250 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
Table II. 
“Captain W. H. Noble, R.A., 26. 7. 71, submits, for record, the following abstract, giving the 
results of experiments, carried out at Shoeburyness, to. determine the muzzle velocity of common 
shells fired with charges of 3 lbs. from the 16-pr. wrought-iron M.L.R. guns of 3-6-in. and 3'3-in. 
calibre. The 3-6-in. gun was fitted with a removable centre vent, and advantage was taken of this 
circumstance to determine the loss of velocity, in this calibre, due to placing the vent at the end of 
the bore. The vent strikes the cartridge at 0-6 in. from the rear end of bore. With the 
forward vent the cartridge was struck at 4-4 ins. from the rear. The latter vent, however, is 
unsuitable for low charges, and facilitates the deposit of half consumed cartridge in the bore. 
“ It appears that the muzzle velocity with the 3-6-in. gun is 51 ft. in excess of that with the 
3-3-in. gun. Both guns were fired under the same circumstances. 
Brand of powder, R.L.G., W.A., lot 1637. 
Gun, and 
date of 
experiment. 
j No. of 
| rounds fired. 
Charge. 
Length and 
diameter of 
cartridge. 
PEOJECTILE. 
N ature, 
mean weight, 
length, and 
diameter. 
Position 
of vent. 
Observed velocities 
at 50 yds. 
Mean 
observed 
velocity. 
Calculated 
mean initial 
velocity. 
Remarks. 
lbs. 
ins. 
r 
com. shell, 
) 
ft. I 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
r 
2 
3 
11-8 x 2-9*4 
16 lbs. 
10 ins. 
> rear. 
1328 
1340 
— 
— 
— 
1334 
1357 
3-6-in. 
Expl. No. 1 
' ( 
3-54 „ 
do. 
) 
do. 
00 
5 
3 
10-3 x 3-2 
1334 
1332 
1328 
1343 
1340 
1335 
1358 
et 
3 
do. 
do. 
forward. 
1381 
1377: 
1377 
1370 
1370 
1375 
1397 
3‘3-in. -) 
Expl. No. {■ 
390. ) 
r 
com. shell, 
'I 
5 
3 
11-8 x 2"9< 
16 lbs. 
11-3 ins. 
3-24 „ 
> rear. 
1281 
1289 
1296 
: 
1294 
1269 
i 
1286 
1307 
Table III. 
“Captain W. H. Noble, R.A., 26.8.71, submits, for record, the following abstract, giving the 
results of experiments to ascertain the velocity and regularity of velocity of common shells fired 
from the 16-pr. (3-6-in.) M.L.R. gun of 12 cwt. 
Gun, and 
O 
Length 
and 
'rS • 
A ® 
o 
date of 
6 S 
Charge. 
diameter 
o s > ® 
g 
* S~ 
Observed velocities at 50 yds. 
c3 £ 
® «s g 
g go 
-l-S’S 
P o 
experiment. 
. P 
ft g 
of 
cartridge. 
CD ^ 
CU 
O |> 
?-< Jr: 
^3 
o PI 
rttS® 
o g ^ 
lbs. 
ins. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
10 
r 3 1 
| L.G. | 
J Curtis & 1 
] Harvey, [ 
11 x 3-2 
( com. ^ 
1 shell, 1 
\ 161bs., )■ 
| 10 ins. | 
C1358 
11300 
1328 
1345 
1325 
1345 
1323 
1358 
13231 
1351 j 
1336 
15-8 
1359 
16-pr. 
j 2.6.57, | 
L lot 97. J 
1.3’54 , J 
M.L.R. 
Expl. No. 
385, 
25.8.71. 
10 
r - 3 1 
| L.G. j 
j from 1 
] Exam- { 
j ination 1 
a 
n 
(*1260 
(.1270 
1274 
1251 
1276 
1218 
1264 
1254 
12831 
1269) 
1262 
12-9 
1283 
L 1870. J 
10 
( R.L.G. 1 
115.9.70, f 
(.lot 1637..) 
10-75 x 3-2 
ii 
fl314 
11322 
1363 
1347 
1309 
1347 
1309 
1338 
13441 
1328) 
1332 
15-7 
1355 
“It appears that there is a considerable loss of velocity with L.G. powder of ‘Examination 
1870.’ The Supt. R.G.P.F. states that this powder is from broken up cartridges. 
“ The velocities are on the whole irregular. 
“ The practice was carried out under the same conditions as that reported on preceding Minute, 
with the exception that in the present case the cartridges were of serge instead of silk cloth. The 
ranges at 2° corresponded in a marked manner with the velocities.” 
* Cartridge for 3'3-in. gun used by mistake. 
f I miss. 
