416 
ARTILLERY IN COAST DEFENCE. 
parts of the ship; whilst the unarmonred portion offers a large target, 
bearing a proportion of from 3 to 2 to 4 to 1 of the armoured target 
in most vessels. On the other hand, a shot passing through the armour 
belt and reaching the engine-room or boilers may stop the vessel (the 
“ Huascar ” was not stopped by a shell which reached the engine-room, 
killing and wounding four of the staff employed there) or may blow 
up the magazine. On the whole, therefore, it seems decidedly prefer¬ 
able to attack the unarmoured portion; at any rate, with the greater 
part of the armament; while a few heavy guns may attack the armour 
when well within their power, and at a range where close shooting may 
be relied on—say 1000 yards with M.L. guns. 
One case was pointed out where it would be preferable to attack 
the vitals of a ship, viz., in attacking the leading ship of a squadron 
attempting to force a passage ; and then for the reason that the fire of 
the forts having to be distributed over a number of ships, unless by 
stopping or checking their progress we can gain a little time in which 
to fire at them, we shall not be able to inflict damage, on the greater 
number, sufficient to cripple them. This reasoning would not apply to 
one or two vessels attempting to slip past; the fire of a large number 
of guns can be concentrated on them, and even in a very short time 
they should suffer so much in crews and armament that they would 
become easy prey to any small gun-boats or torpedo boats which could 
follow them up. 
As to the armament of a ship, her secondary battery and auxiliary 
armament would probably cause us most trouble, and therefore should 
be first attacked; primary guns in barbettes can be usually rendered 
useless by the explosion of heavy common shells beneath the barbette. 
If there is a weak point in the ship, as for instance the absence of 
armour on the hoists in a barbette ship, that weak point should be 
attacked. 
We can now give rough rules as a guide for Fire Commanders in 
the attack of ships. 
1. Fire should be opened at as long a range as possible with 
common shell and percussion fuze, unless the armoured 
deck is well within the power of the gun at that range. 
2. When the range has decreased to the point at which penetra¬ 
tion of the armoured deck may be reasonably expected, use 
armour-piercing projectiles until further decrease of the 
range causes the angle of descent to fall below ten degrees. 
If no penetration can be attempted, use percussion common 
at the deck till this angle of descent is reached. 
3. When the armoured deck can no longer be attacked (by direct 
fire), use percussion common at the unarmoured portions of 
the vessel. A part of the secondary armament, or one or 
two groups of heavy guns where there is no secondary 
armament, should employ percussion shrapnel at the upper 
deck and at the secondary battery (percussion or plugged). 
4. When the range is further decreased to the point at which the 
guns are certainly more than a match for the vertical armour 
