Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-08
FOR ATTACK AND DEFENSE
Heavy Armor and Long Guns to Be
Tested.
Protectfses to BE Hurled
Against the Latest Plate Material
Great Interest Felt.

The naval proving ground at Indian Head,
on the Potomac. on Saturday next will be
the scene Of the most extraordinary contest
between gun and target that has yet taken
place in this country. The occasion will
be trial for superiority between the at
tacking power Of the thirteen-inch breech-
loading rifle and the resisting strength Of
the eighteen-inch side armor Of the 10, ,2ss-
ton battle ships. 1t will be battle between
the heaviest gun and the thickest armor
ever made In this country. The thirteen
irch rife is not only the largest gun ever
made here, but the largest likely to be
made for years to come. and similar as
sertion is proper in regard to the armor
plate.
Twelve 13-inch guns have been made at the
Washington navy yard, and will be equally
distributed among the battle ships Massa-
ohusetts. Indiana ana Oregon. newer
battle ship the Iowa, with 1000 tons more
displacement than the three named, will
have twelve-inch guns as her heaviest bat
terry. The reduction is in accordance with
the latest policy Of the leading navies of
the world.
The twelve-inch gun, with its superior
construction and powerful charges, can
penetrate at short range any ship armor
now afioat. 1t allows greater care OF ma
nipula ton and greater frequency of fire
than the thirteen-inch gun. The chief rea-
son for the new policy. however, is in
the possible manipulation Of the lighter
gun by hand power, so that in case of in
jury to the hydraulic or other apparatus
they may not be wholly useless. The propo-
sition for the manufacture Of a sixteen
irch gun, urged some years ago, to meet
the increased resistance of improved armor,
has been abandoned fIom lack of practical
encouragement in the shape of an appro-
priation.
The largest gun ever manufactured for
the army Is the twelve-inch rife, and there
Is no prospect of an increased caliber for
that service. This Is heavier than the navy
rife OF the same caliber. and is more pow
erful not needing the same limitations as
to length, weight and other matters that
are imposed on ordnance to be carried on a
ship. The navy thirteen-inch rife however.
Is larger than the army twelve-inch. Gen
Flagler has urged the construction of six
teen-inch guns for coast defense but so far
has not been able TO persuade Congress to
provide for any guns larger than the twelve
irch. Therefore, II is not likely that a
larger gun than the naval thirteen-inch rife
Will be built in this country for some time
to come.
Reducing Thickness.
The recent improvements in armor by the
Harvey process and others has also led to
reductions in the thickness of plates. The
side armor of the Iowa is reduced to four
teen inches. or four inches less than the
maximum in the case of the battle ships Of
the Indiana class. Although it is possible
that some Of our future battle ships or har-
Dor defenders may carry maximum armor
exceeding eighteen inches in thickness no
such ships have been authorized or are in
contemplation.
Attack nnd Defense.
The armor 10 be tested is a nickel-steel.
harveyized plate. eighteen inches thick
tixteen feet long and seven feet wide. 1t
xelshs thirty-two tons. 1t was manufac-
.lTed ~ the Bethlehem Company, and
represents 613 tons OF plates intended for
the side armor of the Indiana Being the
latest product OF skill In armor manufac-
ture' the test plate is supposed to possess
the very highest qualities of perfection
IL is now at the navy yard In this city
and viii be sent to Indian Head by special
barge In day or two. Upon arrival at
the proving grounds IL will be placed upon
the long-range butt and secured TO a thirty
six-inch oak backing. 1t will be so placed
that the heavy projectiles will strike its
race normally, In order that the trial NAV
De a falr thorough test OF its resisting quail
tiles. Two rounds will be fired at the niats
under contract requirements To pass the
ordeal and for the group OF armor which
1t represents to be accepted the plate must
1 snow no crack extending from the point
or impact TO an edge. from one edge TO an
other or through the entire thickness OF
the mass at an edge. 1t must also resist
the through penetration of a proiectfle or
any fragment thereof. The proiectiles will
be or lot made by the Carpenter Conn
pany, under the new process. which is re-
garded as giving at least as good results
as those obtained abroad in the use OF
Holtzer or Firminy shells.
The projectiles will weigh $50 mounds
They Will be driven by 425 and $50 pounds
OF Drown powder respectively. The yeloc-
tues Will vary from 1.650 TO 1,gOO feet a
second, depending upon the charge OF
powder. The striking energy of each shot
Will be $1,000 and SS,Gn foot-tons. respec-
lively. Under these conditions, the pene-
tration of a shot from the I3-inch gun
would be twenty-six inches I'm common
steel 1t remains to be seen whether or not
nickel-steel plate, Harveyized of eighteen
emergency.
If the gun wins It will be a triumph for
American ordnance over the most effective
modern plating, while a victory for the ar
NOR Will be q new triumph for an Ameri-
can process which is giving our ships ex-
traordinary protection. The impression
among naval experts is slightly in favor
OF a victory for the gun, with its big pro-
jectile.
A distinguished party, including promi-
nent members of the Senate and House de-
partment offcials, representatives of for
eigu legations and a delegation of army
and navy officers and civilians, will witness
the tests. Commodore Sampson, chief of
the naval bureau OF ordnance will SUPER
wise the trials, and Lieut.. Mason. the COM
manding officer at Indian Head, will have
personal charge Of the firing.