16 
SHOUT NOTES ON UUOEESSIONAL SUBJECTS. 
21. Experiment which took place at Shoeburyness on the 7th May last,* in 
presence of the Ordnance Select Committee, the Superintendent of Experiments, 
and many other officers. 
The carriage is constructed on the box girder principle, the sides being formed 
of two half-inch iron plates with a space of inches between them. 
The gun was elevated and depressed by means of the usual elevating arcs which 
were securely clamped by a screw. India-rubber buffers were fitted to the rear of 
the carriage to ease the shock should it recoil to the end of the platform. 
The compressors, which worked very well, acted by means of an axle fitted with 
right and left-handed screws. 
On the gun recoiling both compressors acted together; they can be used either 
as self-acting by means of a trip plate on the platform, or set each time by 
hand. 
The front of the platform was fitted with one truck only in the centre, the sides 
being supported by two iron props with flat shoes which slide along the front racer. 
There was no difficulty whatever in traversing. 
A 9-inch muzzle-loading rifled gun of 12 tons was mounted on the carriage, and 
40 rounds were fired, during the afternoon, with battering charges of 43 lbs. and 
elongated shot of 250 lbs. 
The gun was fired for rapidity with the ordinary detachment for 12 ton guns, 
The gun being laid accurately each round at targets from 1200 to 2000 yards 
distant. 
The first 5 rounds, for rapidity, were fired in 6 m. 30 sec. 
The second 5 rounds in 5 m. 15 sec. 
The gun at the conclusion of each 5 rounds was easily traversed to extrenie 
points right and left by four men. 
The practice throughout was excellent. 
At the conclusion of the trial the universal opinion was that the working of both 
carriage and platform was most satisfactory. 
22, Various facts connected with the attack of iron defences. 
(1) The 9" muzzle-loading rifled gun of 12 tons fired direct at 200 yards with 
a Palliser shell of 250 lbs. and charge of 43 lbs., has completely perforated an iron 
structure composed of 8" solid armour plates testing on eighteen inches of teak 
backing and a f" iron skin; in fact, an 8" plate on " Warrior ” backing. 
When the above projectile struck obliquely at an angle of 60° it failed to 
penetrate; 
(2) The above gun fired with a similar projectile, and reduced charge of 23 lbs, 
has completely perforated an ordinary “ Warrior” target, consisting of a 4J" plate 
on eighteen inches of teak, and a •§•" iron skin. Range 200 yards. 
(3) The 7" muzzle loading rifled gun of 7 tons, fired direct at 70 yards with a 
Palliser shell of 115 lbs., and reduced charge of 13 lbs. has completely perforated an 
ordinary “Warrior” target. 
When the above projectile struck obliquely at an angle of 60°, it failed to 
penetrate although the charge was increased to 20 lbs. With a full charge of 
22 lbs. a solid Palliser shot penetrated at an angle of 60°. 
* Trial of awrought-iron garrison sliding carriage and dwarf traversing platform for 12 ton gunSj 
fetipplied by Sir Wm. Armstrong and Co. 
