be 

 obtaiaed. But the guns adopted in our naval service are not equal to such 

 a test ; nor, as I believe, are they so proportioned as to realize the best effect 

 from the quantity of powder they consume. 



Four guns of 12-inches bore have lately been put on board the ' Monarch.' 

 They weigh 25 tons each, and charges of 50 lbs. and 67 lbs. have been fired 

 from them with projectiles of 600 lbs. weight. I have no doubt that these 

 guns have been made with all possible care, and are as strong as their mate- 

 rial and construction admits ; but if the weight of these guns was in propor- 

 tion to the capacity of their bore, and if the material were the best that our 

 metallurgical skill could supply for such a purpose, they ought to fire 117 lbs. 

 of powder, and projectiles of 1250 lbs. weight. They would then be eflicient 

 weapons ; but at present they are more formidable in name than in reality. 



We are often flattered by being told that we have the best guns in the 

 world. That may or may not be the case. But I think that we should not 

 best contented while we are still so far from having attained as much as our 

 present advancement in mechanical and metallurgical science has rendered 

 possible for us. 



