The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY. 301 with clainps for holding the trail-piece. The gun-metal cradle is on trunnions on the front staypiece ; it is fitted with a recoil cylinder, and with lugs for the spring recuperator. Below the gun, and in a vertical plane, is placed the hydraulic recoil cylinder ; this is with constant résistance, on the Schneider-Canet system, and is independent of tlie recuperator. The latter is formed of two sets of spiral springs, placed on each side of the recoil cylinder, joined to the cradle in front, and in the rear to the recoil rod cross-piece. The initial tension of the springs is sufficient to run the gun out under the greatest angle. When the gun recoils, it draws with it the piston-rod and compresses the recuperator springs under the action of the cross-piece. The required elevation is obtained by means of a erank which works the sector pinion placed on the cradle through a tangent screw. Lateral training is given by the trail-lever. This material is in four parts, each forming the load for one mule, namely : the gun ; carriage body with cradle ; trail-piece ; and tools, mounted axle, and shaft. In dismounting, the recoil piston-rod is unkeyed, and the gun drawn back; the trail-piece is separated from the carriage body by a lateral action, after removal of the fixing spindle ; the mounted axle is taken from the carriage-body by unkeying the lower trunnion-plates that hold it to the head staypiece. These operations only require a few minutes. The ammunition is contained in series of seven rounds in a wooden ehest lined with Fig. 981. Quick-Firing High-Power Mountain Gun, 75-Millimetre Calibre, with Hydraulic Recoil. When the recoil has ceased, the gun runs out again under tlie action of the springs, the movement being limited by a leather buffer and brass washers placed between the cross-piece and the recoil cylinder. The trail is formed of two wrought-steel cheeks, two stay-plates, a trail-plate, and the required accessories for wheeling the piece when mounted. An elastic trail-spade is provided, the shape of wliich is calculated so as to penetrate ground of varions degrees of hardness, while enabling the gun to be easily trained laterally. The spade is jointed under the lower traction ring, and is connected to the trail by a rod that bears on a set of india-rubber rings ; it slides on the rod so that the trail can rest on the ground when the gun is placed in battery. The carriage is of strong construction, and does not require any special préparation for service. The recoil cylinder is filled with incongealable liquid, and is perf eetly tight. sheet steel ; two similar chests form the charge of one mule. A two-wlieel caisson fitted with one traction shaft carries four ammunition chests, easily exchangecl. The caisson is not arrangée! for transport on mules. 75-Millimetre (2.952-In.) Gun, on Carriage with Rigid Trail, Hydraulic Recoil, and Independent Air Recuperator (Figs. 982 to 990, Plates CLXIII. and CLXIV.).—This gun was designed with a view to fire 8 to 10 aimed rounds per minute. To obtain this, and an inereased stability during firing, the length of recoil was ' carried from 200 millimétrés (7| in.) to 450 millimétrés (17f in.). It is so arrangée! as to be easily mounted for action, and dismounted for transport on mules. It fires with a metallic cartridge in one piece, weighing 5.8 kilogrammes (12| Ib.). The gun is not made with trunnions ; it ilts in a carriage, in which it can recoil for 450 millimétrés