ARMOUR-PIERCING PROJECTILES. 
481 
It was found that the capped shell were in no way superior to the 
ordinary service pattern, and consequently the Committee did not 
recommend any further experiments in this direction. A Cammell 
shell was the only one that completely perforated a steel-faced plate. 
The shell broke up. 
The Whitworth shells perforated the air-spaced targets, even when 
the front plates were placed obliquely to the line of fire, without being 
materially altered in form. The others broke up against the rear 
plate even when the front plate was perpendicular to the line of fire. 
2nd Series . 
The 2nd series, in which endeavours were made to determine the 
best form and material for armour-piercing projectiles, was carried 
on with studless shells fitted with rotating gas-checks.* It had been 
found that the studded shells, when they broke up against armour, 
invariably did so through the lines of weakness formed by the stud- 
holes, and satisfactory trials were made to establish the equal, if not 
superior, accuracy of the studless shells. 
The experimental projectiles were as follows :—* 
R.L. Chilled Shells , weighted to 274 lbs. 8 ozs., and having heads 
struck with radii of 1*5, 2*0, 2’5, and 3’0 diameters. 
Cammell’s Shells , with cast steel body and chilled head, weighted to 
274 lbs. 8 ozs., and having heads struck with radii of T5, and 2*0 
diameters. Also two special patterns of head, one having a sharp 
pointed head made by curves of various radii, and the other resembling 
the first, but having the point truncated. 
Whitworth Shells of forged steel, weighted to 247 lbs. 8 ozs., and 
having heads struck with radii of T5 and 2*0 diameters. Also one 
flat-headed shell weighing about 296 lbs. 
These projectiles went through their competitive trial by being 
fired— 
a. Directly against unbacked wrought-iron 14-in. plates. 
b. Obliquely against unbacked wrought-iron 12-in. plates. The 
angle of the line of fire with the perpendicular to the force 
of the plate varied from 30° to 37° 4'. 
c. Direct fire against unbacked steel-faced 12-in. plates composed 
of 4 ins. of steel welded to 8 ins. of wrought-iron. 
d. Oblique fire against unbacked steel-faced 10-in. plates, composed 
of 4 ins. of steel welded to 6 ins. of wrought-iron. The 
angle of the line of fire with the perpendicular to the face 
of the plate varied from 25° to 27°. 
Precautions were taken to ensure uniformity of quality of plates, and 
a uniform striking velocity. 
* i.e., gas-checks which impart rotation to the shell. 
