Target Number 57 - June and July, 1864
US Navy Bureau of Ordnance Target Number 57 - June / July 1864. Note, the hand-colorization of the photo is original to the 1860s.
In June and July of 1864, the US Navy Bureau of Ordnance tests of both armor plate and the ordnance used to defeat that armor continued with Target Number 57.
Target 57 was an iron plate 18 feet long, 39 inches wide, and five inches thick backed with 18 inches of wood and a one inch iron plate at its back. The iron front plate was English Iron “ordered by Russell and Company.” The target was set against a bank of solid clay.
The following were tested against it:
An 11-Inch Dahlgren firing a 186.5 pound steel shot with a 30 pound propellant charge.
An 11-Inch Dahlgren firing a 168 pound cast iron shot with a 30 pound propellant charge.
A 10-Inch Dahlgren Solid-Shot gun of 16,500 pounds firing a 126 pound cast iron shot with a 40 pound charge.
An 11-Inch Dahlgren firing a 186 pound steel shot with a 25 pound propellant charge
A 150-Pounder (8-Inch) Parrott Rifle firing a 146.5 pound wrought iron, steel capped projectile with a 16 pound propellant charge.
A 7-Inch Single Banded Brooke Rifle captured aboard CSS Atlanta firing a 120-pound wrought iron projectile with a 16 pound propellant charge.
The 7-Inch Brooke firing a 117.75 pound cast iron projectile with a 20 pound propellant charge.
A 150-Pounder Parrott firing a 64-pound round shot with a 20 pound propellant charge. This was to simulate a new 8-Inch shot firing gun of 10,000 pounds.
A 9-Inch Solid Shot Gun firing a 90 pound projectile with a 20-pound charge.
The results, as can be seen below, showed that the 11-Inch and “Super 10-Inch” were capable of penetrating the target intended to represent a ship’s side. Commander Jeffers was dismissive of the Brooke’s effectiveness. Around this time John Mercer Brooke ordered that his double banded 7-Inch rifles only use 14 to 16 pound charges. Of course, the US Navy would have been using different powder, but a 20-pound charge is spicy for a 7-Inch single banded Brooke.
The tests show the US Navy’s interest at this time in “High Velocity” round-shot firing smoothbore guns.
These images may also be downloaded at:https://photos.app.goo.gl/shPJqP5ctPBi9Hro7
US Navy Bureau of Ordnance Target Number 57 - June / July 1864. Note, the hand-colorization of the photo is original to the 1860s.
Page one of the record for tests against Target 57
Page two of the record for tests against Target 57
Page three of the record for tests against Target 57
Page four of the record for tests against Target 57
