The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

34-CENTIMETRE NAVAL GUN. 191 to act under the piunger. For lowering, it is sufficient to cause the water under the piunger to escape. The central supporting tube is fitted under the armoured deck, with a circular rack for traversing the gun. On each side of this tube, and in the same plane with the circular rack, are placecl two small hydraulic cylinders. On the lugs cast on the cylinders are fixed the ends of a pitched chain, wliich passes round the head pulleys of the large pistons ; the cylinders, in which the pressure remains constant, maintain the chain taut. It suffices, therefore, to send water under pressure in one or the other of the cylinders to cause the turret to turn one way or the other. The hydraulic recoil system consists of two lateral cylinders and of an intermediate distribution chamber; the cylinders are of equal diameter. The distribution chamber is provided with a valve loaded by Belleville springs, and with a regulating pin. The system works as follows: During recoil, the gun draws back the gun- carriage, and with it the pin-slide wliich régulâtes the circulation in the recoil cylinders. The liquid passes from the rear to the front of the pistons by lifting the distribution valve, and penetrating through an annular opening situated between the walls of the distribution box and the regulating pin. The flow of liquid is regulated by the specially shaped rod, the section öf which varies in such a way as to maintain a tolerably constant pressure in the cylinder during the whole time the recoil lasts. When the recoil is spent, the loaded valve falls on its seat, and shuts off all further communication between the front and the rear of the cylinders, the gun remaining hauled in. To run it out again, it is only necessary to admit water under pressure to the rear of the pistons, the liquid in front being allowed to escape. In the above brief notices only a small number of the older types made by Messrs. Schneider and Co. have been described in order to give a general history of the principal natures of “ Schneider-Canet ” naval guns, manu- facturée! préviens to the adoption of quick-firing ordnance. Had every type been considérée! separately, a whole series of descriptions would have to be given, bearing on questions of detail, many of them now obsolete, and on the many improvements made every year in designing war material. The. main object being to give an idea of the Schneider-Canet system as a whole, it was not necessary to enter into more detail in this part of the subjeet. Besicles, owing to the importance now acquired by quick-firing guns, the types that were built even ten years ago, are chiefly of rétrospective interest.