New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-13
TESTING CARNEGIE ARMoR PLATE
THE SECOND SHOT WENT CLEAR THROUGH TIE
SrEEL AND It's OAK NAckING

I'M OH OND SHOT WENT CLEAR THROUGH TIE
STEEL AND ITS OAK BACKING.
Washington July 70 (SpeciaD.-An important ord
nance test took pace to-day at the naval proving
grounds at Indian Head. the subject of the test
being the first heavy armor Plate manufactured by
the carnegie company. In view of the notoriety
achieved by the company recently In relation to the
making Of armor for the Government. much in
terest attached 10 the result The plate tested rep
resented a group OF armor Intended for the bar
be;tes OF the battle-ship Oregon. The test wit
messed by party OF ordnance experts There
were present Commodore Sampson. Chief Of the
Naval Bureau Of Ordnance; Lieutenant Commander
Couden Professor .A.ger and Lieutenant Ackerman
on duty in the bureau: Mr. Frick. Mr. Hunsker. of
the Carnegie company. and Lieutenant Wilmer. In
spectorl of ordnance at the works.
Lieutenant Mason. the commanding officer az Ind
Ian Head, conducted the tests. The trial began at
noon. Against the plate. which was supported by a
36nch oak backing a l2-nch rife was used. The
gun abou; five hundred yards from the target
Two rounds were hrcd. in accordance with contract
s,pu.ations The frs; sho: was discharged to de-
tcrmiae the resistance OF the plate 10 cracking. and
the second to decide II 1t could resist penetration
In both rounds Carpenter shells were employed
The first sho, struck the plate in the upper rshi-
hand eni. II hurled with ve.oci;y OF LAO
foot seconds ana striking enerS$ OF ~" 1921 10
tons. The blow was normal In the line OF ire. The
plae. the pout being welded The remainder OF
the sho; refunded entire and on.y .iitie st up
no cracks observable, and the test so far was
highly satisfactory. Messrs Frick and Hunsiker
expressed their satisfaction AZ the result. ami the
naVai officers expected decided victory for the
pate In the second round Il was remarked That n
former irais had better preliminary results been
developed.
The effect Of the second shot surprised tho spec
tatOrs. The superiority OF gun over plate was
clearly demonstrated. The same rife used as
in the first test. The charge of powder had been
increased to about COO pounds giving the proJcctile
a velocity Of ls5s feet ?er second and a striking
energy OF 2l0OO foot tons. The shot struck the
target about the middle 1t went through the plate
and the thrty-siN-inch oak backing and was found
about 100 TO the rear OF the structure entire
and only slightly deformed. The hole in The plate
was clear cut and only a trine larger I'm circumfer-
tnan the proiectile Around the surface edge
Of the hole the usual fringe and discolOr-
alton AS the requirements on the second trlal
prescribed that the plate was to resist the pehera
ton OF the shot or any Of It's frag'nents the last
While the plate had been pierced through ana
through there were no cracks Observable in ms
respect the amor was satisfactory. sui OWING 10
calculated TO keep out shots TO depth ot us own
thickness and that OF the backing. II failed.
After the trial the experts present discussed the
cause Of the failure of the plate Several theories
were advanced. The general idea was that the
Harvey treatment had not EXTENDED deeply enough
and uniformly into the plate Outwardly the aihor
splendid specimen IL was snpo(n anu nv
BETRAYED defects Of manufacture; lC"oIctVss'4.:
il should have endured the trial. oh'no,iSU''
SAMPSON expressed his surprise at the results
Messrs. Flick ana Hunslhel Hdh'''"''" '''N'' 800
iSpeaking Of the failure OF the plate. Commodorc
Sampson said: Il am 1T loss ior a ~ ,,r
exclamation. That the plate was too SOY Is cNlue'
49,, tbe history OF It's manufacture would seem 10
show that in all respects II was ahoN" ,r't",,I'-
ments" Asked as to whether ne nov ina, rSn ,b,ck
plates. the head OF the Naval Bureau OF ordnance
said. "Dccidedly no