492 
ARMOUR-PIERCING PROJECTILES. 
cast by means of a syphon, which fills several moulds at the same time, 
which are placed on a movable iron platform. The interior of the 
shell is formed by means of a conical core. 
In order to drive out all air bubbles, and to render the metal most 
dense, the liquid steel in the mould is compressed by means of a 
hydraulic press, and the moulds have thick walls so that the cooling 
shall not be too rapid. 
{Taken from “ Journal d’Artillerie Busse.” 
{Mittheilungen, 1879 — 2nd number). 
RUSSIA.—Comparative trial with 9-in. projectiles against 
armour-plates. 
In June, 1878, trials were made on the Wolfsfelde with 9-in. 
projectiles against an armour-plate target, in whiph the line of fire 
differed from the normal to the face of the plate. 
The object of the trial was to test the quality of different metals for 
the production of battering shells, to compare the penetrative power 
of projectiles with different forms of head, and, lastly, to compare 
solid shot with shell. 
The following were provided for the trial:—- 
1. Projectiles manufactured by Messrs. Putilofsky & Co., part from 
Bessemer steel, and part from Martin steel. Some were forged, and 
some not forged, some with pointed heads, and some with blunt 
heads (flat-heads?) 
2. From the Nobel factory, chilled projectiles hardened by different 
methods. These were both shot and shell, and were fitted with either 
lead coating or copper rings. 
3. Projectiles from the French factory of Terre-Noire, of Martin 
steel, which were hollow and had a pointed head. 
4. Projectiles from the Sormofsky factory, Benardaki; which 
were the same as No. 3. 
5. Projectiles from the factory of Messrs. Mendeljejew & Isnoskof, 
which were the same as No. 3, with lead coatings. 
The armour consisted of 4 plates, each 7 ins. thick, and were manu¬ 
factured in the Yzorsky factory for the frigate “Menin.” Each plate 
was fastened with 10 bolts, 2 | ins. in diameter, to a backing of deal 
35 ins. thick. 
The target was 1.16*6 yds. from the gun. The charges were such as 
to give the same blow on the target as the charge of 67*7 lbs. prismatic 
powder of 1*75 density at ranges of 3032*6 and 2302*7 yds. 
The line of fire made an angle of 25° with the normal to the target 4 
The trial gave the following results :—■ 
