The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

1 268 MESSRS. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. lower part are eight recesses containing rounds of ammunition for insuring rapid firing. (b) The circular bedplate with pivot. (c) The slide which rests on the bedplate through a live ring ; it consists of two cheeks stayed together, and is fitted with the trunnion plates. (d) The loading platform on the rear of the slide; it bears on the base with the interposition of rollers. (e) The carriage which carries the gun ; this is made with two trunnions that rest in the slide, and is of the sanie type as that for the preceding gun, as also are the hydraulic recoil cylinder and the recuperator. Weight of gun... ,, mounting... ,, base ,, shield Elevation Training Weight of projectile... Muzzle velocity 2650 kg. 4130 kg. 1850 kg. 1650 kg. - 10 deg. + 15 deg. through 360 deg. 21 kg. 650 m. 5840 1b. 9102 1b. 4077 1b. 3636 1b. - 10 deg. + 15 deg. through 360 deg. 4G 1b. 2132 ft. 6-In. 50-Calibre Quick-Firing Coast-Defence Guns (Fig. 875, Plate CL.).—Guns of this type have been supplied to the Russian Government. Weight of gun... 6,230 kg. 13,731 1b. ,, mounting... 10,400 kg. 22,921 1b. „ base 3,180 kg. 7,008 )b. ,, shield 1,720 kg. 3,791 1b. Elevation — 10 deg. + 30 deg. - 10 deg. + 30 deg. Training through 360 deg. through 360 deg. Weight of projectile ... 43 kg. 95 1b. Muzzle velocity 720 ni. 2362 ft. The mounting consista of the following main parts : (a) The base, built up of plates and angles, in the shape of a cône, strengthened bygusset plates; tlie firing platform is bolted to it by means of a circular soleplate. (b) The bedplate, which rests on the cône and is provided with rollers to facilitate rotation. The bedplate is fitted also with the pivot and the circular rack for lateral training. (c) The slide consists of two cheeks with trunnion plates for the carriage trunnions ; they are strengthened in front by a rib, and are joined at their lower part by a J plate of suitable shape, in which the bedplate pivot fits. (d) The gun carriage consists of a fixed part, and of a movable one which follows the recoil. The fixed part contains two lateral spring beams, a front and a rear ’collar, and a hydraulic recoil piston. The string beams contain the trunnions, and are bolted at their two ends on the collars. The front collai- is provided with a plastic ring, which forms a bufler for the mounting jacket when the gun runs out açain. The rear collar is lined inside with gun-metal bushçs ; it is continued at its lower part, and forms a butt, to which is joined the recoil piston. The movable part contains a jacket, which remains joined to the gun in front by tongues and grooves, and in the rear by two half-rings placée! in a groove of the gun ; a recoil cylinder cast in one piece with it; two lateral slide shoes, forming damps which hold on the string beams and support the gun during recoil. The arrangements of the recoil cylinder and recuperator are the same as those for the 12-centinietre guns, except that the recoil piston-rod is jointed in the rear, and does not follow the recoil. In the case of the present mounting, the cylinder is drawn by the gun, the piston remaining fixed. Moreover, the set of recuperator springs is divided into two parts, and consists of Belleville rings. The slide is continued in the rear by a loading platform. A sliield of suitable shape and dimensions protects the whole mechanism.