The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

oo 07 MESSRS. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. When a round is fired, the spade is driven in the ground and forms a bearing-point to deaden the foi’ce of recoil- The conditions in which this device works vary, how- ever, according to the nature of the ground, and when the latter is not suitable, the g’un and cärriage are lifted up and may be thrown forward. But when the ground is favourable, the recoil is much less than with the types firing with no recoil checks ; on the other band, the gun often deviates largely, the carriage platform not remaining still. This system nevertheless marked a decided improvement on the preceding ones ; it was less fatiguing to work, and the firing speed was a little quicker. 75-Millimetre (2.952-In.) Gun, Heavy Type, on Car- riage with Front Spade (Fig. 914, Plate CLIV.). — The following are particulars of this gun : 75-Millimetre (2.952-In.) Gun, Long Type, on Car- riage with Independent Axle, and Spade in Line with the Axle (Fig. 911, and Figs. 915 and 916, Plate CLIV.).—The following are some particulars : Weight of gun... 3G0 kg. 793 Ib. ,, carriage in one case 630 kg. 1388 Ib. ,, ,, in another case ... 640 kg. 1410 Ib. ,, projectile ... 5.2 kg. 111 Ib. Muzzle velocity 650 m. 1804 ft. Energy of projectile ... 80 t.-m. 266 foot tons Another type was then tested, which combinée! the use of a spade placed direetly under the axle, but the latter was independent. Two mountings of this kind, with slight variations, were tested. The system of elastic connection between the carriage and the axle remained as in those already described. Fig. 911. 75-Millimetre Gun on Carriage, with Anchor Plate in Front of Axle. Weight of gun... ,, carriage „ projectile Muzzle velocity Energy of projectile 360 kg. 580 kg. 5.2 kg. 550 m. 80 t.-m. 793 Ib. 1278 Ib. 1U Ib. 1804 ft. 266 foot-tons In order to improve the working conditions of the preceding type, a mounting with front spade was made and tested. The joint of the vertical arm was placed at the height of the muzzle by means of two supports fixed at the rear part of the brackets and joined to the axle by stays. To prevent the trail from cutting into the ground, as frequently happened with the preceding type, a plate liaving a wide bearing surface was boltsd to the lower end of the trail. With this arrangement the eun and carriage lifteel less than when the spade was placed direct under the axle, but the spade entered the ground to a less depth. The carriage was modifiée! several times with a view of bringing the joint of the spade nearer the vertical of the carriage axle, but without removing the same difficulties, which were, a rising of the whole system, or insufficient penetration of the spade, according as the joint was more or less near the plane of the axle. These patterns did not show any marked improvements on the preceding ones, as regards the results obtained separately with a carriage on independent axle and with a carriage, the spade of which is direetly beneath the axle. The spade penetrated even less than with the preceding types, and acted very ineffeetually when firing took place on hard ground. 75-Millimetre (2.952-In.) Long Type, on Carriage with Inclined Slide and Spade beneath the Axle (Fig. 917, Plate CLIV).—The following are particulars of this gun : Weight of gun 360 kg. 793 Ib. ,, carriage 660 kg. 1454 Ib. ,, projectile ... 5.2 kg. Hi Ib. Muzzle velocity 550 ni. 1804“ft. Energy of projectile ... 80 t.-m. 266 foot-tons The gun-carriage in this case consists of the brackets with a spade beneath the axle, the slide, and the hydraulic recoil cylinder. The brackets and spade are similar to those already described ; a horizontal plate prevents the trail from ploughing up the ground. On the carriage