The effects of wads.
“Experience has proved that different degrees of ramming, or different dimensions of wads, make no sensible alteration in the velocities of the ball as determined by the vibrations of the suspended gun. Stout firm junk wads, so tight as with difficulty to be rammed into the gun, have been used; sometimes they were placed between the powder and ball, sometimes over both, but no difference was discovered in the velocity of the ball. Different degrees of ramming were also tried without wads. The charge was sometimes set home without being compressed; sometimes rammed with different numbers of strokes, or pushed up with various degrees of force; but the velocity of the ball remained the same. With great windage, the vibrations of the pendulum were much reduced, although tight wads under the shot were used; so that wads do not prevent the escape of the inflamed powder by the windage, nor under any circumstances occasion any sensible difference in the velocity of the ball.[30]
“From experiments made on board the ‘Excellent,’ in 1847, it was found that a grummet wad is more efficient than one of junk, in preventing the cartridge from shifting its place in the bore when the guns were run out with a strong jerk.
“With respect to small arms, it is found that wads of different kinds have different effects upon the projectile, by modifying the action of the charge; and from experiments which have been made in the United States with a musket pendulum, the following results have been obtained: With a charge equal to 77 grains, a musket ball, wrapped in cartridge paper, and the paper crumpled into a wad, the velocity of the ball was 1342 feet; and when two felt wads, cut from a hat, were placed on the powder, with one on the ball, the velocity was 1482 feet. With a charge equal to 140 grains, two felt wads being placed on the powder, and one on the ball, the velocity was 1525 feet; when cartridge paper was used, crumpled into a wad, the velocity was 1575 feet; and when one wad of pasteboard was placed over the powder, with another on the ball, it was 1599 feet. These results seem to indicate that wads made of the stiffest materials are the most advantageous.”
Penetration of Shot.
“Experiments were made in 1848 on board H.M.S. ‘Excellent,’ by firing both solid and hollow shot against the ‘Prince George’ hulk, which was moored at the distance of 1200 yards. The guns were laid at small angles of elevation, generally between two and three degrees; and the following is a brief statement of some of the most remarkable effects which were produced, the depth penetrated being expressed by the sum of the distances in solid wood which the shot passed through, or deeply furrowed. Several 18-pr. shot, with charges of 6 lb. of powder, penetrated to depths varying from 21 to 33 inches, according to the state of the wood, and there stuck. With charges of 8 lb., the 32-pr. shot penetrated to depths varying from 22 to 48 inches. A 68-pr. shot (solid), with a charge of 10 lb. of powder, made a total penetration of 46 inches. Many hollow shot were fired with remarkable effects from 68-pr. guns, making penetrations which varied from 25 to 56 inches. One of these, with a charge of 8 lb., penetrated the side of the hulk, passing through 28 inches of good wood, tore out the iron hook, which holds the port-hinge, and fractured the after-side of the port, driving the splinters about the deck. It rent away the end of a beam, grazed the deck, passing through two planks, and cutting down a stanchion 8 inches square, making several large splinters; it then struck against the opposite side of the ship, whence it rebounded against that which it entered.
“At 800 yards, with heavy guns, a charge of one quarter of the weight of shot may always be used; at 500 yards, the charge may be reduced to one-sixth; and within 400 yards, two shot at once may be used with advantage.
“Hollow shot from a 68-pounder carronade, with a charge of 5 lb. 8 oz., penetrated to depths varying from 28 to 31 inches.
“In order to ascertain if shot reflected from water would damage a ship, shots from a 32-pounder gun, with a charge of 10 lb. and a depression equal to 7 degrees, were fired, and the following are some of the effects produced:—
“At the distance of 16 yards, the shot struck the water at 4 feet from the ship’s side; and in one experiment it lodged in the cut-water; in another, it indented the ship’s side; and in both cases it struck at 18 inches below the water-line. At the distance of 36 yards, with a depression of 5 degrees, the shot struck the water at distances from the ship’s side varying from 2 to 15 feet; and, ricocheting, entered the ship at distances above the water-line varying from 2 inches to 3 feet. In consequence of the loss of force which the balls sustained by striking the water, it has been inferred, that if a shot be fired with such a depression as a ship’s gun will bear, it will not penetrate into water more than 2 feet; and, consequently, it will be impossible to injure a ship materially by firing at her under water.