The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

THE SCHNEIDER PAVILION AT THE PARIS EXHIBITION. 333 A quick-iiring gun, 1895 pattern, on compressible trail, ! with hydro-pneumatic recoil cylinder and fixecl trail- spade. A quick-firing gun, 1895 pattern, with hydraulic recoil cylinder, spring recuperator, and elastic spade, with set of springs. This is of great interest, as it is this type of gun that has proved its qualities in such a remarkable way in the South African war. A quick-tiring gun, 1896 pattern, with hydro-pneumatic recoil cylinder and fixed trail-spade. A second group of guns is formed of guns of quite recent types, which can fire in service as many as twenty- four rounds per minute, the laying of the gun being rectified after each round. It contains.: A quick-firing gun, 1898 pattern, powerful type» with hydro - pneumatic recoil cylinder and fixed trail- spade. A quick-firing gun, 1898 pattern, light type, which differs from the preceding one only in the conditions of firing (weight of projectile and muzzle veloeity). A quick-firing mountain gun, 1898 pattern, with hydro- pneumatic recoil cylinder and fixed trail-spade. These varions guns have been described in the articles above referrecl to. In this group may be placecl a special weapon : the Schneider-Canet quick-firing 15-centimetre howitzer, on field carriage, with hydro-pneumatic recoil cylinder, which meets the programme of artillery commissions who were désirons of counting in tlieir armament a powerful and light gun. suitable to act in conjunction with field guns proper, and firing heavy projectiles under a great angle. The howitzer has a two-motion breech-block and plastic obturator.. The carriage resembles that of the 1898 field gun, and, like it, is fitted with a fixed trail- spade. Siege Guns are represented by a powerful 12-centi- inotre gun on platform mounting, with hydraulic røcoil cylinder. Tbis gun, though of a smaller calibre than the “ Long- Tom ” guns of South African farne, reproduces all their general arrangements. In this dass may be placed also : A 15-cm. howitzer on truck mounting, “ Schneider- Canet-Peigné ” system, used alike for the defence of garrisons, entrenchments, and for eoast defence. A disappearing turret for a 57-millimetre gun, specially designed for tlie arinnment of advanced positions surround- ino- a fortifiée! town. O Besides the above material, of which a certain number of types are described further on, the Pavillon contains a complété series of full-sized or reduced models of breech- bloeks, coast-defence guns, disappearing gun-carriages, disappearing cupolas, &c. The following data refer to guns which we have not yet described : 37-Millimetre (1.456 In.), 60 Calibre Schneider-Canet Quick-Firing Gun.—This is designed for the armament of maintops and decks of eruisers, torpedo-boats, gun- boats, &c. ; it can fire as many as 50 rounds per minute when served by experienced gunners : Weight of gun... Length in calibres ,, metres Weight of projectile............... ,, smokeless powder charge Muzzle veloeity Kis viva at muzzle Thiokness of wrought-iron plate perforated ... Weight of mounting ... 155 kg. 60 2.230 m. .800 kg. .225 kg. 800 m. 26.2 t.-m .128 m. 285 kg. 341 Ib. 60 7 ft. 4 in. If Ib. i Ib. 2624 ft. 87 foot-tons 5 in. 628 Ib. The gun is fitted with a breech-block, which opens out in one action of the lever ; firing is efiected by percussion, the striker being cocked automatically when the gun runs out. The breech-block is fitted with safety devices against prématuré and hanging fire. The gun is carried in a jacket mounting, on which are fitted the hydraulic recoil cylinder, the résistance of which is constant, and the spring recuperator, which insures running out under all angles. The jacket is carried on a frame supported by a baseplate, bolted on deck. Lateral training and elevation are given by the gunner by bearing with his shoulder against a butt-rest, the height of which can be regulated at will. A bolt serves to fix the inovable part in any lateral direction. A shield is generally provicled, to suit the place in which the gun is mounted. 15-Centimetre (5.905-In.), 42 Calibre, Schneider- Canet Quick-Firing Guns, on Double, Central- Pivoting Mounting This is a completely new type (see Fig. 1071) :— Weight of each gun ... Length in calibres „ metres Weight of projectile... ,, smokeless powder charge Muzzle veloeity I Vis viva at muzzle Thickness of wrought - iron plate perforated ... Weight of mounting... 4700 kg. 42 6.300 m. 40 kg. H kg. 740 ni. 1120 t.-m .510 m. 7500 kg. 10,358 11). 42 20 ft. 8 in. 88 Ib. 24 Ib. 2427 ft. 3730 foot-tons 20.079 in. 16,530 Ib. In both guns the breech opens in one action of the breech-block, the latter containing safety devices against prématuré or hanging fire, and accidentai opening of the breech-block. An extractor withdraws the einpty cartridge- case automatically, when the breech-block is completely opened out. The two guns are placecl in one single jacket, fitted with the four hydraulic recoil cylinders and the two independent air recuperators, which insure running out again under all angles. The two guns can be fired simultaneously or successively ; in either case one gunner suffices for the service. Sets of cylindrical rollers are placecl between the trunnions of the jacket-mounting and the trunnion-plates of the slide, in order to reduce the efforts required for elevating the gun. The elevating mechanism consista of an endless screw with hélicoïdal wheel, which insures the absolute irreversibility. of the system; the action is