MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
228 
The S.B. guns are formidable weapons, although they are merely cast- 
iron shell guns. The 20-inch gun is at present only an experimental 
piece] and I think we may safely conclude that for some time to come there 
will be very few of them, and the few that may be made will be very 
cautiously used. The bursting of the 15 or 18-inch gun would probably 
completely paralyze a ship^s crew, and destroy all confidence in these pieces. 
Our guns being made of wrought-iron will not, on failure, break up like 
cast-iron or steel ordnance ; and from their accuracy of fire, the capacity of 
their shells, and the power these latter have of maintaining a comparatively 
high velocity (in consequence of their elongated form), the British are in all 
probability greatly superior as weapons to the American guns. 
One of the most important questions at the present time is this, Are 
monster guns required P Opinions are divided; but let us turn to facts, and 
see what has been done. I have endeavoured, in the following table, to 
arrange some of the leading facts in order, so as to give an idea (necessarily 
a rough one) of the projectiles and charges requisite to actually penetrate 
certain structures at different ranges. I have not chosen the targets in pre¬ 
ference to any others, but simply believing that they represent the average 
resistance offered by sea-going vessels, and also for convenience of comparison. 
Target penetrated ly Steel Elongated Projectiles, 
Range. 
Weight of 
Projectile. 
Charge. 
Target. 
gun. 
Nature. 
Diameter. 
yds. 
200 
cwt. 
8 
lbs. 
12 shot 
in. 
3 
lbs. 
If 
2\" iron plate. 
u 
a 
12 shell 
n 
It 
n and 12" wood 
// 
81 
110 shot 
7 
12 
backing. 
5|" iron plate. 
// 
134 
104 „ 
n 
25 
“ Warrior.” 
600 
148 
130 „ 
6*4 
25 
n 
800 
tons. 
130 /, 
n 
27 
n 
1500* 
12 
221 „ 
9-2 
44 
“ Small plate.” J 
// t 
n 
301 „ 
10*5 
45 
n 
2000 
22 
610 shell 
13 
70 
“ Warrior.” 
It appears then, from what has been already accomplished, that there is 
at present no occasion to employ monster ordnance for the destruction of 
ordinary plated vessels. The guns we are now making, which will throw 
projectiles of 200 or 800 lbs. weight, with charges of 45 lbs., are, if pro¬ 
perly used, which no doubt they will be, quite sufficient for the purpose. 
Eurther than this, however, it is probable that few iron-plated sea-going 
vessels (now afloat) could withstand the fire of our rifled l f/ guns of 130 
* Ascertained for this range by using a 30-lbs. charge at 200 yards, 
f do. do. 35 lbs. do. 
$ inches of iron and 27" of wood; the wood and iron not disposed in such an advantageous 
manner for resistance as in the f6 Warrior” target. 
