The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

MOUNTAIN AND POSITION GUNS AND HOWITZERS. 311 and is built for carrying three ammunition chests, which are of two sizes, each made to contain six Cartridges, the larger size is made to take cast-iron and high-explosive shells, the smaller ones the shrapnel shell. 105-Millimetre (4.133-In.) Position Guns.—Guns of this dass have been supplied to the Norwegian Govern- ment, among otliers. 12-Centimetre (4.724-In.) Field Carriage. Weight of howitzer ,, carriage „ projectile Muzzle velocity Elevation Howitzer on Quick-firing 500 kg. 1,102 1b. 635 kg. 1,400 Ib. 21 kg. 46 Ib. 300 m. 984 ft. + 45 deg. to + 45 deg. to - 5 deg. — 5 deg. Weight of gun 1,000 kg. 2,204 Ib. ,, projectile 16 kg. 35 Ib. Muzzle velocity 600 m. 1,640 ft. Weight of mounting ... 1,400 kg. 3,085 Ib. ,, matériel ready for hauling 2,735 kg. 6,028 Ib. The gun is 28 calibres in length, and is formée! of a tube which rans on its whole length, and in the rear of which is screwed the breech-block. A jacket strengthens the rear part of the tube, and is made with a shoulder- piece, to which are jointed the recoil position-rod and the regiets which slide, during recoil, in grooves made in the cradle. The breech-block is on the Schneider-Canet system for quick-firing guns, and opens out in one aetion of the lever; it is made with two threaded parts and two inter- ruptions. A loading plate is at the lower part of the breech-block, and it rises automatically when the breech is opened to facilitai© the introduction of the cartridge. The percussion mechanism is cocked by manæuvring the breech-block ; the mechanism comprises safety devices against hang-fire and prématuré firing. The carriage contains two distinct parts : the carriage proper and the carriage support. The carriage proper consista of a movable cradle for elevating the gun ; it embodies the recoil cylinder, the recuperator cylinder, and the slides in which travel the lateral flanges of the gun. The trunnions rest in trunnion-plates on the slide. The recoil cylinder is with central counter-rod of the type already described. The compressée! air recuperator is designed so as to run out the gun under all firing angles. The carriage support consists of: the trail, formed of two cheeks of wrought steel plates, joined together by top and bottom trail plates and by stays ; the axle, made indepen- dent of the trail, in view of the lateral training : the wheels ; the trail-spade, easily displaced for wheeling the gun; two service platforms, of chequered plates, one to the left of the trail for the gunner who lays the gun, the other to the right, for his assistant in charge of the breech ; the brake, which acts direct on the wheels; the lateraltraining' and elevating mechanisms, worked by two hand-wheels within easy reach of the gunner. The elevating mechanism contains a screw placecl under the carriage-body, and which bears on a trunnion suppoi’t with the interposition of a nut ; the latter in turning causes the rising or lowering of the screw, the required action being obtained by gearing worked by the hand- wheel. Lateral training is obtained through a screw joined to the carriage, and which works in a nut fixed to the axle ; the screw is worked through gearing, and a shaft set in motion by the hand-wheel. This howitzer can fire six to eight rounds per minute, and is very portable, considering its power ; it can be shifted from place to place as easily as the current types of field guns. The powder charge is contained in a metallic cartridge case separate from the projectile, so as to facili- tate the using of varions charges as may be required. The howitzer is without trunnions ; it is carried in a cradle in which it can recoil over 480 millimétrés (18.897 in.). For elevation, the cradle oscillâtes on its two trunnions, placed in the trunnion-plates of the carriage. A trail-spade is provided, and in ordinary ground it almost completely prevents the carriage from recoiling. The recoil of the gun in the cradle is absorbée! by a hydraulic recoil cylinder, return being secured by a compressée! air recuperator. The howitzer consists of a tube, in the rear of which is the breech-block seating ; a jacket fitted in the rear with the breech-block hinge, and with a shoulder-piece to which are jointed the recoil piston and recuperator rods, the jacket being made with two longitudinal lateral flanges, by which the howitzer is supportée! and guided in the cradle. In front of the jacket are two coils. The breech opens out in one action of the breech-block ; the latter is with repeat- firing action. The carriage contains the cradle, which rests through its trunnions on the carriage trail ; it carries the gun as above mentioned. The hydraulic recoil cylinder, which absorbs the recoil of the howitzer in the cradle, is in one piece with the cradle, and contains a piston jointed to the shoulder-piece 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 determined by a central counter-rod.. the section of the latter being designed to maintain a constant résistance during the whole time recoil lasts. The counter-rod acts also as a buffer to deaden the shock of return. The air i’ecuperator is independent of the recoil cylinder ; it consists of an outer cylinder in one piece with the cradle, and an inner one in which is a piston fixed to the shoulder-piece of the howitzer. When the gun is fired, the compressed air contained in the inside cylinder, and in the annular space between the two cylinders, is driven by the piston in the annular space, and when recoil is spent a reaction sets up, and it drives the piston forward. The trail consists of two cheeks of wrought steel plates, joined together by top and bottom trail-plates and by plate stays. It is fitted with a spade, as already mentioned. A nose-plate, with coupling ring, is provided for booking the carriage on a fore-limber. The elevating mechanism is worked by a crank placed on the left side of the carriage ; it works through a set of 3 z