=======+========+========+==========+========================= Calibre| Length | Weight |Weight of | Maximum penetration in. | in | tons. |projectile| A.P. capped against K.C. | cals. | | lbs. +------------+------------ | | | |at 5000 yds.| 3000 yds. -------+--------+--------+----------+------------+------------ | | | | in. | in. 13.5 | 45 | 80 | 1250 | 22 | 26 12 | 50 | 58 | 850 | 19 | 24 12 | 45 | 50 | 850 | 17½ | 22 9.2 | 50 | 30 | 380 | 10 | 13 9.2 | 45 | 27 | 380 | 8¾ | 11¼ =======+========+========+==========+============+============ It may be noted that the 12-inch, 45 cal. (as mounted in the original _Dreadnought_) is quite capable of penetrating anything in existence at most ranges, and the 12-inch, 50 cal. anything likely to exist. The main advantage of the 13.5 is the superior weight of the projectile and the better capacity of its shell. Modern progress in gunnery is remarkably demonstrated by a comparison between the 13.5 of the Barnaby era and the same calibre of the Watts era. ========+========+========+==========+======================+================ Calibre | Length | Weight |Projectile| Maximum penetration | Corresponding in. | in | tons. | lbs. | A.P. capped against | value in K.C. | cals. | | | K.C. at | of belt of ship | | | +-----------+----------+ carrying | | | | 5000 yds. | 3000 yds.| --------+--------+--------+----------+-----------+----------+---------------- 13.5 | 30 | 80 | 1250 | 9 | 12 | 9 13.5 | 45 | 67 | 1250 | 22 | 26 | 12 ========+========+========+==========+===========+==========+================ From which it will be seen that armour has in no way kept pace with the gun, except in so far as that in the conditions which obtained with the old 13.5 a range of 3,000 yards was considered an outside limit, 12,000 yards is now held in the same or even less estimation. Along such lines progress has been practically nullified during the last twenty years. But the limit of vision has now been reached, and increased gun-power cannot, practically speaking, any longer be met by range. Whence the argument of many that, failing the production of some armour altogether superior to anything now existing, the armoured ship is closely approaching the status of the armoured soldier of the Middle Ages. A precisely similar remark, however, was first made in 1887,[37] and proved an incorrect prophecy. To-day, therefore, those best able to judge are extremely careful about prophecying.