Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1895-10-04
SEVERE ARnOR PLATE TEST.


Inc new DbIIIe sun IuWd Will
withstand the projection of the f,
best twelve-inch gun ahoat. That
was the conclusion drawn today
from one of the most important
tests ever made at the Govern
ment proving grounds at Indian
Head, says a late Washington
dispatch.
Today the United States, for
the first time since the use of
modern guns and armor, began
experimenting to determine the
actual strain and injury to which
a battle-ship would be subjected
if struck by a proj9ct,le. For
that purpose side armor plate
of the battle-ship Iowa, now
building at the Cramps yard in
Philadelphia, was fitted up on an
actual reproduction of section
of the ship.
The character OF the test was
such that Secretary Herbert him
self went down the river to wit
ness it, and there was more than
the usual number of officials pres
ent from the Ordnance and Con-
struction bureaus.
The shots were at $50 yards, at
right angles to the plate, to secure
the normal impact. The first shot
was 500-pound Carpenter pro-
jectile, from ten-lnch gun,
driven by lao pounds of Dupont
brown prismatic powder. 1t
struck the plate with velocity
of 1882 feet per second, or with
an energy of TAI 900 pounds.
The projectile was driven into the
plate about six inches and not "a
single injury to the backing was
discovered, after careful exami-
nation, save the shecring of nine
bolts connecting the projection
deck with the armOr. This was
not considered serious
The second shot was also
from a ton inch gun, but the
powder charge was increased
to GIG pounds, which increased
the velocity to 1862 feet per sec,
ond, so That it struck with al
energy Of 93l 900 pounds. The
shot also spent itself on the platc
without creatiny sign of a craci
or injury or strainiug the frame
work.
Having thus tested the fourteen
inch plate, it was decided to sub
ject the framework to still sever
er test, ard an $50 pound Wheele
Sterling shell, driven by 46(
pounds Of powder, was fired at i
from IA twelve inch gun. Tit
proiectile struck with velocit,
OF 1900, or an energy Of l $50 ,0O(
foot pounds. This shot would
according to tho estimates, hav
penetrated siXteen-inch Harvey
lied plate. Although it cracked
the plate, already weakened by
the two previous shots, and pene
trated the wood backing it, it die
not get through the backing.
The enormous recoil Of the plate
however, pulled it from the Woo
about three-fortieths OF an inch
1t also struck close to the Dol
and sent it with tremendous fore,
across the compartment agains
the inner bottom, which WA
bulged, but not penetrated. Tit
outer bottom was slight,
bulged also, and the bulkhea(
where the shot struck was buckled
On the whole, the result of tn,
test with the plate and framework
was considered remarkable. Thu
plate withstood the Govern,
ment test for sixteen-inch plat
splendidly, and, constructiyely
the test of a seventeen-inch plate
The resistance of the frame real,
astonished all. Secretary Herber
was greatly rejoiced at the result
and Captain Sampson, Chief of tn
Ordnance Bureau, said the injury
both to the plate and frame wa
the very minimum. The frame
work withstood the shock bette
than we hoped it would" sait
CaDtain SamOSOn