New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-17
SUCCESSFUL ARMOR TESTS.
OFFICIAL REPORT on THE PLATES FOR THE
OREGON AND NETWORK.

SUCCESSFUL ARMOR TESTS.
OFFICIAL REPORT on THE PLATES FOR TIE
OREGON AND NETWORK.
Washington March 10 Cspecial).-The Navy Depart
ment day public the results OF the recent trials
OF nickel steel armor ut the Naval proving grounds
Indian Head. Three plates In all were tested rep
resentlng groups Of caSematc and side armor for the
oregon and side armor for the Newiork. These trials
Of particular interest. owing 10 the fact that in
the firing the ballistic requirements prescribed In the
specifications In The contracts. which are con
sideraby severer than those laid down In the old
tracts were adhered to- further cause for special
interest I'm these trials Is that In two cases the tests
We're made determine whether the contractors were
entitled 10 a premium OF $50 ton for extra ballstic
properties.
The first piece Of armor tested by the board
one OF the OregOn's four-inch casemate plates. IL
attacked by threeinch Carpenter projectiles dis
charged from u four-inch rapd-fre gun. The first
shell, with IL pounds OF powder ana Striking
velocity Of 1f91 foot seconds penetrated The pate
and part OF the backing. and was brought TO rest
with It's base fifteen inches from the lace OF the
plate THE shot struck abont the centre OF the plate
and raised the fringe and slight bulge The shot
holo WAS smooth three inches Inward, where an an
nular crack appeared.
In the second round the charge OF powder was
10 pounds ounces and the striking velocity l"'"
foot seconds. The point OF impost was Il Inches
from that OF the nrst SllOt ih' SH'h P'"''"N~ W
Mate and backing and lodged in the timbers In the
rear OF the target The effect on the plate was SINH
lar 70 that produced by the first round. The pro-
iectile was shortened about .O3 OF an Inch
In the third round the striking velocity OF the pro-
iectile was but .581 foot seconds Inc pia'e was
penetrated and the shot stopped IN the Dachhs WIN
lis point Just appearing I'm the rear. Inc seoo"u
MACE of armor tested the fourteennch Plate III
tended for the diagonal side armor OF u'e Oresoh
,,k. ths first this plate OF nickel steel. IL
was mounted on a thirty Inch backing ana placed
$50 feet from the firing position "hihc" gun
was Used In the trial. which fired Carpenter Pro!e'oo
weighing 500 pounds and containing l3o pouhdS o
powder The striking velocity Of each pro)ectie was
1881 foot seconds.
In all three shots fred In the hrst rouhu 'he
penetration was IA inches The shot hole was
smooth with fine star cracks at the apex surrounded
nv the usual fringe and bulge. The shot reoouhoea
40 feet The backing and structure remained intact
The second shot penetrated 49, inches All irrebu"'
through crack opened in the plate from Top 10 Do'o
: Of an inch wide the face, and growing narrower
toward the back The projectile reboundcd 10 feet.
Tho third shot penetrated 142 inches The cracks OF
the second shot opened slightly and few surface
cracks wem developed extending from the point Of
mpoct In the bottom. Despite these cracks the
plate was in very good condition after the firing NO
mart Of AZ had become detached and no part OF lhe
backing exposed.
The next trial with one or tho Ncw-lo rh = iouf
inch nickel plates, which was mounted
On n thirty-six-inch oak backing. As In the triu Vi
the Oregon's casematc armor, "A folrinch fapd hrc
gun was used Four shots were fired NJ the New
Works plate: the first three to determine " premium
was allowable under the specifications OF the oiu con-
tract and the fourth to ascertain II premiums uu'r
The new and scverer Specifications were to be- awarded.
Carpenter proiectiles were used. ana chch one N;s
bnrcd with striking vclocit, Of l.305 foot seconds
The pro1ectiles weighed 30 pounds each. ana conta
near the centre Of the plate the points "i impact
being located in the axis OF triangle fourteen cho'
IN length. , A., ,,,,o nm, ohou, 4 Y
inches of the baoldng. The usual fringe ana pu'sc
were noticeable OIL the face OF the plate" nhd w we
rear an annulsr crack indicating fractured ba,a o" ,se
pIate and thirteen inches Of backing Tn. thiiu pro
iectile went through the plato and lodged IN the JACK
Inc about twelve inches in the rear ~ The iac, OF
the plate The effect Of the second ana thiiu sno,s
on the plato was similar In detail Ia that of me hrs
The fourth shot was fired under the new balsuc re-
nrireInents Tho she'll weighed ~ pounds nc
charge OF powder 10 pounds. ana the strih
inc velocity I 67S foot seconds The plate was pen
rseA and the projectile rested In the hncking 100
inches from the face OF the plate. The shot hole was
mIlar in character To those made by the other tfce
shots fired ut this plate. ,
In the opinion Of the board. all the plates tried
successfully passed the prescribed tests ana should
be accepted as representatives OF their rcspceuv"