MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
64 
(2) “ To have the greatest degree of precision possible. 
“ These two conditions can only be realized by means of rifled-cannons of 
large calibre and made of cast steel ; which is the material most suitable for 
the purpose. 
2. “It is very possible in certain cases to make smooth-bored cannon, 
firing spherical shot, contribute to the effect; but this can be done at short 
distances only, because as the distance increases so does the destructive 
action of the projectiles diminish, and with it the accuracy of fire. Smooth- 
bored cannon can in fact only be placed side by side with rifled cannon, even 
for effect at short ranges, by augmenting the calibre, but then the facility 
of working the gun and the rapidity of fire are considerably reduced. 
3. “This premised as questionable, it follows that the defences of a 
fortress exposed to the attack of. a fleet of armour-plated vessels, must be 
armed of necessity with rifled cannon of heavy calibre, and that maritime 
fortresses which may have disregarded this principle will by so doing have 
lost their best means of defence, and have blindly set themselves in a very 
critical position. In conformity with these views of the defence of the sea 
board, and urged by the immediate necessity which arose last year (1864), 
to put the fortress of Cronstadt in a condition to oppose the attack of an 
armour-plated squadron, the government has taken the proper steps to arm 
the above fortress promptly with rifled guns of large calibre, and has ordered 
them from M. Krupp. 
4. “The question of rifled cannon of heavy calibre being in point of fact 
one of the most difficult problems in artillery—a problem whose definite 
solution has not yet been found whether by ourselves or by any other 
European power—it has been decided as a preliminary measure that we 
should proceed to the trial of a 9•65-inch* rifled gun selected out of the 
number of those ordered from Krupp, but without suspending the rest of 
the order, seeing that the political aspect of the moment called for immediate 
armament, and did not allow of loss of tune. . 
5. “This gun was tried with a view to arrive at precise data as to the 
construction of rifled guns of large calibre and of heavy projectiles, and then 
to determine the amount of destructive action which we may expect them to 
produce on armour-plated vessels. 
“The piece subjected to the trial (A) weighed 148‘3 cwt., it was muzzle¬ 
loading, had parallel grooves! and fired projectiles of 269 lbs. with zinc 
studs. The charge was 45*2 lbs. of pellet powder ( pouclreprismatique ). 
“Practice made against iron plates of 4*7 inches to 5*9 inches in thickness 
has proved that the destructive effect of the projectiles fired from this piece 
is very considerable: it may therefore be inferred with confidence that such 
* Neufpouces, but referred to below as of 245 m. = 9'6o inches, 
f Rayures par alleles. Understood to mean shunt rifling. 
