LIMBER OF 3.2-INCH FIELD-GUN CARRIAGE.

(See Figs. [62] and [63].)

NOMENCLATURE.

Wheels; axle; linch-pins; linch-washers; shoulder-washers; understraps (axle).

The fork (a); the fork-brace; the hounds (k); splinter-bar (j).

Foot-boards (m), front and rear; foot-board latch; pole (b); pole-ferrule; pole-pad (f); pole-pad bolt and nut; pole-prop; pole-bolt; pole-prop eye; pole-prop strap; pole-stop; bushing for pole-bolt hole; neck-yoke stop (g).

Double-tree (h); double-tree chains and staples; double-tree hooks end; double-tree stay-hooks; double-tree bolt (i); double-tree bolt-strap; double-tree bolt-brace.

Fig. 62.

Single-trees; single-tree-eye-band; single-tree hooks.

Oil and grease compartment: pintle (c); pintle-key (d); pintle-key chain; pintle-key chain eye-plate; pintle brace-rods; hound brace-rods; primer-and obturator-boxes (n); primer-and obturator-box lids; primer-and obturator-box lid-chains; ammunition-chest staple; ammunition-chest keys and chains.

The ammunition-chest (l), consisting of lid, handles, hasp, turnbuckle, paulin-straps, packing—metallic, packing—wood.

Neck-yoke: body of wood; metal parts are: 1 centre eye-sleeve; 2 centre eye-sleeve rivets; 2 eye-bands; 2 eye-band rivets; 2 band-rings; 2 pole-strap eye-loops; 2 pole-strap eye-loop rollers; 2 martingale-staples; neck-yoke pads (leather).

THE LIMBER.

Weight with neck-yoke 957 pounds
Weight complete, without ammunition1057 "
Weight complete, with ammunition1780 "
Length from end of pole to muzzle of gun, limbered 26.5 feet
Distance between centres of axles 8.75 "

The limbers for the carriage, caisson, and battery-wagon are in every respect the same, except that the two boxes for primers and obturators are omitted on the battery-wagon limber, and its chest is differently arranged inside.

Fig. 63.

The limber essentially consists of two wheels, Archibald patent (same as for carriage), one wrought-steel tubular axle, linch-pins and washers, shoulder-washers shrunk and pinned on, three understraps.

The limber-body and connecting parts consist of:

The Fork (1) (a).—Central part of body formed of two angle-irons receiving the pole (b) and pintle-body in rear. It passes into and is riveted to the double-tree bolt-strap which surrounds and supports the pole. It carries, riveted to it between the flanges, the foot-brace and pole-stop, to which is pivoted the pole-prop hook. In rear of foot-boards is the staple for securing the ammunition-chest. The fork is attached to the axle by axle-straps.

The Two Hounds (k) form the side-rails, and are angle-irons attached to the body by axle-straps. To these on each side in rear of the axle are bolted the primer-and obturator-boxes (k).

The Splinter-bar (j).—Angle-iron. Unites the fork and hounds in front of foot-boards.

Foot-boards (2), Wood (m).—Rear one riveted to hounds and fork. The front one, to which are riveted three brackets, is hinged by two strap-hinges to the rear one, to give access to pole-prop strap, pole-bolt, and compartment for oil-and grease-cans and tool-box. It is provided with a latch for securing it, when down, to the double-tree bolt-brace.

The Pole, Wood (b).—Leather pad (e) on front end. Neck-yoke stop, iron, on under side. The hole in rear and for bolting to the fork is lined with thin brass tubing. It abuts against a plate and is secured by a key. It is partly copper-sheathed.

Double-tree (1) (h).—Made of steel. Hooks at either end for attachment of single-trees. Hole in centre for attachment to limber by double-tree bolt.

Double-tree Bolt-strap (i).—Riveted to fork and supports the pole. Double-tree bolt, bolt-strap, and pole-prop eye one piece.

Single-trees (2).—Made of steel with eye for attachment to double-tree hooks; hooks at ends for trace attachment.

Oil-and Grease-can Compartment.—A flanged plate of sheet iron under the foot-boards riveted to the fork and right hound.

Pole-prop[6] (1).—Permanently secured to the eye on bottom of the double-tree bolt-strap.

Pole-prop Strap (1).—For holding up pole-prop, near pole-stop.

Pole-bolt (1) (e).—Passes through the fork, the flanges of the double-tree bolt-brace and the pole securing it to the fork.

Pole-stop and Support (1).—A flanged piece of plate metal (riveted to fork-flanges) on and against which the pole is supported.

Double-tree Bolt-brace (1).—A flanged plate with holes in front for double-tree bolt and through the flanges for pole-bolt. It also forms the catch for the foot-board latch.

Pintle (1) (c).—For connecting the carriage-body bolted between the fork-flanges.

Pintle-key (1) (d).—For securing the lunette.

Pintle-key Chain (1).—For securing the pintle-key to the limber.

Pintle Brace-rods (2).—From the rear hound understrap-bolts to the rear pintle-body bolt.

Hound Brace-rods (2).—From the front pintle-body bolt to the ring-bolt of primer-and obturator-boxes.

Primer-and Obturator-boxes (2) (n).—Two water-tight cylindrical boxes with screw-lids, bolted through the bottoms to the axle, and by a ring-bolt to the hounds, for carrying unbroken boxes of primers and spare obturators.

Ammunition-chest, Wood (l).—Ironed, with corrugated-iron plate on back. It is covered with duck, and the lid is secured, when down, by hasp and turnkey. Three compartments: end ones for projectiles, 21 in each; middle for 44 cartridges and two haversacks. The packing divisions for projectiles are of cast bronze.

ON GUN-AND CAISSON-LIMBERS CAN BE CARRIED:

Two paulinsOn and strapped to chest-lid; ordinarily not carried on caisson-limbers.
Two spare obturators, or two or more (depending on size) boxes of primers, or one obturator and one or more boxes of primers.In water-tight cylindrical boxes under the chest; ordinarily not carried on caisson-limbers.
One oiler, one tool-box, one wheel-grease can with spatula.In compartment under the foot-boards; wheel-grease can only ordinarily carried on caisson-limbers.
One pole-prop for end of pole (now replaced by sheet-metal prop.)Under foot-boards, left-hand side, between chest and axle.
One section of picket-rope (can be used for a prolonge) with metal terminals for connection with other terminals (34 feet long; 3-inch rope).On the foot-boards. One of these sections is carried for and with each carriage, and ordinarily, for gun-carriage and limber, coiled under the left seat of gun-carriage; for the battery-wagon and forge, in the wagon or on top of it fastened to railing, in the folding forage-rack, or coiled around the middle rail near the vise, as may be most convenient; and for caisson, on its limber foot-boards, or on caisson as above detailed.
Three or four knapsacks.........................On the foot-boards. Knapsacks are carried in the artillery-wagon.
One breech-sight................................Carried in its leather case in one of the foot-board compartments. A spare one may be carried in one of the caisson-limbers.
Two haversacks..................................In middle-chest compartment on top of cartridges; ordinarily carried in the gun-limber chest.

The tool-box (one for each gun, carried in the compartment under the foot-boards of gun-limber) has capacity for the following tools and implements:

One vent-punch.
One gunner's gimlet.
One priming-wire.		These may be carried, if more convenient, in the gun-carriage trail-box.

Weight of tool-box, 1 pound 13 ounces; contents, as above, 7 pounds 8 ounces.