New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-09
FRIDAY, A. USUAL. BARGAIN DA'
TESTING ARMOR PLATES.
CONDITIONS OF THE COMPETITION ABOUT To
BE HELD.

CONDITIONS OF THE COMPETITION ABOUT To
BE HELD.
Washington, Feb. speciaD.-In accordance with
the plans Of the Ordnance Bureau of the Navy De
partment as advertised in many Of the newspapers
since December -, inviting competitive trials Of
armor plates 10 be held at the Naval Ordnance
Proving Grounds Annapolis. the limit OF time for
filing intentions 10 compete Will expire on February
10. All notices Of such intentions must be filed with
the Bureau OF Ordnance before the closing Of the busl
ness day on Monday. The circular issued by the
Bureau governing the conditions Of competitions is
matter Of far greater importance than would appear
70 the general reader Of the pamphlet The position
taken by Secetary Tracy in his annual report, recon-
mendng the immediate construction Of armOr-clad
feet, brings the question Of into greater prom
inence than ever before, and the coming competitive
trials will determine in great measure which typo
shall be adopted.
The accuracy Of the tests 10 be far greater than
has ever been attempted in Europe. At Portsmouth,
England the plates used have been fiat and rectlngu-
lar, 10 IL inches thick feet long and g feet wide
Sxinch projeces Of forged steel and castiron have
been fired these plates with velocity Of go feet
per second. Some Of these plates have not been pene
trated after successive firing. The tests I'm the com
Ing competitive trials at Annapolis will be upon The
size Of plates but all Of the projectles are 10 be
OF forged steel, and their velocity will approx nae
2,1l3 feet per second.
a board of Navy officers Will be designated 10 direct
the trials and the Navy Department will bear the ex
pense Of the transportation Of the competing plates
from the works Of the company To the testing grounds
Those who present armOr plates for testing will be
allowed 10 bolt them 10 the backing in their own wav
with limit in number and Of bolts. The bolts
Will not be allowed 20 be spaced in any wav
but their arrangement must conform 20 the ordinary
practice followed in securing armor 10 ships As
there may be difference Of opinion 10 what is
"ordinary practice" the person or firm proposing
10 compete must submit for approval by the Bureau
a drawing showing the method Of spacing the bolts.
T. gust be done before drilling the holes in the
~ ~ plates Such iron steel liners a. may seem
a. per TO the Board will be interpOsed between the
srmor plate and the side plates, and be brought 10
firm contact with both by means OF wedge Of the
same metal as the liners. Each plate is 10 be sub
Iected to five fullforce shots with chrome steel armOr
piercing prOjectiles Of the best quality and Of the
usual type, each weighted 10 100 pounds, and from
6-inch breech-loadng rife. Before the firing test
begins each armOr plate is 10 have traced upon
IL vertical and horizontal lines dividing its face into
squares Of onefoOt each and the points OF intended
impact are TO be designated. The party presenting
the plate Will be allowed 10 choose, after the second
Shot the point Of impact for each Of the succeeding
shots, but the point selected must be within one
foot Of the point described for IL by the Board Each
firm Will be allowed a representative 70 be present
at the test applied for by such firm, and at the con
elusion Of the test will be furnished with Transcript