THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
419 
Minotaur. 
The “ Minotaur ” class are the largest of the iron-clad fleet. Three 
vessels, the “Minotaur,” “Agincourt,” and the “Northumberland,” are all 
that have been built of this class. 
They are iron ships of about 6600 tons, and 1350 horse power, their 
length is 400 ft., they have about the same draught of water as the 
“Warrior,” viz. 26 ft.; the two first named are pierced for 50 guns, but the 
“Northumberland” will only carry 26 heavy guns in a central battery, as 
with the “ Bellerophon;” they are wholly protected. 
No drawing of this class of vessel is necessary, as the only difference in 
the plan of armour-plating adopted in their construction, from that employed 
in the “Warrior” class, is occasioned by increasing the thickness of the 
armour plates* (1 inch), and reducing the teak backing (9 inches), so as to 
retain the same weight per foot superficial. The armour plates are thus 
5J inches thick, and the teak backing 9 inches. 
The armour plates of the “ Minotaur ” target were secured to the skin by 
three rows of bolts, the upper and lower rows being If" diameter, and the 
centre row only 
The target was only struck by six spherical shot, viz. four from a 
lO’fi" 12-ton gun (three of cast-iron weighing 150 lbs. each, and one of 
wrought-iron weighing 162 lbs.), and one service, and one wrought-iron, 
shot fired from a 68-pr. service gun, the two last rounds having for object 
to test the quality of the plates. 
It would not be safe to draw any positive conclusion from this experiment 
regarding the relative strength of the “Minotaur” and “Warrior” targets, 
for only one round which would furnish the required information, was fired 
at the former, 2A 4 powder having been used with the subsequent 150 lbs. 
shot whereby the striking velocity was increased 120', and the work in the 
shot by over 1,000,000 foot pounds. 
The actual result of the comparative round at the two targets was as 
follows “Warrior,” total penetration 15", skin slightly cracked. 
“ Minotaur,” total penetration 13", skin slightly cracked. 
The effects being almost identical, but the fastenings suffered considerably 
more in the “Minotaur” than in the “Warrior.” 
The comparison, however, is not satisfactory in any way, for on the one 
hand the “ Warrior ” target had been much battered by previous firing before 
it was struck by the 150 lbs. shot, whilst the “Minotaur” was intact; but on 
the other hand the “ Minotaur ” was a few pounds per square foot lighter 
than the “Warrior,” was of smaller area, and the armour plates were of bad 
quality. 
A “ Minotaur ” target no longer exists, but if it is desirable that the 
relative strength of these targets should be decided, a few rounds of 150 lbs. 
shot fired with 2A 4 powder at the “Warrior” target now at Shoeburyness 
would give this information. 
This experiment confirmed the experience gained by the trial of previous 
targets, relative to the necessity of employing bolts of large diameter 
* “In a letter dated Aug. 13th, 1841, written by the Messrs Stevens, of Hoboken, to a Govern¬ 
ment Committee on coast and harbour defences, a series of experiments is mentioned, and the 
following conclusions are given:. ‘it would appear that it takes wood 16 times the thickness 
of iron to offer the same resistance to a ball fired with a full charge. Four inches of wrought-iron, 
therefore, would be equal to 5 ft, 4 in. of oak.... * “ Ordnance and Armour.” Holley. 
[vol. iv.] 55 
