The sun., 1895-05-18
ORDNANCE BEATS ARMOR.
THE 13-INCH RIFLE DEMONSTRATES
ITS SUPERIORITY

Fired MT the 1s-inch Carnegie Plate Which
Resisted tho 1e-inch Gun, Its 100 pound
Solid Steel shot, with n Striking Energy
OF $500 Foot Tons. Broke the Plate In
Four Pieces and Wrecked the hacking.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE 13-inch gun was
fired at an 1S-inch Carnegie plate to-day at In
dian Head to compare the damage created by its
1,100-pound projectile and the S50-pound shell
of the 1o.inch rife, the object being to demon
strate that the new battle ships should be armed
with the larger guns. On May Hotter shell
from the 12-inch gun. in an acceptance test
of the 1S-inch side arnlor of the Oregon,
wns fired at the same plate that was
used to-day, with q muzzle velocity OF
1.0o6 feet per second and striking energy of
21,S35 foot tons. and 1t cracked the plate from
top to bottom, but destroyed only one of its
twenty-six armor bolts. the projectle penc-
tratng ten inches and then going to pieces. its
point welding into tho plate. This shot was fired
with n velocity corresponding to the maximum
striking velocity procurable from the 12-inch
gun at 800 yards range. which 10 estimated TO
be about the distance which would probably be
chosen by battle ships in action.
To-day the Same conditions Of velocity at the
] 300 yards distance were observed with the l:,-
inch gum tho initial velocity to its l O-pound
Wheeler sterling solid steel shot being 1,04o
feet per second. or eighteen feet greater than in
the case OF the 12-inch gun, but the striking
energy reached the enormous figure of 2S.s0O
foot tons. The shot struck in tho right
half of the plate. breaking it in four
pieces, and buried itself in the sand bank
behind the plate where, upon recovery. it
was found to be broken to pieces. the head
whole, but somewhat fused Mt the point The
heavy oak backing behind the plate was COM
tall do shadh nv farr nf 4 In
blow. This clearly demonstrated the superior
ity of the 13-inch gun over the 12-nch weapon
for the same range, and the ordnance officers
present claimed that 1t showed that no armor
in existence could keep out the 13-inch projec-
tile at 1900 yards. This. however. concededly
depends on the projectile. as the next shot evil
| denced.
A Wheeler Sterling sem-armor piercing
shell. similar TO the preceding one, but followed
out to contain fifty three pound charge of ex-
plosive. was aimed near the base Of the armor.
where the plate tapered to 1916 inches in thick
ness the same velocity being used. The plate
met with similar disaster. breaking aud letting
| the shell through after 1t had penetrated seven
| inches. The shell broke up. but all its frag-
| ments went through and were found in the sand
| behlud.
| The experts, however. are not prepared to
| accept to-day's performance as conclusive proof
| that 13-inch shells have yet been found to
| demoish 1S-nch plates even plates Of less
| thickness. The armor attacked to-day had
already stood the strain Of two acceptance shots
| from the ls-inch rifle and one from the 13-inch
| gun. and two of these shots had split the
| plate through and through. AS the dimensions
| OF the plate were 16ta feet long. 7lb feet wide.
| four feet of which was IS inches thick. then
| taperng to eight inches at the edge. there was
| no such exhibition of tenaClty would be
| looked for in n whole plate. The tremendous
! energy Of shot from the 13-inch Peace.
maker" is not doubted, but it is claimed
that the comparatively Insignificant pene-
| tration of tho shells to-day before
| the overstrained plato gave way and let
them through is significant. Neverthe-
| less. no doubt remains that the 13-inch guns OF
the Massachusetts,. Indiana, and Oregon could
speedily destroy any ship atoat in the
world to-day, and that the great battle ships OF
| the Majestic and Magnificent class now build
| ing in England. with their belts OF 9-incl,
| lIarvcyized armor. would not last any time il
! American gunners are skllful