WATER AS A PROJECTILE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8832, 19 January 1907, Page 4

WATER AS A PROJECTILE

WILL PASS THROUGH GALVANISED IRON. A number of curious experiments, to prove the effect of different projectiles fired from an ordinary gun at close j quarters, have been made by Mr Archibald Williams, and are described in the \ " Strand Magazine." His targets in- j eluded a rolled-iron plate, one-sixteenth of an inch in thickness, and some sub- \ stantial seasoned deal planks, ranging from three-eighths of an inch to three inches in thiokness: — ' J " I first made a, trial of some oak sticks, about eight inches long, fashioned to fit the gun pretty accurately. My initial target was a soap box, five inches deep, filled with tightly packed sand, and stood on end. The stick passed through this obstacle, ploughed up the ground beyond, and, emerging again, made a final flight of thirty- ! seven yards. The end was very slightly bent over. When directed against the thicker iron plate this rod failed to penetrate, but made a very deep dent, and the end was much splayed. ■• Substituting wood for iron, I put the rods to another test. An inch-and-a-quarter plank failed to stop one. The plank wae split down the centre, and the two halves, by one of those curious chances which might not be repeated in a large number of attempts, were turned round on their bottom edges, so that their outer edges came in contact, each half resting, as before, against one of the posts backing the plank. '• The last rod was directed against a two-inch plank, strengthened by crossbars, to prevent splitting. Penetration resulted, but the projectile was shattered into small pieces. "My next projectile was a candle, fired from the gun through a one-inch board. Then, replacing the gun with a rifle and a blank cartridge, I used one of the small candles made for Christ-mas-tree decoration, weighing forty grains. This pierced the thinner iron plate, and a second candle a board an inch and a quarter tjiick. Considering the extreme lightness of the projectiles, these results are somewhat remarkable. " Water in motion, or water struck by a fast-moving object, offers great resistance to opposition, as a clumsy diver knows only too well. Since water cannot be inserted into firearms unless confined in some way, I had to make a cylindrical paper shell to hold the charge, cork it at one end, pour in the water, and cork the other. Though a projectile of this type penetrated some thin galvanised iron roofing, it jibbed at the thinner iron plate, merely doubling it up into a very twisted shape. Of a one-inch board it made very short work. I imagine that a water charge fired at close quarters would 'spoil' a man very considerably." Some very curious experiments were made with paper projectiles, made of pieces of newspaper rolled up into cylinders soft enough to be squeezed with the fingers into oval shape: — "Two magazines, each half an inch thick, tied back to back, formed the first target. The gun sent the missile through this very easily, punching out paper discs increasing in diameter towards the exit. The cylinder itself was spread at the business end into a form suggesting a tree. A second paper projectile failed to get through the thinner iron plate, but was telescoped, the ends becoming yery hard. A third, fired from the rifle, pierced a one-inch plank. " Among other projectiles used was a cylindrical piece of rubber. This had not the least effect on wood, as one might have anticipated in view of its elastic qualities; but, curiously enough its resiliency appeared to be destroyed' by the shock, as in each of three trials it was found lying a few inches from the target. A possible explanation is that the thick felt wad behind prevented any rebound.'**