The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY. 299 of a mountain gun-carriage with checked recoil, which o o 7 has been put in service, and has been supplied io the Chinese Government. Weight of gun... 110 kg. 243 1b. ,, carriage 178 kg. 392 1b. ,, pi’ojectile ... 3.6 kg. 7.93 1b. Muzzle velocity 375 m. 1230 ft. Ws viva of projectile ... 25.8 t.m. 86 foot-tons. This is inanufactured in two patterns, which clifiër fi’om each otlier only in the arrangement of the brake by acting on the trail-lever. The wheels are of vvood, and the naves of gun-metal. Recoil is checked by creating friction directly under the wheels, either by causing them to hold fast or by interposing a shoe- brake. In the first arrangement, two chains are fixed to the trail-plate, and carry two collars which surround the wheels at their lower part. A spring is plaeed between every two links to deaclen the shocks. Düring firing, the wheels are held practica] ly fast by lateral chains, though, at first, a slight oscillating motion takes Fig. 969. 65-Millimetre Mountain Gun and Carnage, with Spring Brake. device. The gun does not embody any special appliance ; it is fitted with an ordinary breech-block, with a plastic obturator. The carriage is formed of two checks of forged steel, joined together at the trail, and strengthened by stay bars and by the head-plate at the top. An upper trail-plate, hollowed out on part of its surface, is rivetted on the two cheeks. On the top of the trail is fixed a plate, which is provided both with the seating for the horsing hook, and with two lateral lugs, to which are fixed the brake chains. The elevating meclianism con- sists mainly of a vertical screw, on which bears the breech-end by reason of the prépondérance ; a lateral handwheel on the left hand cheek serves to turn the elevating screw. In Order to work the gun, the gunner sits astride on the trail. Lateral training is obtained place ; this, however, quickly ceases under the action of the springs. In the second device, the ends of the axle- journals are made with two cylindrical bearings, on which are plaeed the flat links at the end of the outside brake chains ; a key prevents their skifting. The inside chains are fitted to two lugs on the axle, and are hooked to lugs on the brake-shoes, the latter surrounding the rim directly beneath the nave. The shoes are, moreover, joined to tlie trail-plate by two otlier chains fixed to lateral lugs. This systein holds the wheels quite fast during firing, and créâtes a friction which checks recoil to a certain extent. A third pattern has also been manufacturée!, in which the handwheel is placed on the right-hand side ; the chains are fitted to the lower trail-plate direct, the horsing hook being replacée! by a ring.