ARMOUR AND ITS ATTACK BY ORDNANCE. 
175 
The Kussian Sinope (Fig. 40) has a complete belt, though she does not 
Rig. 40.— (Sinope). 
in other respects resemble French ships. 
The question of the belt is an old one. The above illustrations are 
intended to show what shape it has taken latterly; the matter that has 
principally affected later designs in armour is the introduction of 
quick-fire. Originally designed to meet the attack of torpedo boats, 
Q.F. guns have developed to such an extent that we now have a 6-inch 
Q.F. gun discharging 100-lb. projectiles, with a muzzle energy which 
is out of all comparison with anything* that existed in the first days of 
armour. The 68-pr. shot, then delivering the hardest blow, had about 
1200 foot-tons energy, and the 6-inch projectile has nearly 3000 already, 
and this will be considerably increased when cordite is used. At even 
a short range the latter has three times the energy of the former. The 
explosive powers, and much more the perforating powers, admit of no 
comparison. The quick-fire of a vessel is now for most purposes far 
more formidable than that of her heavy guns. Consequently un¬ 
armoured parts of a ship can be destroyed at a rate which has made 
an extension of thin armour necessary at any cost. The secondary 
Q.F. armaments and the extension of thin armour is a leading feature 
in the later ships. {See Figs. 32, 33, and 34.) The French cruiser, 
Dupuy de Lome, is covered with thin armour. Other cruisers carry such 
armour to a less extent, and our old Minotaur class have had new 
engines given them and have obtained a new lease of life when on the 
point of being broken up, thanks to the extended covering of thin 
armour and capability of speed. Such a ship as the Dreadnought 
(Fig. 41) is singularly proof against quick-fire, but is also singularly 
Fig. 41.— (Dreadnought ). 
r _Si_8L-, 
