THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
99 
ACCOUNT 
OP 
EXPERIMENTS CARRIED ON AT SHOEBURYNESS, ON THE 26th JUNE, 1862. 
[CONTRIBUTED BY CAPTAIN E. J. BRUCE, R.A.]* 
The experiments consisted of cast-iron, wrought-iron, and steel shot fired 
from the 12-pr.f and 40-pr. Armstrong guns, with service charges, at ranges 
200, 400, and 600 yds., against iron plates of different thicknesses. Certain 
shots were also fired against Mr Scott Russell's and Mr Samuda's targets 
from the40-pr., 100-pr., and 150-pr. Armstrong guns, the latter at 200 yds.; 
the 40-pr. at 600 yds., the 110-pr. at 200, 400, and 600 yds. 
The iron-plates fired at were of the following dimensions :— 
A. 4 ft. 6 in. x 2' 6" x 2". (Inferior iron, badly rolled plate). 
B. 6' x 3' x 2"-35. 
C. 6' 6" x 3' x 3". (Not a good plate, badly rolled). 
D. 6' x 3' x 4"-5. 
The plates rested against strong upright timbers, with sloping supports to 
the rear. Eour powerful nuts, bolted through to the upright timbers, over¬ 
lapped the edge of each plate. The plates were without backing of any 
kind. 
Service charges for the respective guns were used throughout the practice. 
The 150-pr. was fired with 2 A 4 powder. 
* . 
*3 0 
§ 
Projectile. 
ii 
a 
g 
Nature 
target 
jl 
2 
0 
£ 
1° 
£ 
Length. 
Form. 
.3 
0 
bo 
1 
O 
.a 
§0 
1 
•■a 
u 
| 
© 
ft 
! 
Indenl 
Remarks. 
lbs. oz. 
in. 
0 / 
A 
12-pr 
1 
C.I.X 
11 9 
7 
service 
1-5 
200 
nil 
10 R 
Ragged bole through plate 2"*3 x 2"-5. 
Diameter at back 5"*5j large crack 6" 
2 // 
long in front below hole. Bend of plate 
l"-8 in length of 13". Shot broke up 
small. 
» 
B 
2"-35 
” 
2 
steel 
13 2 
6-6 
» 
» 
” 
J5 
” 
Clean hole through, diameter 3"-8 x 3"*6. 
No bend in plate ; hole clean through. 
Shot broke up in large pieces. 
Hit. Indent "*55 in length of 6". A four 
starred crack at the back. 
» 
3 
C.I. 
11 9 
7 
» 
» 
JJ 
n 
"•55 
” 
4 
steel 
13 2 
6-5 
H 
» 
Ricocheted and hit low broadside. Shot broke 
» 
5 
w. 1. 
12 9 
6-5 
flat 
beaded 
” 
” 
0 3 
» 
"•875 
up. 
Indent "*875 in length of 11". Back starred 
with cracks, and piece in centre of star 
C 
cracked round. 
40-pr 
6 
C.I. 
41 8 
10-25 
» 
s 
0 10 
Hole through, diameter in front 5"* 6; at back 
11". Bulge of plate "-45 in 1ft. 7 in. 
3" 
Doubtful whether this shot did not hit on 
old bolt-hole. 
* Eor several particulars I am indebted to Captain Alderson, R.A. 
f 12-pr. not beyond 400 yds. J c. I. denotes cast-iron, w. 1. wrought-iron. 
[VOL. III.] 14 
