The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

MOUNTING FOR 12-CENTIMETRE QUICK-FIRING GUN. LO seating of the fixed pivot ; this is of steel, and its height can be varier! at will, owing to the outside threads cut on it. This pivot bears part of the weight of the slide, and insures besides the perfect centring of the system. On the top part of the base is a horizontal ring, which is continuée! on the inside by a vertical cylindrical bearing ; this is provided with a gun-metal lining. The whole arrangement is suitably stiffened. The slide is of the same shape as those of the 47-millimetre and 65-millimetre mountings ; its bottom part ends in a step-bearing lined with gun-metal, which clasps the fixed pivot of the base. The brake, with central counter-rod, is placed under the gun-housing ; on the top part of the latter are the two cylindrical envelopes that contain the recuperator set of springs. The mechanism for training the gun consists of : gun is of the type adopted by the Portuguese Govern- ment for the armament of their new eruisers, the length being 45 calibres. These guns have, however, been manu- facturée! up to 80 calibres in length, the power thus obtained being considérable for the bore. Weight of gun... 2800 kg. 6171 Ib. ,, mounting ... 2750 kg. 6061 Ib. ,, shield 900 kg. 1983 Ib. Elevation + 15 deg. + 15 deg. — 10 deg. — 10 deg. Weight of projectile ... 21.5 kg. 47| Ib. Muzzle velocity in service ... 720 m. 2362 ft. 14-Centimetre (5.511-In.) 45-Calibre Guns (Fig. 761, Plate CXXXII.).—These form part of the recent types built I by Messrs Schneider and Co., and adopted, among other Fig. 760. 12-Centimetre 45-Calibre Quick-Firing Gun. (a) A horizontal shaft slightly inclinée! with regard to the axis of the slide ; it is provided with an endless screw worked through a set of conical pinions, one pinion being keyed on the handwheel shaft, (b) A circular rack which runs round the baseplate ; an elastic coupling is used to control the speed of the various parts in the training operations. The endless screw and the circular rack are surrounded by an airtight envelope, easily removable, to preserve them. The elevating mechanism, apart from thè dimensions, is the same as that for the 65-millimetre guns. All the movable parts are fitted with an airtight cover provided with a lubricator. The gun-housing is fitted with a butt-end, against which rests the gunner during the service. 12-Centimetre (4.724-In.) 45-Calibre Quick-Firing Guns (Fig. 760).—These guns and mountings are generally similar to the 10-centimetre types already described. The Governments, for the Spanish Navy. Owing to delay, these guns were not used in active service during the American-Spanish war, and they will form an excellent basis for the reconstruction of the Spanish Fleet. They contain the main characteristics of the preceding calibres. Fig. 762 shows one of these guns and carriages, of which particulars are added : Weight of gun .... 4800 kg. 10,579 Ib. ,, mounting ... 4100 kg. 9,036 Ib. ,, shield 1200 kg. 2,644 Ib. Elevation + 20 deg. + 20 deg. - 5 deg. — 5 deg. Weight of projectile ... 40 kg. 88 Ib. Muzzle velocity in service ... 700 m. 2296 ft. 15-Centimetre (5.905-In.) 45-Calibre Quick-Firing Gun (Fig. 763, page 228). — These guns and mountings have been adopted, among others, by the Portuguese