163 
THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
7. Prom this table it appears that, of the various projectiles fired, the 
110-pr. Armstrong solid shot, with 12 lbs. charge, has the greatest mean 
penetration at 1060 yds., viz. 21 ft. 3 inches in the artificial earthwork, and 
9 ft. 2 inches in the natural earth. The next is the 68-pr. smooth-bore gun 
with solid shot and 16 lbs. charge, viz. 20 ft. in the artificial earthwork, and 
6 ft. in natural earth of the same quality as that struck by the 110-pr., 
8. It appears that the rifle projectiles, after penetration, seldom continue 
to move with their point foremost, the axis being generally deflected by the 
resistance of the medium penetrated. This deflection in guns rifled with 
a right-handed twist is always to the right, and in several instances the rifle 
projectiles were found quite turned round, the noses pointing out towards 
the battery, and the curve which they had made could be distinctly traced in 
the earthwork. 
9. In no instance did any projectile pass through the parapet, the interior 
of which was quite uninjured at the close of the firing with solid shot and 
blind shell, except at the crest. This shows that an earthen parapet, 25 ft. 
thick on the superior slope, is proof against solid projectiles fired from the 
heaviest guns used on this occasion at a range of 1000 yds. The superior 
accuracy of rifled guns was clearly manifested in this experiment, most of 
their shot striking either the point aimed at, or within a short distance of 
it. The practice with the smooth-bored guns was in some instances very 
erratic. 
10. The next experiment was for the purpose of ascertaining whether the 
service pillar fuze would explode in earthwork. As this experiment sub¬ 
sequently became mixed up with observations on the effect of rifle and 
spherical shells fired at earthwork, with full, half, and reduced charges, the 
Committee decided to compare the action of percussion fuzes of the service 
with reference to the total number of rounds fired with each nature. The 
following Table has therefore been prepared, showing the number and nature 
of all fuzes used during the experiments at Newhaven, with the results 
obtained;— 
