The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

306 MESSES. SCHNEIDER AND GO.’S WORKS. of a tube which runs the whole of its length, the breech-block fitting in tlie rear end of the tube. It is strengthened by a jacket, a trunnion-ring, and a wedge coil. The jacket is fitted with a coil, on which are jointed the elevating bars. The breech-block is of the ordinary threaded type, with a plastic obturator of the Schneider- Canet system ; firing is effected with a friction fuse. The breech is opened in three actions of the breech- block. The carriage eonsists of two brackets built up of steel plates ; they are held apart by top and bottom stay-plates, a stay-bolt, and a head-plate fitted with the angle bar which forms the cbase rest. The two brackets are joined together at the trail end by a cast steel piece held by a trail-plate. The brackets carry the gun trunnions, the supports for the elevating mechanism, and the varions The trail end is fitted with the accessories for booking it on a fore-limber. When the gun is transportée! on its carriage, it is plaeed in special rests on the trail. The recoil cylinder is mounted in two collars on the fore-limber. The gun can also be transported on a special car, the carriage being wheel ed together with the fore-limber. The above description is that of ths guns supplied to the Bulgarian Government. Those furnished to Servia differ only in that they are fitted with a threaded breech- block, which works in two actions, firing being effected with a percussion fuse ; the road brake has two shoes, held to the trail by chains. 155-Millimetre (6.102-In.) Schneider-Canet Siege Guns.—The gun eonsists of a steel tube which runs for its whole length ; it is strengthened by a wedge coil, a trunnion ring, three lower breech-coils, and three Fig. 994. 12-Centimetre Siege Gun. accessories required for working the gun. The bottom trail-plate earries the socket which holds the recoil piston rod. The hydraulic recoil cylinder is on the Schneider- Canet system, with central counter-rod and constant résistance. The carriage rests on a steel axle, with tlie interposition of an axle boely of hard wood. A shoe-brake acts on the wheels in the ordinary manner when tlie gun is wheeled about. The elevating mechanism contains a toothed sector, joined by two bars to the coil on the jacket; it gears with a pinion keyed on a horizontal shaft, worked direct by the elevating handwheel. The platform on which the carriage rests is forined of oak beams, plaeed in the groiind. A bolster bolted on this platform earries the pivot round which the jointed axle of the recoil cylinder turns. It is also provided with a frame, to which the brake shoes are fitted. upper breech-coils. The breech-closing device is on the Schneider-Canet system, with plastic obturator; the breech-block works in three actions, firing taking place with friction fuse. The carriage is similar to that of the 12-centimetre gun, and is fitted with brake shoes. VVeight of gun... ,, carriage ,, projectile Muzzle velocity Elevation 2500 kg. I 5510 Ib. 3200 kg. 1 7053 Ib. 40 kg. 88 Ib. 480 ni. 1575 ft. + 28 deg. to I +28 deg. to — 13 deg. - 13 deg. Designs and firing-trials have been carried out for a number of years by Messrs. Schneider and Co., with a view to put in service, ordnance of comparatively large calibres, from 90 millimétrés to 15 centimètres