The herald., 1893-07-12
AsmoR PLATE TESTS.

Expsrimsnt ts-satfsfActory Results.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-The third OF
series of armor plate tests of worldwide
interest and importance took place to-
day at the naval proving grounds on the
Potomac river. The tests were for 40
ceptance and for premium. 1t was
stipulated that II the plates resisted
penetration under q certain prescribed
velocity, the makers should receive q
premium of $50 ton, in addition to the
contract price of s575 ton.
The fret test was OF 9.inch plate, q
sample OF the aide armor OF the monitor
Monadnock. It was nickel steel and
weighed 10 tons, and was made by the
Carnegie .Frick company. Three OF
Holtzer's projectiles, weighing 250
pounds each, were fred against it from
an S.inch rifle, the muzzle being
so feet from the face OF the target. The
first projectile had a velocity OF l400
feet per second at the moment of inn
pact, and penetrated the plate and oak
backing to the depth of LII inches.
The second projectile, with striking
velocity of 1883 feet, went through the
plate, three feet OF oak backing, and
lost itself in the earth against which the
butt was built. The third projectile
had a velocity of 1886 feet, and pene-
trated the plate and backing to depth
of 14ls inches. The plate we'll with
stood the strain of attack, no cracks be-
ing perceptible, and fully met every re-
quirement for acceptance. But the re-
suit of the second shot deprived the
makers of any chance for the premium
depending on test of about 250 tons of
plate, involving nearly $150. 900.
The second plate was a sample of
curved plates for the barbette on the
Indiana. made by the Bethlehem COM
pany, and like the first was of nickel
steel. 1t was II inches thick, weighing
81 tons. 1t was subjected to an attack
from q 12-inch rife which threw
monster Carpenter shell weighing $50
pounds. Itz muzzle was 3l9 feet from
ihe face of the plate. The striking
velocity of the first shot was 1922 feet
per second, and it penetrated to depth
of 1876 inches. The second shot was
fired with a velocity of 1895 feet per
second and went three inches into the
oak backing. The third and last shot
was to determine whether or not pre-.
MUM was to be paid. The velocity was
2oAoOa w 1ooO AOoe POk poSohus w ho4
the smoke and dust following the
discharge lifted. it was found that
the shell had gone clear through
the plate and SO inches of oak backing,
and then DETECTED into the air and
plunged into the river some hundred
yards away, or was lost in the woods on
the hillside. The plate secured for the
makers the acceptance of the whole con-
tract. amounting to from 800 to 700
tons, but earned no preminm. Like
the Monadnock plate, it showed no crack
under the terrific strain to which it was
subjected.
Even more satisfactory than the show
ing made by the plates, was that of the
projectiles - eight-inch shells of the
Holtzer conical pattern. All the shells
recovered appeared wholly unchanged
to the Impractical eye, and the gauge
showed that they were undisturbed to
such a small degree that they might
again be fred with the attachment of a
new "trip for riding. After the contests
were concluded, all the officials and ex-
perts expressed unbounded satisfaction
at the results.