The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

308 MESSES. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. 12-Centimetre (4.724-In.) Howitzer (Fig. 996).—This pattern has been adopted by the Servian Government. The howitzer is in three parts : the tube, in the rear of which is screwed the breech-block ; the jacket, made with trunnions, and the wedge coil in front of the jacket. The tube is rifled to the right, with an initial pitch of 3 deg., and a final pitch of 6 deg. The breech-block has interrupted threads, with two threaded parts and two interruptions ; obturation is obtained by a plastic disc placed between tlie breech-screw and the movable head. The firing mechanism is repeating. Weight of howitzer ... 493 kg. 1,086 1b. ,, carriage ... 872 kg. 1,922 1b. ,, projectile ... 16.4 kg. 36 1b. Muzzle velocity 300 ni. 984 ft. Elevation — 5 deg.to - 5 deg. to + 45 deg. + 45 deg. The carriage consista of three main parts: the trail, chain, the other end of the chain being hooked on the trail, with the interposition of india-rubber buffers. The two steel pieces riveted under the trail, and to which are suspended the two blocks, are each joined to an inclined bar which goes through the axle ; these bars carry a spiral spring, pressing on the nut at one end of the bar and on the socket placed on the axle. The carriage is therefore not fixed rigidly on the axle ; on the contrary, it can be shifted with regard to the axle on a plane parallel with the bottom part of the trail. The axle remains constantly in contact with the under side of the trail, by means of heeled sole-plates riveted under the carriage, in which slide tlie flanges of the two spring sockets placed on the axle Thus, when the howitzer is fired, the carriage and the two sets of springs slide on the axle until the sole-plate of the blocks bears on the ground ; the latter, therefore, take up the whole of the percussion strains, the axle and wheels undergoing no other strain than that due to the pressing Fig. 996. 12-Centimetre Howitzer, formed of two bracke.ts made of chased-out steel plates, strengthened by an outside plate which extends over the whole part between the axle and the lower trunnion plate ; the latter is of cast-steel; the top trunnion plate is of forgecl steel. The trail is strengthened by top and bottom trail- plates, by a stay-piece placed between the brackets and suffi- ciently in the rear to enable the breech-end to enter the trail, and by a nose-plate arrangée! for booking on to a pivot bolt fitted to the fore-limber, in the same way as with field artillery. The wheels are of wood, with gun-metal naves ; the rim is of bent wood, in three pieces. The spokes are joined to the rim by means of iron sockets fixed to the rim, and which hold the end of the spokes ; the latter do not penetrate the rim, the whole being held firm together by the shrinking of the iron hoop. The axle is square in section, and is made with two transverse holes through which run spring rods. The bearing stock is provided with a view to remove from the axle and the wheels, the percussion strains produced when firing under positive angles. It consista of two oak blocks jointed under the trail, and joined together at their base by a wide sole-plate, to which is hooked a down of the springs. The relaxing of the springs causes the trail to resume its former position with regard to the axle. The elevating of the gun is obtained by a lateral hand- wheel, which works a pinion that gears in a rack fitted to the left trunnion. A brake on tlie left top trunnion plate holds the gun fast when it is fired. Two brake shoes with ehains are resorted to for the road and for firing. Lateral training is effeeted by displacing the trail by means of a lever. The fore-limber carries a ehest which can take sixteen rounds. 15-Centimetre (5.905-In.) Howitzer (Fig. 997). Weight of howitzer ,, carriage ,, projectile Muzzle velocity Angles of elevation 815 kg. 1,577 kg. 40 kg. 260 ni. — 5 deg. to + 45 deg. 1,796 Ib. 3,476 Ib. 88 Ib. 853 ft. - 5 deg. ti> + 45 deg. This howitzer is sitnilar to that of 12 centimetres calibre, but all parts are of correspondingly larger dimen- sions. The fore limber is without a ehest, and consista of