The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-10
TURRET PENETRATED
INTERESTING ARMOR-PLATE TEST
AT THE INDIAN HEAD GROUNDS.
Nothing Seemingly Able to Resist the
Great Penetrability of American
Modern PrOjecfiles.

WASHINGTON, May 9-An experimental
firing on a turret constructed precisely SIM
liar to that of the battle ship Massachusetts
with the object of determining whether the
structure would properly support the armor
at the impact of a heavy projectile from
one of the larger guns was made this after
noon at the Indian Head proving grounds.
1t was one of the most important tests ever
held there, and a distinguished party went
down the river on the United States tug
Triton to witness the trial. Included In the
party were Secretary Herbert. the members
of the Senate and House committees on
naval affairs, Admiral Ramsay. chief of the
Bureau of Navigation, Commodore Samp-
son, chief of ordnance, and number of ex-
perts. The result OF the test was regarded
by naval officers as satisfactory as far as
concerns the balance of resistance between
the armor and the strength of the turret
structure. From an ordnance standpoint,
however, it demonstrated the great pene-
trabjhty of modern projectiles. The turret
was thirty feet in diameter, and TO ac-
curately correspond to conditions aboard
ship in actual use was placed on solid
horizontal and rested on a large steel
cylinder representing the usual rollers. the
armor was a fifteen-nch harveyized steel
plate.
Three shots were fired at this moving tur-
ret bodily from three and one-fourth TO sew
en- inches. The first shot was from a ten
inch gun. weight 500 pounds, and had veloc-
ity OF LOO feet per second. This shot, a
Misunderstanding armor piercing shell,
struck the plate normally and near the top.
1t penetrated about six inches and shen
broke up. The framing in the rear of the
point of impact was injured though 1t Is
claimed not badly. Several rivets securing
turret, however. was moved bodily TO the
rear fully one and three-quarfer inches. The
two other saots were fired from twe!ve-inch
guns The second was the same kind OF a
shell. moving with the same velocity
as the Initial shot and the point of impact
was "A seconds from the normal line. The
shot broke up the point and remained wel6ed
in tho plate. The cast iron at the right of
the target place was displaced and three OF
its armor bolts SHARED One armor bolt of
the target plate also sheared. The
plate was badly cracked from top 10 bottom,
and an official statement made tonight says
the crack. did not open nor did the plate
move on the structure The turret. however.
was moved seven inches TO the rear In the
direction of the line Of fire. The third sho,
went completely through the turret, moving
| Ii bodily 10 the rear six inches
Concerning this last shot. Johnson cop
| per shot, weighing 500 pounds. with a veioc-
| ity of 1000 feet per second. Secretary Her.
| bert, in statement tonight says: The line
| OF fire was at an angle OF q from the nor
| NAL TO the plate. The shot penetrated the
plate. backing, structure ana passed entirely
| iron plate on the opposite side OF the tur-
ret The framing was torn and twisted in
| all directions, and In the vicinity OF the
| place of impact The turret was moved bod
| lily TO the rear about six inches. The cas-.
| iron plate on the left OF the point OF impact
was wedged off the backing about
| one iiich, and two OF the bolts were
sheared. The plate was not seriously
| cracked by the shot, although IL struck
| shot increased the number OF bolts shorn
in tho top plating. In general" the state
ment concludes, the turret would have
| furnished good protection TO the guns and
mounts within Ii so long as the armor was
not actually penetrated. When this turret
Is placed on board sap. where IL rests on
| structure, the horizontal molten OF the tur-
ret observed In these hrings viii be en-
tireiy overcome By the fianRes OF the rollers
on which II revolves In this trial no means
were adopte1 10 resist this motion EXCEPT