New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-07
TO TEST AN 1s-INCH HARVEYIZED PLATE.
TWO SHOTS FROM THE PIG i3-INcH GIN TO BE
FIRED At THE TIHCKEsT ARMoR YET
MADE IN THIS COUNTRY.

MADE IN IftlS 'ODN MI
Washington May 6 (SpeclaD--A practical demon
sratlon Of the power OF resistance or the thHkeSt
armor vet made in this country and the destructive
qualities OF American shells fired from the largest
OF guns Of domestic manufacture Will take place
at the Naval proving ground on Saturday. The &C.
caslon will mark occurrence OF great importance
I'm the history OF ordnance development In the
United States during recent years. 1t is conse-
quently looked forward to with unusual Interest
I'm naval and military circles as the first practical
test under service conditions. OF the comparative
superiority of heavy armor and powerful guns shch
as will be placed on the Indiana. Oregon ana MAS
sachusetts modern types OF batieshlps what adus
to the Interest in the trial Is the fact that The
armor guns and projectles are purely OF American
design and make a distinguished party. including
prominent members OF the Senate and House. de-
partment officials. representatives, OF foreign Iesa-
tons and delegation Of Army and Navy o"icers
and civilians will witness the tests. 'oinnouore
Sampson. Chief OF the Naval Bureau OF ordnance
will supervise the trials; ana Lieutenant Mason the
commanding officer at Indian Head. Will have per-
sona charge OF the firing.
The armor TO be tested is nicke'-steel harVeylzed
plae eighteen inches thick. sixteen feet long ana
seven feet wide. 1t weighs thirty-two tons IL was
manufactured by the Bethlehem Company, ana rep
resents Gl3 tons Of plates intended for the side
armor of the Indiana. Being the latest product OF
skiu I'm armor manufacture. the test plate Is sup
posed to possess the very highest qualities or per-
fecton Ii is now at the Navy Yard In this city,
and will be sent 10 Indian II 'ad by special barge
In "A day or two. Upon arrival at the proving
grounds II will be placed upon the long-range butt
and secured to "A thrty-sx-inch oak backing 1t
will be SO placed that the heavy proJectiles VIII
strike its face normally. in order that the trlai
may be n fair thorough test OF its resisting quail
Ties Two rounds will be fred AT the plate uhIcr
contract requirements To pass the ordeal ana LOT
the group OF which IT represents To De &C
cepted the plate must show no crack extending
from the point OF impact t. an edge, from one eIge
10 another, or through the entire thickness or me
mass at an edge II must also resist the through
penetration OF a prOjecte or any fragment theTeoI
The big l3-nch gun made at the gun foundry
i'm this city and recently tested at Indian iiead
with highly satisfactory results VIII be employed
In the trials The projectiles Will be OF a lot made
by the Carpenter Company, under the new process
which Is regarded giving at least as goo1 results
as those obtained abroad IN the use 81 Hotter or
Firminy shells The projeciiles VIII weigh 80
pounds They Will be driven by ~ and 90 pounds
vary from 1850 to 1900 feet a second. depending
,non the charge of powder. The striking energy OF
each shot will be 5000 and $500 foot-ons respect
lively Under these conditions the penetration or
shot from the l3nch gun would be twenty-sx
Inches in common steel II remains 10 be seen
whether or not a nickel-steel plate harveyized OF
eighteen inches thickness. will be equal TO the
emergency Expert opinions on the question dner
a majority incline to the belief that the battle wiz
result In q victory FOR ~ plate