THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
229 
cwt., fired with 251b. charges, at 800 or even 1000 yards range;* for we 
must remember that, in actual warfare, vessels are constantly subjected to a 
continuous fire, and not merely to a few blows delivered at certain intervals 
of time; and, that a structure may thus be kept in a constant state of 
vibration by the repeated impacts of shot, and will offer less resistance than 
when time is allowed, between the rounds, for the metal of the armour to 
resume its former condition of repose. We should also remember that the 
few plates upon which experiments are usually made are in all probability of 
sounder construction than those produced in quantities for the plating of 
several vessels; also, that when a ship has been for some time at sea, and 
may in addition have been in action, the armour (bolt plates and fastenings) 
will have been subjected to many shocks and strains, and will, therefore, 
have been considerably weakened. 
I may here remark that Mr Whitworth deserves great credit for showing 
that more might be accomplished against iron plates, by employing rifled 
guns of moderate weight and hard projectiles, than by firing at them with a 
rude monster like the Horsfall gun, with the much-vaunted round ball; also 
for proving that iron plates could be pierced by shells, at that time con¬ 
sidered next to an impossibility. It is now probable that we shall not be 
compelled to use steel for onr projectiles ; the chilled iron shot proposed by 
Major Palliser giving promise of success. 
Por the destruction of floating batteries, monster guns would certainly be 
required, but may not be procurable, as such batteries could be made 
practically invulnerable. Lor naval actions S.B. guns may be necessary ; 
but it is easy to choose a system of rifling which admits of both spherical 
and elongated projectiles being fired from the same gun. I will, however, 
venture to say that rifled guns that will bear a charge of £ t will answer 
every purpose. 
I might have been expected to allude to the late Armstrong and Whit¬ 
worth experiments, but I have purposely avoided doing so, for I never could 
see that any object would be gained by them, except the probable satisfaction 
(or rather increased dissatisfaction) of two rival manufacturing firms and 
their respective adherents. Whatever the report may be, I cannot believe 
it will satisfy the officers of Her Majesty's service. 
As far as my branch of the service is concerned (for I will not presume 
to say what course should be taken with naval armaments), the government 
has ample means of obtaining the best information and advice on a purely 
artillery question (the respective merits of two guns) from a regularly 
constituted committee, a school of gunnery, and a director-general of 
ordnance, besides many artillery officers of high rank and great experience, 
who hold responsible positions in or near London. Then why ignore these, 
and appoint a mixed committee, many of the members of which can know 
* The result of a recent experiment shows “ that a structure such as the e Warrior ’ can be pene¬ 
trated at 200 yards range with elongated shot and shot cast in chill, when the form of the head of 
the latter is elliptical, fired from a 7" rifled gun with f charges; ” and the report adds, “ but it is 
probable that had the 7" steel shot been elliptical headed, instead of hemispherical headed, penetra¬ 
tion would also be effected at the longer range ” (1200 yards). 
f i has lately been fired with success. The larger the gun, however, the less must be the pro¬ 
portional charge. 
