564 
FIGHTING BOOKS. 
PAET XX. 
THE ACTION. 
ATTACK NO. I. 
AGAINST HEAVY IRONCLADS.—SIGNAL—ONE. 
General Description. 
These ships are heavily armoured, their “ vitals ” being protected 
by steel or compound—belt varying from ( a ) 17* *2 to 21J inches in thick « 
ness (equivalent to from 21*5 to 28 inches W.I.), and carrying their 
heavy guns in barbettes and turrets, armoured with from 12 to 18 
inches of compound armour (equivalent to from 15*5 to 22*5 inches 
W.I.). With the exception of the belts and barbettes, the whole of 
the hull of vessels of this class is open to “ shell attack.” 
General Idea for Attack. 
The unarmoured portions and superstructure of these ships should 
be the principal object of attack. 
When the ship’s guns are mounted in barbettes, a common shell 
entering just below the barbette will probably meet with little or no 
resistance and may jamb the turn-table and so put the gun out of 
action. 
The Q.F. and moveable armament should be employed to keep 
down the fire from the tops. 
Quick fire direct into the mouths of the heavy gun shields would 
probably be effective. 
ft Fort X. being armed with one group of 10" B.L., the lower limit of armour constituting a 
* heavy ” ironclad is arbitrarily fixed —vide Introduction to this paper. 
