In most armorclads, the armor
is very heavy about the vitals, but the guns are frequently much
exposed.
The best authenticated composition for melenite consists of picric
acid, gun cotton and gum arabic, and lately it is stated that the
French have added cresilite to it. Cresilite is another product of
coal tar. Melenite is normally only three times as strong as
gunpowder; but it is said to owe its destructive qualities in shells
to the powerful character of the exploder which ignites it. It has
been known for some years that all explosives (including gunpowder)
are capable of two orders of explosion according as they are merely
ignited or excited by a weak fuse or as they are powerfully shocked by
a more vigorous excitant. Fulminate of mercury has been found most
serviceable for the latter purpose. With melenite the French have
reproduced all the results that the Germans have effected with
gun-cotton and have found that a shell containing 119 pounds of it
will penetrate nearly ten feet of solid cement, but will not penetrate
armored turrets six to eight inches thick. The French claim that
melenite has an advantage over gun-cotton in not being so dangerous to
handle and being insensible to shock or friction, and they have
obtained a velocity of 1,300 f.
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