The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

292 MESSES. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. iiquid, and as tliey are permanently tight, it is not neces- sary to inspect tliem when the gun is placed in battery. The recoil cylinders and their rods are protected against grape-shot and dust by closed slides, which form a pro- tective armour ; the whole of the system occupies but little room, and is easily taken to picces. Expansion of the gun hasno influence on the working of the varions parts, for the cylinders can extend freely in the cradle, and the glands round the rods are not liable to become hot. The carriage is built up of steel plates ; it consists of two cheeks stayed by hollowed-out plates, which allow free recoil. It is jointed on the axle, the trail end being fitted witli the pivot-bolt seat and the spade. The lever for lateral train- ing, and the gun sponge, are hooked on the carriage ; the gun sponge is in two parts, to fit more easily against the trail. The gun is placed within the axle, so as to reduce the rising of the system under fire as much as possible. It clasps the recoil cylinders, the latter travelling in slides fitted to the axle, and the whole system oscillâtes on the wheels to obtain the required elevation. The gun, therefore, recoils along its axis, whatever be its incline. The recoil cylinders being movable, the rods are fixed and are joined to the ends of the slides; each of the cylinders is fitted with an arm that serves to take up the pressure of the running-out springs, the latter bearing on a rod placed in front of the system. The length of the set of springs required for obtaining the recoil travel allows the provision of twin-recoil cylinders, and this is an advantage as regards the division of effort. Dur- ing recoil, the Iiquid in each cylinder passes from the front to the rear of the piston, through ports, the opening oE which is in relation with the speed at all points of the travel ; résistance is, therefore, practically constant. The running-out springs being compresse«!, their action is added to that of the recoil cylinders to run out the gun when recoil has ceased. These springs are sufficient to run out the gun under the greatest firing angle. The piston- rods, while entering the cylinders on one side, are with- drawn on the other, the volume of Iiquid, therefore, remains constant, and this is of great advantage in preventing leakage. Leather buffers, combinée! with the set of springs, deaden all shocks during return ; these shocks, however, are very slight, for the recoil cylinders act as brakes in both directions. As above stated, the gun, recoil cylinders, slides, and axle, oscillate together on the wheels to give the gun the required elevation. All these parts are, moreover, joined to the carriage through a rack, the pinion of which is keyed on the same axle, with a tangent screw-wheel provicled with a handcrank. The gunner, placed on the right-hand side, keeps his eye on the sights while he works the crank, this being effeeted independently of tbe loading of the gun, which is carried out on the left-hand side. In most cases these two operations are conducted simul- taneously, it being only when the gun is fired at ranges higher than 3,000 metres that the breech end is raised for closing the breech-block. The gun is trained by means of the trail lever. It would be impossible to give to such a powerful gun a lateral action independent of the carriage, owing to the deviation that would arise were the gun to be placed obliquely to the trail. Expérience has proved that the gunner at the trail can rectify lateral training while the pointer is occupied in correcting the elevation of the gun. On most ground the spade is displaced laterally by lifting the trail ; and this causes no difficulty, the wheels being always moveable even when the wheel-drags are on. The wheel-drags are not of much importance, and are not generally resorted to to check recoil ; when the trail is fairly held by the spade in suitable ground, their action is unnecessary. The gun and mounting are easily taken apart, by removing two keys that hold the gun to the slide-shoes and sliding the gun forward. The fore-limber contains no special arrangement. It carries a ehest which contains 36 Cartridges, placed horizontally in wooden compartments, and two boxes of tools and spare parts. It is so designed as in turning to form an angle of 60 deg. ; the system can therefore turn halt' round in a width of from 7 to 8 metres. 75-Millimétré (2.952-In.) Gun, Long Type, on Carriage with Trail-Spade and Hydraulic Recoil Cylinders (Figs. 939 to 948, Plate CLV1L, and Figs. 949 and 950, Plate CLVIII.).—The following are particulars : Weight of gun... ,, carriage „ projectile Muzzle velocity Energy of projectile 333 kg. 670 kg. 6.5 kg. 560 m. 104 t.-m 734 Ib. 1476 Ib. 14J Ib. 1862 ft. 346 foot-tons This type contains the following chief modifications : The breech is opened in one aetion : the carriage embodies a device for lateral training ; the trail is fitted with an elastic spade and a trail-shoe ; the fitting of the gun in the cradle is not the same as in the preceding model ; the recoil cylinders form part of the cradle, instead of recoiling with the gun. Recoil is reduced owing to the combineil action of a hydraulic cylinder, a spring recuperator, and an elastic trail-spade. Under the maxi- mum angle of 20 deg., the range is 8 kilometres (5 miles). The distance between the wheels on the ground is 1.200 metres (47| in.). The gun goes through the axle, so as to reduce the rising up of the system, and give it the required stability, notwithstanding the slight distance between the wheels. When it is required to transport the material from one place to another, the gun is given the maximum positive angle, so as to prevent the muzzle from coming in. contact with the ground on passing through ditches. The ffun is of forged and hardened steel, manufacturée! to the requirements of the French ordnance régulations. It is 2.470 metres (97.240 in.) in length, and is built up of three parts : the tube in which the breech-block is screwed, a jacket over about lialf the length of the tube, and a chase coil fitted in with tongue and groove. The force of recoil is transmitted to the recoil cylinders from