30 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
Select Committee. The experiments carried on are so complete in them¬ 
selves that any epitome of them would convey but a very imperfect idea. 
The whole of these experiments are in print, and I have no doubt, quite 
accessible to any artillery officer who may wish to read them. 
The result, however, arrived at was, that a good wrought-iron plate 44-in. 
in thickness, backed with 18 inches of teak, is considered for all practical 
purposes proof against any ordnance not exceeding the 68-pr. or 100-pr. 
Armstrong, at a range of 400 yds. 
During these experiments it was found that although, except in rare cases, 
ships of tliis construction were impenetrable, still, that penetration was at last 
obtained coupled with most terrible destruction if struck several times with 
heavy projectiles near the same spot. The shot on impact is broken in 
pieces, and carried through with the fragments of the iron and wood; the 
plate in this case not only not affording any protection, but materially 
increasing the destructive effect of the shot; on one occasion the number of 
pieces produced by a single shot were carefully collected, and it was found 
that there were over 700 pieces of wood and iron each of sufficient size to be 
formidable. The possibility of such destructive and alarming effects have 
led many to question the advantages of iron defences; but I think few except 
those whose sympathies are wedded to the romantic notion of “ the wooden 
walls of England,” would hesitate to prefer defence capable of resisting all 
missiles under ordinary circumstances,—defective only in the improbable event 
of several shot striking the same spot, to being exposed to the fire of Armstrong 
100-pr. shell with 8J lbs. of powder, or Martin's liquid iron shell. 
I have mentioned above the fact of these 4^-inch plates being impenetrable 
except in rare cases; and as this exceptional case of penetration has been 
urged in favour of the Whitworth gun in preference to the Armstrong, I will 
enter more into detail on this matter than its importance might seem to 
warrant. 
The long range obtained by Mr Whitworth induced the government to 
try the effect of his ordnance against armour plates, and it was found that 
his flat-headed projectile obtained greater penetration than others, and in one 
case punched a hole through both plate and wood, and fell on the deck inside. 
The plate although penetrated was not much damaged, and the actual advantage 
gained by the penetration was very little; for it must be borne in mind that 
this projectile was made of homogeneous iron, which did not break up on 
impact, and which from its cost could never be used except in an experi¬ 
ment. The punching action of this shot is not what is required to destroy 
armour plates; for little or no damage would be sustained by a ship having 
holes of such small diameter punched in her armour, as there would be no 
difficulty even in action in plugging them; and the shot having expended 
all its force in the penetration falls harmlessly on the deck. 
At the conclusion of the experiments, orders were issued for the con¬ 
struction of the “ Warrior,” the “ Black Prince,” the “ Defence,” and 
the “Resistance,” all of a similar construction, viz, 4|-inch wrought-iron 
plates, 15'x3' 2" feet, fastened by lj-inch bolts; 18 inches of teak 
well caulked, |-in. wrought-iron skin on iron ribs 18 inches apart, the 
only difference being that, in the Warrior and Black Prince the centre 
part alone is plated with 4^-inch iron, the bow and stern being con- 
