The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

Carnage for 75-Millimetre Gun witli Hydraulic Brake. o MESSRS. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. the recoil cylinder and the recuperator ; it pivots hori- zontally on the axle, thus allowing a lateral deviation of 3 deg. on each side. For elevation, the whole system, formed by the gun, the guide, and the axle, pivots to the carriage brackets, with the help of a hånd crank, an entliess screw, a friction wheel, a square pinion, and a toothed sector. The recoil cylinder allows a longer recoil than in the preceding models, so as to reduce the rising of the carriage when the gun is fired. The recuperator consiste of a multiplying piston, loaded with Belleville springs ; the opening of the ports in the recoil cylinder is regulated by a central rod with varying section. At first the carriage was fitted with a wide spade under the axle, but this was, later on, replacée! by a wide § £ i as ÎÂ a Fva352> s ts s ¥ trail-spade, which worked better. In order to endeavour to still further reduce lateral deviation, this type has been tried with two small plough-shares placée! under the axle, and which acted in conjunction with the trail-spade ; this gave the carriage three bearing points in the ground, and the arrangement worked well. Two seats bave been added for the gunners, and the expérimenta demonstrated that the muzzle velocity for this particular type could reach 480 metres (1,575 ft.) without inconvenience to the gunners. In short, this was the first model which embodied a long recoil for the gun, the carriage being non-recoiling, rising but slightly, and in which seats were provided for two gunners. 75-Millimetre (2.952-In.) Gun, Long Type, on Car- riage, with Hydraulic Recoil and Trail-Spade (Figs. 953 and 9.54, and Fig. 9.55, Plate CLVIII.) : Weight of gun... 396 kg. 873 1b. ,, carriage 642 kg. 1415 1b. ,, projectile ... 6.5 kg. 14‘ 1b. Muzzle velocity 550 m. 18(14 ft. Energy of projectile ... 100 t.-m. 333 foot-tons In this type the special objecta were to design a carriage adaptec! for quick and précisé firing. In order to prevent rising of the wheels and lateral deviation pro- duced by the percussion when firing, the gun is connected to the carriage by a hydro-pneumatic recoil cylinder. Owing to the length of recoil and to the weight of the gun, the effort on the carriage when the gun is fired is too slight to cause the wheels to rise. Conse- quently, under the usual conditions of field service and on any nature of ground, each round produces a recoil of only a few centimetres, without inereased penetration of the spade or rising of the carriage. This type contains, besicles, all the secondary appliances deemed most advantageous for quick-firing artillery; the cartridge-case is metallic ; the breech opens in one action ; the empty cartridge-case is withdrawn and the striker is cocked automatieally ; the gun can be displaced on the carriage for lateral training; the sights are placed laterally on the cradle, which facilitâtes laying the gun •luring return and loadino-; sights enable the <runner at the trail lever to place the gun in position, &c. These advantages, joined to the stability of the carriage, allow the gun to be so quickly served that it can tire 16 aimed rounds per minute. The gun is of steel of the standard quality. It consista of a tube, strengtbened in the rear by a jacket, and in front, up to the inuzzle, by coils. This construction bas been chosen in order to strengtlien the system followed for guiding the gun, and to render the latter heavier, so as to reduce the effort on the carriage caused by firing ; it has, moreover, the advantae'e of increasing to a marked degree the coefficient of security in case projectiles charged with high explosives should bürst in the bore. Besicles this, the coilino- of the chase reduces the heatino- of this o o part of the gun during rapid fire. The tube is made to butt against the rear end of the jacket to which the recoil