ARTILLERY IN COAST DEFENCE. 
415 
be best then to lay it down as a rule that common shell be fired with 
percussion fuzes, but as an exception at short ranges, when we can make 
sure of hitting the side, they may be fired plugged. 
Shrapnel is used as a man-killing projectile, and has been found to 
break up well, in passing through a target of one-inch iron representing 
the unarmoured portion of H.M.S. “ Shannon,” when fired plugged. 
The same remark as in the case of common applies here also, so unless 
we can make sure of hitting the side, it would be safer to use percussion 
fuzes. Time shrapnel could never be used with good effect against 
vessels in motion from heavy guns; the range prediction has to be 
made before the fuze is bored or set., and consequently the time that 
would elapse during the boring of the fuze and loading, etc., the gun, 
would make the chances of the shot being successful very small. Time 
fuzes could be used, however, advantageously against ships at close 
ranges at anchor, when it is desired to clear the upper decks and tops 
of small-arm men, and crews of machine guns. 
The auxiliary armament of quick-firing guns being behind bullet- 
broof shields, must be attacked by common or percussion shrapnel. 
Open boats would be attacked by time shrapnel or by case shot when 
within effective range of that projectile. Torpedo boats would probably 
have to be dealt with by quick-firing guns of the lighter natures; 
common or percussion shrapnel may be employed against them, or 
heavy time shrapnel at close ranges, and even case shot. 
The proportions of the various projectiles supplied are for R.M.L. guns 
unsupported by secondary armament, 15 shrapnel, 10 case, and 40 
each common and Palliser, while, if so supported, they have no shrapnel 
or case, and 50 each common and Palliser. Por B.L. guns a larger 
proportion of common to Palliser is supplied i 1 they have no case. 
We can now sum up these various considerations, and arrive at rough 
rules for our guidance in the choice of the portion of a vessel to be 
attacked, and the best projectile to attack it with. 
Speaking generally, the choice as regards the portion of ship lies 
between the armoured and unarmoured part, and as regards the 
projectile between armour-piercing shot and common shell. Now, from 
a consideration of the distribution of armour in foreign ships, it is 
evident that most of them can be very heavily damaged by attacking 
the unarmoured portion. Besides the armament and crew, there is a 
great deal of subsidiary machinery, communications, etc., which is 
unprotected in all ships, so that every shell bursting between decks is 
sure to more or less cripple the fighting efficiency of the ship; and in 
proportion to her distance from her base, so would any ship be unable 
to endure more than a certain loss in guns, men and material. From 
a consideration of the nature of armour, we see that unless the shot can 
do more that merely penetrate it, or unless we can get several succes¬ 
sive or simultaneous hits on hard armour, we cannot expect much 
damage to result to the “vitals” of the ship. Again, the target 
offered by the armour is a difficult one, consisting as it usually does of 
a narrow belt, never more than five feet, and in some cases only one foot 
nine inches above the water; and of one or more patches at different 
1 Except with 9'2 inch, which has an equal proportion of the two. 
