INTEBESTIHG NAVAL EXPEEIMENTS.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3894, 15 January 1878, Page 2

INTEBESTIHG NAVAL EXPEEIMENTS.

Some interesting and satisfactory «periBents were micte on lward the Oberon hulk at Bartenwmtl. on October 12th, for the purpose of aseertaininffhow, in case of war, merchant and ™fl steamers might be made available as anxihsriee to the Boyal Navy. The machinery of the i ■teamen belomrog to themercrottle maruie not antrequently rises 20ft above the waterline, and if caßed upon to act as transports or patrols in case of hostilities breaking oat. ilis evident they be oarslwed by a shot penetrating into the eneineHow this danger coufi be SovHeaaeoiußt was more particularly Oie object oTSTewiments on bolrtthe Oberon. Two compartments were formed along the side of the fculkhymeane of buHc-heads eitending from the main to the upper deck. These co »P art ? le ,™' which twer* eich 17ffc. On. in length and Wft. deep towards, were filled with coal. flßed witt Welsh anthracite cool, and No. 2 with -blocks of patent fnel. Through the bunkers thus formed two boUcr-plate. thick were pIW loosely throngh the coal in a vertical direction. This completed the experimental protection for the "™»cMnerV. Three ehote were fired against* from -a, fl*.i>omider «m on board the Bloodhoußd gunaemiiet No. 1 and one aeainst No. 2 comrange of about 200 yards. None of these got tnrouirb.. Four shells, containing a bursting charge of 71b.. wero aextfired, oneagainst SST«»daSoeagainst No. 2 cornpartmerit. wtft the came result They all penetrated the tot loose pHte, and one burst open the upper deck, but woe succeeded in perforating the protection, nor w«e any portion of the coal set on fire by the burst. The result of the experiments was considered highly satisfactory.