The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-12
TESTING NEW ARMOR.
Plates for Cruisers Tried at the
Proving Grounds.
Excellent Results Obtained From
kei-Steel-Even Better Results
Obtained From the PrOjectiles.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

WASHINGTON. July 1.-The third of the
interest and Importance took place to-day
at the naval proving grounds on the
Potomac River. The tests were for the
acceptance Of the armor and for pre-
MUM, it being stipulated that II the plates
resisted penetration under certain pro-
scribed velocity the makers should receive
a premium of $50 a ton in addition to the
contract price Of S572 ION.
The first test was OF a nine-inch plate. q
sample of the side armor of the monitor
Monadnock. 1t was nickel steel. weighed
ten tons and was made by the Carnegie
Frick Company. Three Holtzer's projecties,
weighing $50 pounds each, were fired
against it from an S-inch rifle, The muZZle
being fifty.eight feet from the face of the
target.
The first projectle had velocity of 1400
feet a second al the moment Of impact, and
penetrated the plate and oak backing to a
depth of II Z inches. The second projectile.
with striking velocity of 1888 feet. went
through the plate, three feet of oak
backing and lost itself in the earth against
which the butt was built. The third pro-
jectile lad a velocity of 1886 feet and
penetrated the plate and backing to a
depth Of 141a inches.
The plate well wthsto0d the strain of
the attack, no cracks being perceptible,
and 1t iulIy met every requirement for
acceptance. But the result Of the second
shot deprived the makers of any chance
for premium. Depending on the test
were about go tons Of plate, involving
nearly $l5O,00O
Tie second plate was a sample of the
curved plates for the barbette of the In
diana. made by the Bethlehem company,
and, like the first. of nickel Steel 1t was
II Inches thick and weighed 31h tons. 1t
WAS subjected to an attack from 12-nch
rifle which threw monster Carpenter
she'll weighing $50 pounds. It's muzzle was
319 feet from the face Of the plate.
The striking velocity of The first shot was
1922 feet second aud it penetrated to a
de pth of 16 6 inches. The second shot was
fired with a velocity of 1895 feet second
aud went inches into the oak backing
The third and last shot. TO deter mine
whether or not premium should be paid,
had velocity Of 1858 fee. second. When
the smoke and dust following the discharge
was lifted it was found that the shell had
gone clear through the plate and thirty-six
inches of the oak backing. and was then
DETECTED into the air. plunging into the
river some hundreds of yards away, or was
lost in the woods on the hillside.
The plate secured for the makers the
acceptance of the whole contract, amount
ing to from 500 to 700 tons, but earned no
premium. Like the Monadnock plate it
showed no cracks under the terrific strain
to which 1t had been subjected.
Even more satisfactory than the showing g
made by the plates was that of the projec-
tiles. The S-inch shells were of the
Holtzer conical pattern and the l2-inch OF
the Carpenter concal pattern. All the
shells recovered appeared wholly un.
changed to the Impractical eye, and the
gauge showed they had been disturbed to
such small degree that they might again
be fired with the attachment of new
strip for the rfling.
After the tests were concluded all the
officials and experts expressed un nbounded
qualification at the results.