The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-02-28
SURPRISING RESULTS.
America Has the Best Armor-'
Piercing Shells.
TESTS AT THE PROVING GRc6sDs.

Cast Steel Projectiie Of six-fnch cAisbre
Passes Entfreiy Through . sevsn-Ipob
Harv~yIzsd Nickel-steei Pisee-Ths Same
Plate successfully Resists shsIis Of Euro
penn Maks--Navai Experts Much Pissssd
with the Result of Tests.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-Surprising TO
suits were obtained at n test Of shells at
the Indian Head proving grounds
Wednesday, and II these shall be con-
firmed by further experiments our navy.
which already possesses the best armor
plate In the world, will have by far tho
best armor-penetrating shells, and both
OF American invention. What was done
"Wednesday at the proving grounds was
to Ere a cast steel shell Of sixinch cali
ber entirely through a seven-inch Harvey
lied nickel-steel plate, through the heavy
oak backing and twelve feet into the bank
Of clay behind This performance never
has been equalled by any projectils OF
like caliber In the world. When the
johnson shell slipped 30 easily through n
plate Of known high quality the experts
doubted the evidence before their own
eyes, and Immediately took steps to ar
sure themselves that the result was not
accidental
other Shells Failed
To this end one of the Misunderstanding
shells, all steel armor piercers OF the best
quality, and equal TO the best European
she'll, was selected and fred at the same
velocity at the same plate. 1t was smashed
up ON the face OF the plate after slight
penetration, just what was expected from
this caliber Of shell when fired at seven
inch plate. Then another OF the johnson
shells was placed in the gun and fired nc
the plate. The result was almost pre-
cisely the same as with the firs5 shot; tho
plate was penetrated with the greatest
ease and the shot was almost unscathed.
The naval experts are much pleased with
the test. They say that these cast steel
shells can be made for much less than the
expensive -forged-steel armor piercing
| shells; that they can be made more quick
| ly, and that they appear to be superior In
every respect. Further experiments will
be made with them. There was a further
test also at the proving grounds OF the
| Iowa's barbette plate. 1t was attacked by
l twelve-iuch shells, one a Misunderstanding
| and tho other Carpenter, and resisted
| them successfully.
Fired at Slow Velocity.
| Thur sday the tests were continued
| mainly with q view Co determining the
relative value Of shots fired at high and
low velocities The same plate was used
Thursday the plate was fred at at a veioc
-ity-e 2, 100 feet per second with John
son shell without can, but the point OF
the. shell penetrated only about .foul
inches and then hspks " And seaRdsaA 8
4 lfefear fhf6e other Shots were hred a
the slow velocity of $50 feet per second
Zone was johnson shell, with the cap
soft-forged steel or wrought iron, the soc
| ond Misunderstanding shell, uncapped
1 and. the third johnson uncapped In
results showed that with such slow velot
ity the shells were incapable OF penetrat
ing the plate to any great extent Th
l net results of the tests "Wednesday sns
"Wednesday may be summed up as fol
lows The steel cap on the johnson
shells Is mainly valuable when the latte
are fired at high velocities, that the ca
assists penetration of the plate to amarke'
degree, and that solid shot can be manu-
featured the equal, If not the superior, o
| forged steel Shells.