3-011-853 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Experiments with the Armstrong 600-pounder against the Warrior floating target, 1864. 'The sight presented by the target when struck was very grand. The shell, from its enormous size, was distinctly seen throughout its flight of 1000 yards from the gun to the target, and as the shell exploded an immense volume of smoke and flame instantly enveloped the target. Above the smoke pieces of plank were seen flying in the air, announcing the demolition of the box in the rear...On taking the target to pieces the shattering effect was found to have extended far beyond the limits of the hole...The whole of [the] inclosing planks were torn off and blown away by the explosion of the shell. One of the massive timber struts was also tom away from the target by the blast, and another was broken laterally by the same cause. The Engraving shows the appearance of the target and the sea immediately around it at the moment the shell burst; the fragments of the wood inclosure were sent into the air, and portions of the shell and the splinters were hurled into the surrounding water. This sketch was taken from a point in front of the barracks at Shoeburyness, and from it may be readily gathered an idea of the deadly nature of this ponderous missile'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.