The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

15-CENTIMETRE HOWITZER AND MORT AR. 309 a frame on which is fitted a pivot-bolt for its junction with the trail. Swing-trees are provided for the rear horses, and a crosspiece with shafts for the front horses. 15-Centimetre (5.905-In.) Mortar (Fig. 998).—These have been built for the Brazilian and the Servian Govern- 90-Millimetre (3.543-In.) (Fig. 999). Mountain Howitzer Weight of mortar ,, carriage ... Maximum firing angles : Positive ... Negative ... Weight of projectile ... Muzzle velocity Brazilian mortar. Servian mortar. 390 kg. = 860 Ib. 805 kg = 1.907 Ib. 50 di«g. 0 deg. 32 kg. = 71 Ib. 200 m. = 656 ft. 491 kg. = 1,082 Ib. 981 kg. = 2,162 Ib. 50 deg. 0 deg. 32 kg. = 71 Ib. 200 m. = 656 ft. Weight of howitzer ,, carriage ,, pi'oj ectile Muzzle velocity Angles of elevation 110 kg. 281 kg. 6.5 kg. 300 m. 0 deg. to + 60 deg. 242 Ib. (>19 Ib. 14 Ib. 984 ft. 0 deg. to + 60 deg. ments. They are generally similar to the 100-millimetre (3.937-in.) howitzers, except as regards the dimensions of the varions parts. They fire also three kinds of projectiles: The howitzer is without trunnions, and is carried in a cradle in which it can i’ecoii over 300 millimétrés (11.811 in.). The howitzer and cradle oscillate for elevation round two trunnions, which form part of the cradle, and fit in trunnion-plates on the carriage. The trail is in two parts, and is fitted in the rear with a trail-spade, which prevents recoil alinost completely when firing 011 ordinary ground. The recoil of the gun in the cradle is absorbée! by Fig. 997. 15-Centimetre Howitzer. common shell, with percussion fuse ; shrapnel, with double- acting fuse, and high explosive shell, with percussion fuse. The fore-limber is fitted with a ehest to carry eiglit rounds of ammunition. The projectiles are placée! two by two on movable wicker baskets ; the charges are placed three by three in a movable drawer, another drawer con- taining the tools, spare parts, fuses and accessories. Part of the spare pieces are placed in a ehest carried in the caisson fore-limber. Shafts and swing-trees are provided for the team. Ordnance on Carriage with Hydro-pneumatic Recoil.—These types contain a rigid trail, with trail spade and hydro-pneumatic recoil cylinder, and they embody all the improvements carried out in the carriages of quick- firing field ordnance. Large Orders are on hånd for these at Messrs. Schneider and Co.’s works, and, among other Governments, for Norway, Japan, and Bulgaria. a hydraulic cylinder, the return of the gun in battery being effeeted by a compressed air recuperator. The howitzer is forged out of a single steel block ; it is fitted in the rear with the breech-block and its fittings, and with the shoukler-piece, to which are jointed the recoil piston and recuperator rods. It is made with two lateral longitudinal flanges, which guide it in its travel in the cradle. The breech closes in one action of the breech- block. The carriage contains the cradle, which rests through its trunnions on the trail and carries the gun. The hydraulic recoil cylinder is in one piece with the cradle, and contains a piston jointed to the shoulder-piece on the breech-end of the howitzer. During recoil, the liquid flows from the rear to the front of the piston, through a vent, the opening of which is regulated by a central counter-rod ; the section is regulated so as to obtain a constant résist- ance. The counter-rod constitutes also a hydraulic buffer,