The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

__________ ______________________________________________ __________ ____________ ______ 318 ____ _________ _______ ________ _________________ ________ _______ ________ _____ MESSES. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. llie required elevation is given and controlled by a system of gearing, with balancing counterweight. The tvvo mountings are completely independent one of the other. A powerful brake for fixing the turret is placecl in the firing room, in a line with the target aimed at. It consists of damps which clasp the circular against which travel the veitical centring rollers; the damps work under the action of an endless screw and a vertical screw driven by a handwheel. Openings in the Hooring, on each side of the mountings, give access by means of ladders to the inside of the turret. A lift is fitted to each ladder for raising the projectiles and charges; a small hand-winch serves for this purpose. The turret is provided with a look-out, to effect the direct training of the gun. Inside diameter of firing room Outside diameter of armour Maximum height of firing room , under ceiling Maximum projection of turret above | glacis Thickness of armour... ... ... | Time required for one complété i revolution of the turret________ Weight of each gun_______________ ,, armour-piercing projectile ,, charge Muzzle velooity ________ Angles of elevation ... Time taken from one extreme degree of elevation to the other________ 5.400 ni. 17 ft. 8 in. 5.900 ni. 19 ft. 4 in. 2.700 m. 8ft. 10in. 1.000 ni. 3 ft. 3 in. .200 in. 8 in. min. 30 sec. 1 min. 30 sec. 3.065 kg. 6755 1b. 39 kg. 86 1b. 9 kg. 20 1b. 470 in. 1542 ft. 2 to + 25 deg. — 2to +■ 25 deg. 25 sec. 25 sec. Messrs. Schneider and Co. have built similar turrets for two 150-millimetre (5.905-in.) guns for Roumania, and other countries. Disappearing Cupola for One 5-7 ~ Centimetre (2.244-In.) Quick-Firing Gun, 25 Calibres in Length (Figs. 1020 to 1024, Plate CLXVII.).—This consists of the fore-shield, the turret proper, and the disappearing mechanism. The fore-shield is of hard cast-iron, in three parts, of 28 centimètres (11.023 in.) thickness at the top, and 20 centimetres (7.874 in.) below; these are strengtliened at the joint by pillar-shaped ribs, which rest on a cast- steel support. .The three parts are joined together by keys, and the joints are filled with molten lead. Ihe turret armour is of nickel steel, in the shape of a vertical ring 8 centimetres (3.149 in.) thick, which carries a spherical cap or cover 10 centimètres (3.937 in.) thick. The armour is held in place by a plate backing. The following openings are cut in the protective armour : (a) In front, the embrasure for the gun, and a slot for sio-htino-, O Q (b) In the centre, at top, is a hole of 6 to 8 centimetres (2.362 in. to 3.149 in.), usually closed from the inside by a screwed plug; this serves for ventilation, and also as a look-out, with the help of a refiector. (c) In the rear and through the sides, are three small openings 40 millimétrés (1.574 in.) in diameter, for surveying the ground during firing. A buckled plate, lined with india-rubber, fitted to the circumference of the ____________________ ___________________________________ armour, prevents rain water from entering the cupola through the joint between the turret armour and the fore-shield. The turret body consists of a shaft built up of plates, that fits exactly the inside of the armour, and of two cheeks of plates and angles, the top part of which serves as a roller path for the mounting. The lower part ends in a cast-steel base, in which the pivot is fitted ; the latter turns in a gun-metal step-bearing. The turret-body is fitted outside with a brass ring, that slides inside a cast- steel centring shaft, strongly embedded in the masonry, the turret thus being guided at the top by the fixed shaft and at the bottom by the pivot. One gunner loads the gun and lays it completely. The mounting consists of a cast-steel support, in the top of which rest the gun-trunnions ; tlie lower part is in the shape of a sole-plate, and bears on a gun-metal slide-path ; the sides of the sole-plate are so shaped that they prevent the lateral shifting of the mounting. A forgecl steel hydraulic recoil cylinder limits the recoil to about 10 centimètres (3.937 in.) ; it contains also a spring to run out the gun. Besicles the sole-plate above mentioned, the mounting is fitted on each side with two rollers that travel on paths on beams, and facilitate the complété running in of the gun. Special gearing is also provided for moving the mounting backwards and forwards. The range of elevation is from — 6 to + 6 deg. The turret can be made to turn completely round by means of a handwheel in the right hånd of the gunner, which drives an endless screw wheel and a pinion that gears in a fixed toothed ring. The mechanism is not reversible, but it contains an elastic disengaging device, so that any unforeseen rotary action can only take place through an accidentai effort that would exceed the power at which the elastic disengaging device has been regulated. This ensures the fixity of the turret, and prevents the too violent shocks on the mechanism that would result were a heavy projectile to strike the armour or the gun chase, and cause the turret to revolve. Lateral trainino- is registered by a brass circular scale, in view of the gunner. A hånd, driven by the turret, shows the azimuth position. The turret contains ail the necessary apparatus to ensure complété safety and prevent false manœuvres. It is impossible to open or close the breech if the gun is not in battery, ami if the brake piston is not completely set in its jointing on the turret body. The mechanism that ensures this consists of a hinge which a bønt spring' compels always to take up the saine position. A strong bolt placed under the mounting stops the latter, during firing, should the piston-rod break. The turret. cannot disappear before the gun is completely run in the turret, for when the gun is in battery, a latch in front of the firing-room projects over the top of the fixed guiding shaft, and prevents it from being lowered. The latch is only brought in by the mounting when tlie latter is brought completely back.