The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

XXVIII.—QUICK-FIRING GUNS. Fig. 617. ! HE first carefully conducted, and conclusive trials, made, with medium-calibre quick-firing naval guns, date back to 1887, when the 15-centimetre (5.905-in.) calibre was the largest to which it was deemed advisable to adapt quick-firing mechanism. Since tlien, however, Messrs. Schneider and Co. and Mr. Canet, have greatly improved this type of naval gun, in all the most important parts, until to-day the Schneider-Canet quick-firing guns, with calibres ranging from 37 millimétrés (1.456 in.) to 24 centimetres (9.449 in.) inclusive, constitute a complété series of ordnance. The special features which go to form the most recent types of Schneider-Canet quick-firing guns, can be applied to the largest calibres ; owing, how- ever, to the heavy weights that have to be moved when the calibre exceeds 24 centimètres (9.449 in.), and also because of the more complicated mechanism required for these heavier weights, the larger-calibre guns—those above 24 centimetres—of the most improved type, while not belonging strictly to the quick-firing class, are arranged for a sufficiently rapid fire to justify their classification under the name of “ Matériel à tir accéléré.” As the use of quick-firing guns for modern naval armaments is becoming yearly of greater importance, we propose to describe in detail the “ Schneider-Canet ” guns of this system, and to review briefly the history of their development. A full considération of the subject naturally falls under the following headings : 1. The gun tube proper. 2. The breech mechanism. 3. The mounting and its various accessories. Materials and Tubes.—Schneider metal, specially made for this purpose at the Creusot Steel Works, is exclusively used for the manufacture of the Schneider- Canet quick-firing guns. A detailed description has already been given of the steel plant where the material is made, in an earlier part of this volume. From what we have already said, it will have been noticed that Messrs. Schneider and Co. possess the most modern and powerful appliances for the production of gun steel, and that they are able, according to the requirements of various Govern- ments, to supply guns made from steel ingots forged under a steam hammer, or from compressed-steel ingots worked up under a forging press. It is worth mentioning that the French Government does not manufacture steel gun forgings, but Orders from Messrs. Schneider and Co. a considérable number of such pieces every year, the complété gun being built up in the State gun factories. Series of severe tests for ascertaining the quality of the metal, and securing its uniformity, are regularly carried out both at Creusot and at Havre. Messrs. Schneider and Co. also manufacture a particular quality of gun steel, containing varying percentages of nickel and other metals and alloys. The process of manufacturing this particular quality is, however, a secret one. Design and quick-firing guns are of design and by the they are constituted. tube, strengthened by 617, which shows the metre (5.905-in.) 50-calibre gun. section, it will be seen that the three pieces forming the gun are of very simple and regulär shape. It Manufacture.—The Schneider-Canet characterised by great simplicity small number of pieces of which As a rule tliey consist of a thick two jackets, as illustrated in Fig. longitudinal section of a 15-centi- By inspection of this follows therefore that the forging, and more especially the tempering, operations, which affect the quality of the metal to a marked degree, can be carried out under the most favourable conditions ; as a conséquence the metal of the gun leaves nothing to be desired as regards regu- larity in quality and homogeneity. Besides, and this is very important, as there are no complicated forms, the process of building up the gun is completed with less chance of errors in workmanship, and errors are always to be feared in this dass of work, whatever be the skili of the men, and the excellence of the plant. A large experience has proved that the construction of Schneider- Canet guns is reliable throughout, in conséquence of the design which has been finally adopted, and the system employed in manufacture. The section (Fig. 617) shows also that the strains due to firing are judiciously divided between the elements that constitute the gun, and especially between the tube and the rear jacket, while in most other systems the longi- tudinal strains are thrown on the jacket, the tube having only to bear tlie transverse strain due to the explosion of the charge. In the Schneider-Canet guns—apart from those fitted with a concentric-threaded breech-block, which is of a special type—these two elements of the gun are