The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

XLVL—QUICK-FIRING MOUNTAIN GUNS. Medium-Power Guns (Figs. 970 to 973, Plate CLX1.). —This first type is placed on a carriage with compressible trail, similar in design to that described in the field-gun series. In this case, however, the carriage is arrangée! for rapid dismounting, in parts of suitable weight and bulk for transport on mules. Weight of gun... ,, carriage .. ,, projectile .. Muzzle velocity Vis wi>a of projectile .. 100 kg. 253 kg. 5 kg- 250 ni. 16 t.-m 220 1b. 557 1b. 11 1b. 820 ft. 53.28 foot-tons. The carriage rests on the axle, a rectangular recess being provided at the lower part of the tube, which is extended ]aterally ; flanges insuring the perfect jointing of the system and its easy dismounting. On both sides are rectangular enlargements, which slide, during recoil, on guides similar in section provided on a gun-metal jacket screwed on the front end of the trail. The tube that forms the carriage support is swelled ont at the rear end, for the fixing of a collar made to slide on the trail during recoil, a system of lugs and jointed levers insuring the rapid fastening of the collar. In the front, the tube is closed by a cover, in the centre of which is placed the end of the recoil piston-rod. The j collar is fitted with two steel wedges, which, when the gun is in battery, Lear on the guides of the gun-metal | jacket, thus completing the joining together of the carriage 1 support, the trail-tube, and the trail. The trail and spade remain fixed when the gun is , fired. The trail-tube is closed in front by a bush, through which runs the recoil piston-rod, and in the rear by a screwed cover, in the centre of which is placed the neck for charging the air recuperator. The recoil cylinder and the recuperator, formée! by the trail, do not recoil; but the piston, being fitted to the carriage support, is driven I together with the inovable part. The vent through which ■ the liquid flows is eut in the centre of a diaphragm forgecl | with the trail, and in the front of which is the recoil cylinder ; the air recuperator, in the rear, is separated from | the liquid by a movable diaphragm. The required elevation is obtained, as is the case with I field guns, by means of a screw, on the head of which a bearing lug, forming part of the breech end, rests permanently, owing to the prépondérance of the breech. The lateral training mechanism consists of a screw, the nut of which is jointed on a sole-plate bolted in the body of the carriage, the rear end being jointed on the arm of the smaller carriage. For transport, the material is taken apart as follows : The gun, the small carriage (with carriage support), the trail, the axle and wheels. To disconnect the carriage support from the trail, the two levers jointed on the collar are raised, the belt which holds them down having been previously unfastened. The recoil piston is then driven to its extreme position, the belt hooks which hold it being previously placed in the rings fixed to the collar levers; the belts carry a rectangular steel-piece, the centre of which is recessed to take the end of the recoil piston-rod. When this is done, this part of the carriage is ready for transport. This type has been supplied to the Japanese Govern- ment, among others ; and it has given excellent results at the firing trials in Japan. With native gunners, twelve rounds were fired per minute, the accuracy being satis- factory. The system followed for the construction of the carriage lends itself perfeetly to a suitable division of the weight for transport, and the dismounting and re-erection are carried out very easily. High-Power Guns. 75-Millimetre (2.952-In.) Gun, on Carriage, with Hydraulic Recoil and Elastic Trail-Spade (Figs. 974 to 977, Plate CLXII., and Figs. 978 to 981).—This has been designed with a view to obtain. very quick firing, without complicating the construction ; all the varions parts can be rapidly put together by hånd. With reference to its weight, this pattern is specially characterised by its high power, as will be seen from the following data : Weight of gun... 105 kg. 231 Ib. ,, projectile . . 6.5 kg. 14.32 Ib. Muzzle velocity 300 m. 984 ft. Total vis viva ... 29.8 t-m. 99.23 foot tons. Weight of carriage ... 240 kg. 529 Ib. ,, gun in battery 345 kg. 760 Ib. The gun is of special forged steel, in one piece ; the breech-block is with interrupted threads, on the Schneider- Canet system, and opens out in one action. Two lugs, forged in one piece with the gun, guide it in the cradle during recoil and return ; to the rear is the shoulder piece to which is fitted the hydraulic recoil rod. The mounting is built of two main pieces easily taken apart, namely : (a) the carriage body and (6) the trail-piece. The carriage body consists of two brackets, made of wrought steel plates, joineel together in front by a gun-metal staypiece ; the latter is hollowed out to take the cradle trunnions and the axle. In the rear, the two brackets are stayed together by top and bottom trail-plates, and aro provided