The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

SIEGE AND FIELD ORDNANCE. 307 (3.543 in. to 5.905 in.), mounted on wheeled carriages, and suitable for immédiate service on any kind of ground without it being riécessary first to construct firing platforms. This programme has also been considered by several Governments, and followed by them for completing their fielet armament. Messrs. Schneider and Co. have manufactured and supplied two principal types of ordnance of this dass, especially to Brazil, Norway, Servia and Bulgaria. The first type includes mortars and howitzers. The carriage is of special construction. It contains an elastic device which allows a certain displacement of the brackets on the axle ; it is made, besides, with a bearing block, which rests on the ground and absorba part of the percussion, developed to a high degree when firing takes place under great angles. the centre of which is on the ti’unnion axis, so that the line of sight remains constant under all angles of eleva- tion. The carriage consists of three main parts : nainely, the trail, formed of steel plates ; the mounted axle ; the bearing-stock, formée! of two oak blocks strengthened with steel bars. The trail rests on. the axle through inelined sole-plates, which enable it to slide when firing takes place, until the bearing-stock cornes in contact with the ground. The elastic joining of these parts together is obtained by two sets of springs that weigh on the axle at one end, and at the otlier on two bars which go through the axle, and are jointed to the trail. The sliding of the brackets causes the pressing down of the springs. Owing to this arrangement, the percussion caused by firing is almost entirely transmitted to the ground, the axle under- Fig. 995. 10-Centimetre Howitzer. io-Centimetre (3.937-In.) Howitzer (Fig. 995).—This has been supplied to the Brazilian Government. Weight of howitzer ... 290 kg. 639 Ib. ,, carriage 595 kg. 1311 Ib. ,, projectile ... 9.5 kg. 21 Ib. Muzzle velocity 300 m. 984 ft. Elevation 0 deg. to 0 deg to + 50 deg. + 50 deg. The howitzer is of steel, and is f'ormed of a tube strengthened by a trunnion jacket with clamp in the rear, and by a truncated conical coil in front. Rifling is made progressive. The breech-closing device is with a plastic obturator ; firing takes place by percussion. The breech- block has interrupted threads cut out on two hélicoïdal segments ; the swing piece which carries the breech-block is conical, and fitted with rollers that guide the block in its travel. A special description of the breech- mechanism has been given in the section dealing with breech-pieces. A sight and curved scale are provided, going no strain, apart from that which results from the temporary pressing down of the springs. The height of the stock is such that, before firing, its sole-plate is a few centimètres above ground level. When the reactions due to the firing are completely spent, the springs cause the brackets to resume their former position with regard to the axle. This return action is controlled by the contact of the end of the bars with the axle. Belleville springs are employed to deaden the shock of return. Recoil is limited by a system of drag-shoes, which can be used also as a brake. The elevating mechanism is placée! on the base of the left trunnion, and consists of a curved rack, in which a pinion engages set in motion by differential non-recipro- cating gearing, for elevating the gun. Eacli howitzer is provided with a fore-limber, made to carry chests containing twenty projectiles, twenty powder charges, and a quantity of fuse, besides accessories and spare parts.