Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-24

IRON CLAD SHIPS AND BIG GUNS IN
ENGLAND.-The London Times contains in
account of experiments at Shoeburyness OH
England, with gun of large size and great
calibre, which (says the Times) Showed at
every discharge that our best and hitherto
considered invulnerable forms OF ironsides
were, so to speak, almost as easily penetrated
by shot as if the targets had been of tim.
ber." The Times adds -
CATER ali our labor and all our expense, at
ter having made beyond comparison the finest
and strongest iron frigateS in The world, we
now fluid that opposite large muzzle loading
gun the best Of our tronSdes can be as easiiv rid.
died and sunk as cooden sailing vessels This
discovery, only made on Tuesday afternoon
last, is due 10 tie keen and wholesome rivalry
between the war office and the Admiralty, the
former striving TO devise irresistible artillery
and the latter to build invulnerabe ships
There has been an immense variety of ex.
perments on every conceivable form of tar.
get and upon every possible combination of
iron and wood iron aud India rubber. iron
and wire, iron and hemp, and every section OF
the American Monitor has been erected and
Tired at at Shoeburyness, and proved to be as
Vulnerable almost as timber /; and that no
chance may be neglected, a target is being
made of railway bars, dovetailed and riveted
together in the same ingenious manner as the
coating Of the Merrmac, and this also will be
tried in few days, and beyond a doubt with
much the same results that attended tho Mon
itor target
During recent experiment target exact.
ly of the same materials and strength as the
Warriors broadside, was subjected during the
whole of one day and part of a second 10 a
most tremendous fire, but The concentrated
volleys flew off in a hail Of iron splinters. The
target grew almost red hot in parts, but no
missile passed beyond its iron armor. The
Warrior, therefore, and iron ships we're justly
deemed invulnerable."
"Sir w. Armstrong has a letter in to day 8
Times explaining the principle which has rem
dered the last experiment successful in pene-
trating and smashing iron plates. The
smooth bore gun has a velocity exceng that
of the rifle gun by more than a quarter. a
smooth bore gun has been made By Sir W.
Armstrong, length fourteen feet, weight
twelve tons, and ii was tried against the War.
rior target on Tuesday, in presence Of the
Duke OF Cambridge, the Duke OF Somerset,
and other high officials Of the admiralty and
war Office.
"The first shot was one hundred and fifty.
six pounds, and was fred at distance of two
hundred yards, with a charge Of forty pounds
Of powder This solved all doubts the iron
mass was shattered into crumbs of metal, and
the teak aplintered into fbres literally aS small
as pins. An increased charge was next tried,
and the shot passed not only through the
plates, teak aud through the inner skin, but
buried itself in the massive timbers that cup
ported the target. These two shots were
quite conclusive "a to the power Of the gun.
Sir VIM. Armstrong says gun Of twelve
tons weight fired with charge VI 90 pounds
OF powder, will break through the side of the
Warrior, or the strongest ship afloat. A tar.
get like the Warriors side YVES shattered into
crumbs at the trial. The Times says no
weapon Of defence or offence seems lett 10 us
now so effective as a large arnor clad and
very swift steam ram.