Metal of Ocean Fighters.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 26, Issue 63, 3 August 1915, Page 2

Metal of Ocean Fighters.

It may not be generally known that while the armour plate which protects an ironclad from projectiles is eighteen inches- in thickness the other necessary plates scarcely exceed fiveeights of-an inch. The thickest plates are along the vessel’s sides, but the di”ect forepart, of the ship is fitted with « “ram,” and this may be two or more feet in thickness.

Everything in the vicinity of the largo guns of a battleship is made of solid steel, for the force of an explosion is so terrific that anything of slight texture would be smashed like so much matchboard by it. The armour plating used for the hull is made in pieces weighing from thirty-five to forty tons each, and in fixing the sheets screws or rivets no less than four inches in diameter, and varying in length according to the thickness of the metal, have to be pressed into service.