The sun., 1896-06-09
ouNs. SHELLS, AND ARMoR.
Tho Success or Modern sSurnsce-h arden ed
Plates Against ProIectiles.


Plates Against Proiectiies.
WARRINGTON, Juno s.-The contest between
gun and tnrget which has been going on with
varying success for many years has been greatly
influenced in its later stages by the surface
hardening treatment given to plates. Some
years ago the gun was practically admitted to
be the winner in this struggle, and 1t still has
the enormous advantage given by the heavy
powder charges that can now be used; but with
the Harvey process and similar devices the re-
sisting power of ship plates has become 30 great
as to be able to break up and destroy the shells
fred against them, and thus the war may be
said to have been shifted in latcr days to ono
between plate and projectile.
Tho recent trials at Indian Head brought out
very strikingly this point The 12-inch plate
which wns fired at by n l2-inch shell was one
that had been rejected for defects. The shell
was of tho Misunderstanding type, and was
fired with n velocity OF 800 feet por second. 1t
struck the plate in ono corner, breaking of
portion OF IL, but being itself broken to pieces,
although some fragments got through. plato
of that character aboard n ship would have
been one OF many. nnd SO supported by its
neghbors. Accordingly, 1t is believed that tho
result would have been, In firing at a ship, TINT
the shell would have been broken up without
any part Of 1t getting through.
II is truo that n somewhat higher velocity
than l,S00 feet por second can be impaired to
the lo-inch shell; but. as nm offset, the distance
at which naval battles are carried on is often
much greater than that of the Indian Head
proving ground, and in addition. the shell may.
and often does, strike tho hostile ship at somo
angle other than n right angle. Besides, while
tho l2Inch gun is the largest which leading
foreign powers like England are now mounting
on shipbuard, armor much heavier than IL
lnCncS Is carried, some OF our vessels having !,
10, and even ls inches. Thus wholly apart
from tho question OF this plate being solnow hat
detective the result OF the trial was decided
victory for armOr.
The trial OF two cight-!noh shells against the
eght-nCh plate told n like story. both wero
broken up without getting through tho plate.
tho force OF tho impact showing Itself in each
One OF these shells WAS Carpenter and tho
other Wheeler: sterling. The Immediate re-
CURED to be used in H. acceptance tests OF
smells OF both calibres; but tho more general
lesson for the .pnblis is the excellence of our
hrmor, to which tho processes OF surface
hardening and double forging have contributed
SO much. Both the plates spoken Of were double
forged.
lhe present contracts require that n shell
shall penetrate iinrveged plate toa depth
ing the velocties will be to give the shell bet
ter chance OF eiiectin such a penetration. in
plate. The runmakers can give tremendous
velocity To their shells, and the armur makers
cnn c maxi an almost imprcGnaule target; but
enormous advances have been made in the hard
ness and tonghness OF projectilcs during tho
last twenty Years. and now our American. made
shells arehdmittcd to be- In the front rank OF eX-
ceiencc. such alterations as arc made in the
acceptance contracts for shells will undOubtcl-
ly favor the contractor. ut least until even more
perfect projcctiles than the present can he
In still another way the defence may possibly
be Ga'ner over tho attack. Tho news that
Japan lad ordered tncltneG instead Of vertical
land has again brought the question Of the rela-
tive advantages OF the two systems into general
consideration II came up when the vessels OF
the Indiana class were under construction, and
the decision against inclined tNrrrts was made
with inclined or conical turrets. ana The obvious
adxantac"s OF furni-h'nI a smaller mark and
favor. But the ordnance officers argued. from
the result o! experiments which they quoted
clinatton did tho turret lave any
greater chance OF keeping ont hostile shot
urged that II such q dcgrc" OF Inclination
we're given TO the ;urret there would be II great
;"mtFaSt'1m ,"m "f me w9T.'nG space WIN; so
fered with. Besides. there was greater DIM
Guilty in making arnlor for The inclined turrcts;
Secretary Tracy after delhcratton. adopted
the latter view. and it has prevailed in our
navy to THIS day. Blu, ano.hcr APPEAL will Ice
Ordnance bureaus taking opposite sides OF the
question. rs before. II ANY change Rt all is
inad" i; will bc. OF course. 10 give tho turre, a
stt.! greater advantage oyer the gun.
II was lately reported that there was move
mrnt TO hayu larger plate, made for our sh.ps
1t now appears, however. that he desire OF tho
nrmor makers IS in the other direction, that of
plates covering less area. They say that by
having "A greater number OF plates for given
number OF tons ut arnlOr there viii be less dan
ger OF defects and greater rapldty Of manufac-
turc.
one general re.u!, OF 'he rccenttrinls Of plates
and proircu.e> Inns been 10 confirm the view
Massachusetts. oregon, kcarSH:gr. and Ken
tucky is tho right Cailbrc. 1t certainly has a
the increasing ability OF the lhickrst naval
nrmor to resist complete pcrforation hy the IL
inch under many battle conditions j. noted.
We have hal some difficulty in getting for the
l3-inch guns powder that will give III" large
degree or N"!octy with I'll" >mal! pressure de-
sired. But that Is a temporary shUrtComing
that will h" overcome. nU! j. OF course no arSu-
mcnt against tho gun. The l3-inch calihrc is
likely. II wund now appear. to ngurc on our
very newest battle ships.