==========+========+======+=======+==========+=========================== | | | | | Penetration of iron at |Length |Weight|Muzzle |Weight of +--------------------------- Gun. |in cals.| tons.|energy |projectile|Muzzle.|1000 yds.|2000 yds. | | | ft. | lbs. | in. | in. | in. ----------+--------+------+-------+----------+-------+---------+--------- 12in. M.L.| 13½ | 35 | 9470 | 706 | 16 | 15 | 13 12in. B.L | 25 | 45 |18,060 | 1250 | 30½ | 28 | 26 ==========+========+======+=======+==========+=======+=========+========= The enormous difference in efficiency was of course traceable to other causes than the adoption of the breechloader instead of the old M.L.; but this was, equally naturally, overlooked; which, perhaps, was just as well--otherwise the muzzle-loader might have persisted to quite recent times. Though the _Thunderer_ disaster showed that a M.L. could be loaded twice over by accident, this was an obviously unlikely thing to occur again. The impression was made by the fact that the 12-inch B.L. was far more powerful than the old 16-inch M.L. It was possibly this which directly led to the “monster-gun craze” of the Barnaby era, the way to which had already been shewn by the 16-inch M.L. Incidentally it is interesting to note that the present monster gun era is the third in which, after a period of adhesion to a 12-inch gun, greatly increased calibres have suddenly and more or less generally been resorted to. _THE COMING OF THE TORPEDO._ Reference has been made in the past chapter to Sir E. J. Reed’s recognition of the possibilities of the torpedo; and floating mines were, of course, well known. It was not, however, till 1874 that either mine or torpedo came to be regarded at all seriously. The earliest Whitehead “fish torpedo” was produced in 1868; though it was then little more than a curiosity. It was a crude weapon, although it embodied, with two notable exceptions, most of the features that it possesses to-day. Its motive power was compressed air; it carried an explosive head with a sensitive pistol. The secret was bought by the British Government at an early stage. It was made strictly confidential; indeed, to the present day, the internal mechanism of a torpedo is more or less sacred. Most other nations purchased the secret also, and guarded it with like care! It is but fair to add that this ridiculous situation was brought about by the inventor, who particularly specified that the balance chamber must not be revealed even to admirals commanding fleets, but only to specially selected officers.