Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-08-22

A late number OF the London Standard
reports at considerable length the results of q
trial at Shoeburyness. England, OF the Ameri-
can naval ffteen-inch gun. The experiment
involved the capacity, force, and resistance
OF the American RodmaA gun, the penetrating
power OF spherical and round shots, and in.
cidentally the relative resistance OF armor-
clad and tarreted vessels The target selected
was No. %, with eight inch armor plates and
Warrior backing Of eighteen inches of teak
timber, and a double number OF supporting
ribs. The gun, q fifteen Inch cast-iron smooth
bore OF nineteen and q han tonF, was fred
seventy yards range, with sixty pounds OF
mammoth powder, direct at an eighteen Inch
target. The first round was with the Ameri-
can cast-iron spherical snot OF four hundred
and fifty-,hree pounds weight. The second
round was with spherical shot Of Ponty-
pool iron, cast In sand, "a process comparable
with the Paiiiser system Of chilling, but
The third rouEd was with q spherical Firth's
steel shot hardened in oil: weight 4yS lbs. 1t
struck about feet from the left end and foot
from the top edge Of the lower armOr.plate,
and stood out from its front perfectly entire
except six or eight radiating narrow f1ssures)
for about inches, the remain der being buried
in the indent 1t had made in the plate.
One separate crack was made in the armor-
plate at an old scoop; buckle l.6 inches over
an area of 10 inches. In the rear one slight
crack; NO other damage. There can be no
doubt that such hardened steel shot would be
most effective missiles fired from these large
smooth bore guns, and would make good pen
etration upon very stout armor plates up to
or inches) with the like 60lb. charge of
American powder The experiments proved
that hardened steel shot would be the most
effe ctive missiles against stout armor plates,
driven by charge Of sixty pounds OF powder.
The Standard says:
"Tbe effects Of these shots are alike import
ant to every country in Europe, for there is
not an iron clad ship afloat that would be
thair
tration. The arrior and La Gloire classes
would certainly be cleany penetrated; the
BelleIophon and Loro W arden are the only
ones that would stand any chan of resisting;
but 1t is questionable whether they, too, would
not succumb. The Hercules ought TO keep
these missiles out. but she is NOT yet afloat.
We DO not for one moment intend 10 indicate
any superiority tor the American 15-inch gun
over our own 9incb, or even in most cases
our smaller 7-inch guns, whilst Major Pal
User bas recently demonstrated the way tor
converting our large stock of 6s. Founders and
other cast-iron cannon into really eilcient ri.
fed artillery. Nor would we attempt TO con-
tend that the heavier missiles OF the American
guns would have the same penetrative po wer
at long ranges as our lighter elongated rifle
Palliser proiecti'es thrown at higher velcci-
ties. But 1T is something most essential to
know that American 450- pounder smooth.
pore guns could certainly hull our IRON
cased vessels at one hundred yards,
and that fenceforth no English man OF war
could be laid br0adside against an American
ship carrying guns Of this calibre. In future
the ships must re kept at an angle TO each
other: and hence one would naturally deduce
the conclusion that an additional reason is
thus given in favor Of the fighting utility Of
turrtt-ships capable Of pI operiy training Q tie
heaviest guns all but directly fore and aft
Nor must we omit to consider possible con.
tingencfes IN the application by an enemy OF
such powerful smooth bore ouns, the shot
from which are remarkably accurate in their
flight. The l5-lnch gun now at Shoebury-
ness is warranted proved, il is true, for only
limited number Of battering charges OF 60 lbs
Bnt there is 10 dc ubt trat the gun would fire
many rounds Of ~ lbs. of powder with very
little risk. What the effect OF ten pounds
more powder yesterday night have been is
probably that the 60 To- charge having proved
cGficient to crush in the thick armor plates,
the extra ten pounds OF powder would have
carried the prolectile completely through
the wood backing. Now, the American gun
might certainly be fired at risk with 100
lbs. Of powder, ard there can be very little
donot that II ihe commander OF ship armed
with such guns felt q reasonable conviction,
as he light de, that he could knock 15-inch
hole In the side OF a or 1O.fnch armor clad
enemy that he would run the risk Of bursting
a gun for the chance of sinking his antas sonist.
In the case OF a bombardment. too, these 45O-
ponnders would DO great amsge in throwing
lncendiary shells OF very large capacity filled
with liquid iron, or carcass shells flied with
burning compos itiOn. 1t IS further TO be borne
In mind that the Americans have TAR larger
guns of the like construction up to l,OUu- pound
ers. We are by DO means alarmists, nor do we
desire 10 underrate in any way the value ana
decided superiority of our own WroUght.lron
rified cannon. But it is most desirable, how
ever, honestly to face the knowledge we have
gained; and credit is properly due to the Gov.
eminent and the ordnance select committee for
the.e very proper prac'i ical trials Of the Amer-
can naval guns. We now know exactly what
we have to expect. and that in future fighting
we must take every proper care of our costly
ships