Daming Crazy Emperor

Chapter 311 Xuanwu
What is the protective effect of warships covered with iron plates?

As soon as the water column on the sea surface fell, Taichang couldn't help leaning forward, constantly adjusting the focus of the telescope, and scanning carefully.

This ironclad warship was indeed hit, and more than one shell was hit. Its cabin and side of the ship were hit by a row of shells, and it was hit by five shells.

The row of bowl-sized nests is enough to prove how powerful the five hundred catties Thor cannon is after the rifling is engraved.

A half-inch thick iron plate can make a hole like the bottom of a bowl, and this shell is estimated to be able to smash through the deck of a large ship and gunboat.

Fortunately, the Spike warship covered with iron plates was not smashed through.

Does this prove that a half-inch thick iron plate is enough?

Taichang glanced carefully for a while, and soon a trace of doubt appeared on his face.

The iron plates on the outside have been smashed into a deep hole at the bottom of the bowl, what will happen to the wooden plates inside?

He thought for a while, and then ordered: "The flagship returns to the pier, and I order people to bring the Spike back to the pier as well."

Is this over?

When everyone heard this, they couldn't help showing a strange look on their faces.

They all thought that they would have to try a few more rounds of bombardment, but who knew that after a round of bombardment, the emperor ordered them to go back.

What is going on here?
After a while, the flagship returned to the pier, and the armored Spike was also driven back by the sailors.

Taichang took a group of civil servants and generals off the flagship, came to a small pier nearby, boarded the Spike warship, and could not help showing a look of disappointment on his face.

It seems that a half-inch thick iron plate is not enough!
Because the wooden planks were smashed and burst where they were hit by shells.

In other words, the defensive effect after putting on the iron armor was not as good as he imagined. After the iron plate transmitted the force of the shells to the wooden board, the wooden board could not hold it up either.

It should be no problem for such iron armor to block a round of shelling, but it is estimated that it will not work after a few more rounds. Once the wooden board below is smashed, the iron board will also be smashed.

Moreover, even if it is only hit by a round of shelling, it will be quite troublesome to repair later.

The planks on this ship are not so easy to change.

Wang Zheng couldn't help showing a hint of disappointment when he saw the situation.

However, soon, he said firmly: "Your Majesty, why don't we install double iron plates?"

I'm afraid that won't work!
Taichang shook his head slightly and said: "No, we have to find a way to separate the iron plate from the wooden board below, otherwise, if the shell hits, even if the hole made by the iron plate is half smaller, the wooden board behind will burst."

This is really a tricky question.

Unless the iron plate is so thick that it will not be deformed when the shell hits it, otherwise, the wooden plate behind will not be able to withstand such a large impact, and even if it does not burst, there will definitely be many cracks.

Hearing this, Wang Zheng couldn't help asking: "Your Majesty, do you mean adding three or four layers?"

Just kidding, how much iron will it cost to add three or four layers.

Besides, it would be troublesome to add three or four layers to install, and it would be even more troublesome to replace, which is not suitable for mass production at all.

Taichang shook his head slightly and said: "No, I think that two layers should be enough, but the outer layer must be shaped like a circular shield, so that the force of the shell hitting it will not be transmitted to the wooden board behind. "

Breaking out of a round shield-like arc?
This doesn't seem to be very difficult.

Because the iron plate itself is not thick, as long as the mold of the punching machine is made larger and heavier, and the iron plate is heated to soften it, it will be no problem to punch it into the shape of a round shield.

Wang Zheng thought about it for a while, then nodded hurriedly, "I understand."

After speaking, he rushed towards the pier.

At this moment, with Da Ming's processing level, punching out a half-inch thick iron plate into a circular arc like a round shield is really not a problem.

Three days later, Wang Zheng hurried to Qianqing Palace again, excitedly said to Taichang: "Your Majesty, the Black Tortoise Armor has been finished, there should be no problem this time."

Xuanwu Armor?
When Taichang heard the words, he couldn't help but be stunned.

He didn't say what kind of basalt armor he was going to make!
However, he quickly reacted.

Wang Zheng must have built the iron armor on the battleship.

As for why it is called Xuanwujia, just go and have a look.

He immediately followed Wang Zheng to the steam engine factory.

This time it is not a casting workshop, the steam engine factory also has a stamping workshop.

In order to punch a half-inch thick iron plate, Wang Zheng specially made a guy that is more than twice the size of a normal punching machine, and the mold on it is half a foot high.

This guy is really willing to pay for it!
Taichang picked up a stamped iron plate and looked at it, and he understood it instantly.

It turned out that after the iron plate came out, it was not a circular arc like a round shield, but like a tortoise shell, with hexagonal grooves all over it.

To put it bluntly, the iron plate that came out was like a huge turtle shell.

As for why it is called Xuanwu Armor, it is naturally because Xuanwu is a holy beast, and it is also a holy beast that mainly defends. Wang Zheng probably wanted to use the name of Xuanwu to add some defensive performance to this iron armor.

People these days believe in that.

Not to mention, this makes sense.

Of course, this principle is not about the metaphysical truth, but the actual effect.

Because the curved surface with grooves is stronger than the bare curved surface, and after the entire curved surface is covered with hexagonal grooves, the firmness is probably more than doubled.

Taichang carefully looked at the dark basalt armor, and couldn't help but nodded in appreciation: "Very good, the grooves are well added, the name is well chosen, and the shape looks much more beautiful. Approve this kind of basalt armor. By the way, the lower iron plate should be integrated with this one. Don’t we have screws? Just open a few holes to connect the two iron plates, and then connect the lower iron plate Just make a few holes around it and connect it to the wooden boards on the boat with screws, so it’s easy to replace.”

Good way!

Hearing this, Wang Zheng couldn't help nodding his head again and again, "I understand."

As soon as the basalt armor is put on the outside of the Spike warship, the effect will be different immediately, not to mention the defensive effect, at least the appearance will be different.

Of course, the effect of this iron armor still needs to be tried.

On this day, all the ships of the Dongyang Navy gathered at the wharf of Wubei City, and Taichang, Xu Guangqi, Yuan Keli, Zhang Yuanfang, Bi Maokang, Wang Zheng, Sun Yuanhua and others also gathered on the flagship again.

Following Taichang's order, several Spike warships once again sent the armored warships to the north bank of the Haihe River.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Yuanfang ordered the flagship to leave the port and came to the sea about five miles away from the armored warship.

He held the binoculars and looked carefully for a while, and then ordered decisively: "Shoot a salvo from the right side, open fire!"

"Boom, boom," a burst of violent artillery roar sounded, and the entire armored warship was once again surrounded by water jets soaring into the sky.

Taichang had already adjusted the position of the telescope. As soon as the water column fell, he could see the situation on the surface of the iron-clad warship.

Soon, a smile appeared on his face.

This time there must be no problem, because the place where the basalt armor was hit was not completely sunken, and the wooden board behind it must not have been impacted by the shell.

Sure enough, after the armored warship returned to the pier, everyone ran up to see that there were no cracks on the wooden boards inside.

However, Yuan Keli discovered a new problem.

He shook the pillar protecting the cabin, and then couldn't help reminding: "Liangfu, this pillar doesn't seem to be strong enough, it's a little loose after being shot a few times."

Wang Zheng walked over and shook it a few times, then nodded again and again and said: "Well, it seems that all the columns have to be thickened, and a few more rivets must be added."

At this point, the iron armor test is considered a success, and the next step is to develop the iron armor warship.

(End of this chapter)