The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

MOUNTINGr FOR 10-CENTIMETRE NAVAL GUN. 219 Schneider-Canet type, with central equalising rod ; the cylinder is closed in the rear by a piunger, which bears against the crosspiece forming an abutment for the Belle- ville springs. During recoil, the brake piston remaining fixed, the gun draws the cylinder along with it ; the liquid is compelled to pass through the annular vent made between the central counter-rod and the edges of the grooving in the piston, by raising the valve. As the diameter of the counter-rod is smaller tlian that of the piston-rod, the liquid drives the movable end of the brake-cylinder before it as well as the rear crosspiece, thus compressing the Belleville springs of the recuperator. When the recoil is ended, the springs relax and drive back the crosspiece and the mov- able end of the cylinder, the liquid returning to the space it originally occupied by passing through the narrow vents made in the valve seat, the valve falling back on the seat immediately recoil ceases. The flow of the liquid Fig. 742 illustrâtes a 10-centimetre (3,937-in.) 55-calibre gun and mounting ; a large number of this type has been manufacturée! in the course of the last few years, Mounting for 57-Millimetre (2.244-In.) 80-Calibre Quick-Firing Guns (Fig. 743, Plate CXXVIL).—These guns have already been referred to several times, owing to their remarkable qualities as regards power, combined with the ease with which they are worked, a general cliaracteristic of the Schneider-Canet ordnance. The following are some data : Weight of gun 810 kg. 1785 Ib. „ mounting ... 700 kg. 1542 Ib. „ projectile ... 2.7 kg. 6 Ib. ,, service charge (smokeless powder) 1.9 kg. 4.18 Ib. Muzzle velocity in service ... 1000 ni. 3280 ft. Elevation + 15 deg. + 15 deg. - 15 deg. - 15 deg. Training 360 deg. 360 deg. Mounting for 10-Centimetre 80-Calibre Quick-Firing Gun. thus takes place slowly, and the running out of the gun is effeeted progressively and without shocks. The gunner, by bearing with his left shoulder against the butt-rest, has the two hand-wheels within easy reach ; he is thus enabled to place the gun in all the positions required. The elevating mechanism consists of the hand- wheel with the shaft, which works, through an endless screw and a toothed wheel, a pinion that engages the circular rack fitted to the rear of the movable housing. The training of the gun is insureel by a mechanism with toothed wheel and endless screw, working a vertical pinion that engages a circular rack forming part of the fixed bolster. The gun can, therefore, be trained and elevated simultaneously as may be required. The mounting can be fitted with a shield, sliaped according to the requirements of the service. The shields are balancée! on their supports so as not to interfère with the working of the mounting, to which they are joined by elastic couplings. The gun is 80 calibres in length, of the design generally followed by Messrs. Schneider and Co. for their quick- firing guns. This is not merely a proving-yard gun, to be used only for ballistic experiments, but a serviceable weapon embodying all the necessary conditions required of war material, and which forms a powerful unit in the armament of ships. The first gun built of this type has through several years, undergone a great amount of service in the Hoc Proving Ground, and inspection of the varions parts reveals no undue wear and tear. The breech-block is on the Schneider-Canet system, worked by one action of the lever ; the gun is fired by percussion, either with the firing line or through the action of a lateral rod combined with a mechanical disengaging device. The mounting is of the type with lateral slides, already described, and is remarkable for its small dimensions com- parée! with the considérable power of the gun. The balancing of the varions movable parts enables the gun to be trained by the gunner, who acts with his shoulder on 3 c