THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARMOUR. 
591 
be tremendous. It may be however that ships containing no wood 
and with medium armour extensively used might bear it, so that the 
attack of the primary parts can not be kept out of view. The 
incendiary action is probably due to lumps of explosive being driven 
into the wood work which would burn furiously, having their own 
oxygen in the composition and perhaps resisting the action of water 
to a great extent. 
The progress made in ordnance consists almost entirely in Progress in 
the development and application of quick-fire. If our battles ° b r e d t °^ e 
are likely to be fought mainly by our heavy Q.F. guns, it is 1893 and 
not surprising that every effort should be made both to increase their 1898 - 
power and also to find room for them in vessels which did not 
originally carry them. Thus in England the greatly increased muzzle- 
energy of 5373 ft.-tons 1 obtained by the new Vicker’s 6-in. Q.F. gun 
at Portsmouth, possesses an importance which is, in a measure, appre¬ 
ciated by all, though perhaps fully appreciated by few. This, then, is 
an example of development of power. A new 12-in. Vickers gun and 
a 9*2 Gun Factory naval gun have been taken in hand as well as field 
Q.F. guns. Notable examples of the increased application of Q.F. 
guns in the armament of ships were already to be found in 1896 
in the case of our Argonaut class of cruisers of 11,000 tons displace¬ 
ment, carrying sixteen 6-in. Q.F. guns as compared with the Powerful 
of 14,200 tons, carrying two 9‘2-in. ordinary guns and twelve 6-in. 
Q.F. pieces. It will be found on working out that the new cruis< rs 
possess an increased energy of fire, compared with their predecessors, 
which may amount to 20 per cent., but which, on even a considerably 
lower estimate, means a great increase of power in comparison to the 
displacement of the vessel. 
The French have removed the central barbette heavy gun in the Changes in 
Amiral Baudin and other vessels, replacing it by a redoubt containing ^? n g ch 
four Q.F. guns, which constitutes an approach to our British plans 
dating as far back as the Admiral class. Germany and the United 
States have brought in Q.F. guns of increased calibre and in 
increasing numbers. These are only illustrations of the general 
current of opinion. 
Elswick has long advocated and supplied very powerful Q.F. guns. Elswick 
The Esmeralda , launched in 1896, carried two 8-in. Q.F. guns, besides designs, 
her sixteen 6-in. Q.F. pieces. The introduction of the Vickers 6-in. Vickers 6-in 
gun is intended to give us a broadside piece of greatly increased £ un * 
energy, which would generally be capable of attacking an enemy’s 
secondary batteries with armour-piercing if not with common shells, and, 
even in the case of most 6-in. shields, might easily get shot through. 
In short, the great point to secure is superiority in attack and defence 
for the Q.F. gun. Happily, this is possessed in a high degree in the 
designs of Sir William White, where each 6-in. gun is in many cases, wjnVs 
both in first-class cruiser and battleship, mounted in a 6-in. casemate, casemates. 
1 The calculated perforation is 22‘7 in. of iron and the muzzle velocity was 2784 f.s. There is 
a great tendency for this to fall rapidly with large cordite charges fired in quick succession. It is 
hoped that this may be prevented to a great extent by expanding gas rings, but it is well to make 
allowance for it in estimating results in action, 
