6 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
bore 32-pr. at tbe same distance; each mantlet was struck twice with either 
projectiles, targets being placed 5 yds. in rear to catch the splinters. 
Description 
of 
Mantlet. 
Effect of two 12-pr. segment Shells or 
solid Shot at 400 yds. 
Effect of two 
solid 32-pr. Shot 
at 400 yds. 
Homogeneous iron 
mantlet, 4 ft. x 2£ ft., 
and £in. thick; weight 
100 lbs., or 10 lbs. per 
square foot. 
The two shells passed through, making a circular 
hole burred outwards, but carrying away very little 
of the plate. The shells themselves, however, were 
broken up, and 42 splinters struck the targets, nearly 
all within a circle of 4 ft. diameter. One Armstrong 
12-pr. solid shot subsequently passed through the 
same mantlet, and a second cut the edge. They did 
not occasion any splinters. 
Mantlets much 
torn, large irre¬ 
gular shot holes 
formed, and eleven 
splinters carried 
into the targets. 
Description 
of 
Mantlet. 
Effect of two 12-pr. 
segment Shells or solid Shot 
at 400 yds. 
Effect of two solid 32-pr. Shot 
at 400 yds. 
“Steel iron” mantlet, 
4 ft. x 2 ft., jf-ineh thick, 
suppliedby Thornevcroft; 
weight 84 lbs., or i0|lbs. 
per square foot. 
Segment shells not tried, it 
being proved by the previous 
experiment that they break 
up. Armstrong 12-pr. solid 
shot passed through without 
causing any splinters. 
Large shot holes; twenty-seven 
splinters carried into the targets, 
leaving less torn iron round the 
edges than in the previous experi¬ 
ments. 
Captain Yonge’s double 
mantlet plates, J and 
inch homogeneous iron, 
1^-inch apart; weight 
86 lbs., or 8-6 lbs. to the 
square foot. 
Segment shells not tried. 
12-pr. Armstrong shot passed 
through without causing any 
splinters. 
The mantlet was thrice struck, one 
shot being a slight graze; both the 
others also broke the edge. There 
were seven splinters in the targets. 
The mantlet had been previously 
fired at with a 9-pr. at 20 yds., which 
formed a large hole. 
10. The Committee are of opinion, from the foregoing results, that thin 
iron mantlets of the qualities tried are not adapted for closing the embrasures 
of guns liable to be attacked directly or replied to by artillery. They may 
perhaps be advantageously applied to embrasures in elevated situations, or 
others where, from the nature of the ground in their front, guns are little 
likely to be brought against them; and in such case shutters of homogeneous 
iron J in. thick would appear, on the whole, preferable to the double-plate 
mantlet in simplicity and durability, the weight being nearly the same, about 
10 lbs. per square foot. Their size, form, and mode of suspension must vary 
with the form of the embrasure or opening; but in any case they should be 
so attached as not to permit that entry of splinters observed at Chatham. 
Should any tougher quality of iron be hereafter made, that will resist 
bullets but permit the passage of cannon shot and shells without splintering 
itself or breaking up the shells, the problem will have been completely solved. 
A careful system of proof will be necessary when any iron plates are 
employed, as they differ much in power of resistance. 
11. Tor siege w r orks and other situations much under artillery fire, the 
Committee incline to the belief that a non-resisting screen or curtain, which 
