GUN.
| Weights and Dimensions. | |
| Weight | 2,688 lb. |
| Caliber | 4.7 in. |
| Total length | 134.92 in. |
| Length of bore | 129.42 in. |
| Length of rifling | 111.9 in. |
| Number of grooves | 42 |
| Twist | Right hand. |
| Weight of proj. based fuse | 60 lb. |
| Weight of proj. point fuse | 45 lb. |
| Weight of powder charge | 95 oz. |
| Muzzle velocity, 60 lb. proj. | 1,700 ft. per second |
| Muzzle velocity, 45 lb. proj. | 2,050 ft. per second |
| Maximum range | 11,000 meters |
| THE CARRIAGE. | |
| Weight of carriage complete | 5,320 pounds |
| Weight of carriage and gun complete | 8,068 pounds |
| Maximum elevation | 15 degrees |
| Maximum depression | 5 degrees |
| Maximum traverse | 140 mils. |
The gun is built up and consists of a tube, jacket, locking hoop and clip. The jacket covers the rear half of the tube and projects beyond the tube at the rear to form the breech recess. The jacket also has a recoil lug on the under side for connecting the recoil cylinder. The clip is a short hoop near the muzzle and has guides formed on it to guide the gun in the cradle on recoil. The jacket also has guides formed on it. The length of the gun is approximately 11 feet.
4.7” Rifle
The breechblock is of the interrupted screw type having four threaded and four plain sectors. It is operated by a handle which swings from left to right turning and withdrawing the breech with one motion. An extractor is fitted for throwing out the shell case when the breech is opened after firing.
The firing mechanism is of the type known as a continuous pull mechanism, that is, the mechanism is cocked and fired by the pull on the lanyard or by downward pressure on the firing handle located at the right side of the breech.
The recoil system is of the hydro-spring type.
The two parallel steel tubes (the spring cylinders) are fitted into a frame surmounted by heavy steel rails which form the gun slides thus forming the cradle. The recoil cylinder is fitted between these two.
The recoil and counter-recoil piston rods are attached to the gun lug and recoil with the gun, while the spring cylinders and recoil cylinder remain stationary.
The recoil is constant, being 70 inches for all elevations. The recoil cylinder uses hydroline oil as the buffer medium. Throttling is obtained by three throttling bars running lengthwise of the cylinder which are of varying height to give a throttling effect with corresponding slots in the recoil piston. A counter-recoil buffer is fitted in the piston rod to take up the shock when the springs return the gun into battery.
The trunnions on the cradle are mounted in bearings formed by a yoke which swivels in a pintle bearing provided at the front of the trail.
Traverse is obtained by means of a handwheel and screw mounted on the left side of the trail which swings the yoke in traverse carrying the gun with it. A traverse of 70 mils on each side of center is possible.
The piece is elevated by a double screw type of mechanism. The upper end is attached to the cradle and so raises and lowers it. The screw is operated thru gearing by two handwheels one on each side of the trail from 5° elevation dep. to 15° elevation.
The trail is of the solid type made up of flasks of channel section. It has housings for the axle and carries the pintle bearing in which the top carriage or yoke swings. A tool box is provided in the trail. A seat is provided on each side of the trail for the cannoneers. The lunette transom is fitted about 27 inches from the rear of the trail and carries a bearing that fits the limber pintle.
A trail prop is provided for supporting the trail when limbering.
The spade can be released and folded up on the trail when traveling.
A traveling lock is provided on the trail for locking the gun when traveling. The piston rod and spring rods must be disconnected before the gun can be drawn back far enough to lock.
The wheels are 61 × 6 inch with rubber tires and band brakes. Some older vehicles have steel tires and are fitted with tire brakes.
An armor plate shield is fitted to the carriage for the protection of the personnel.
The instruments for sighting and laying the piece included a line sight, a rear sight, a front sight, a panoramic sight and a range quadrant.
The line sight consists of a conical point as a front sight and a V notch as a rear sight. These are located on the Jacket of the gun, and are useful for giving a general direction to the gun.
4.7” Rifle
The sighting is similar to the 3”, 1902.
The rear sight and front sight are used for direct aiming. The rear sight is a peep sight mounted on a range scale quadrant by a bracket on right side of the cradle. The front sight is a pair of cross wires mounted in a ring attached by a bracket on the cradle about 3 ft. ahead of the rear sight.
The range scale quadrant has a socket in which the Standard U. S. Panoramic sight may be mounted.
For indirect fire the gunner on the left of the carriage lays for direction only.
On the right side of the cradle is mounted the Range Quadrant which has in combination with it the Angle of Site Mechanism. For indirect fire the gunner on the right of the piece lays for range with this instrument.
Fixed ammunition is used with this gun. Shrapnel and high explosive shell are used. The base fuzed steel shell and the shrapnel weigh 60 lbs. The point fuzed steel shell weighs 45 lbs. Gas shell are also issued identical with the 45 lb. steel shell.
CHAPTER X
THE 155-MM FILLOUX GUN.
| WEIGHTS, DIMENSIONS, ETC. | |
| Weight of Gun including breech mechanism | 8,795 lbs. |
| Length | 232.87 inches. |
| Caliber | 155-mm (6.1042 inches.) |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,380 ft.-sec. |
| Rifling, one turn in 2.989. Caliber, right hand uniform. | |
| Weight of projectile | 95 lbs. |
| Maximum range | 16,200 meters. |
| Weight of maximum powder charge | 25¼ lbs. |
| Weight of carriage | 11,065 lbs. |
| Weight of gun and carriage, complete | 19,860 lbs. |
| Diameter of wheels | 1,160mm. |
| Width of track | 2,250 mm. |
| Height of axis of gun | 1,482 mm. |
| Elevation | 0 to 35 degrees. |
| Maximum traverse | 60 degrees. |
| Weight of limber complete | 3,190 lbs. |
| Weight of gun carriage and limber | 23,050 lbs. |
| The distance from center line of carriage axle to center line of limber axle, approximately | 4,500 mm. |
155 M.M. GUN MODEL OF 1918 (FILLOUX)
The gun is of the built-up type and consists of the tube strengthened by the following jackets and hoops beginning at the breech end: The breech ring, the jacket, the hoop A, the hoop B, the clip hoop, the clip hoop set on the hoop B and the muzzle bell. The length of the gun from the muzzle to the breech base is approximately 18½ feet.
A recoil lug on the underside of the breech ring provides means of attaching the recoil and recuperator rods. Hinge lugs for the breech are also formed on the breech ring. Bronze clips to serve as guides in the cradle are screwed to the sides of the jackets.
The breechblock is of the interrupted screw type, having four plain and four threaded sectors. The breech mechanism is of the plastic obturator type, having the forward mushroom-shaped head of the breechblock equipped with the asbestos ring, known as the obturator pad. Upon firing, this ring is compressed and acts as a gas check to prevent the leakage of powder gases back through the breech. It has sufficient resiliency to resume its original form after firing. The firing mechanism is of the French percussion primer type which is described under “155-mm Schneider howitzer” and is interchangeable with the guns enumerated therein.
The cradle is a steel forging pivoted by trunnions in the trunnion bearings of the top carriage. It is bored with three parallel cylinders for housing the recoil and recuperator mechanism. On its upper side are slots for the gun slides and the elevating rack is bolted to the lower side.
The recoil mechanism is of the hydro-pneumatic variable recoil type. The larger of the three cylindrical bores in the cradle block contains the recoil mechanism; the two smaller ones, the parts of the recuperator mechanism.
155 MM GUN CARRIAGE MODEL OF 1918 (FILLOUX)
LONGITUDINAL SECTION IN BATTERY
The recoil mechanism consists of a piston and piston rod and a counter rod. The piston rod is connected to the breech lug and, therefore, recoils with the gun. Grooves of variable depth are milled along the length of the counter rod, controlling the flow of oil through the ports of the piston during the recoil. This counter rod assembles within the bore of the piston rod. It does not move longitudinally, but rotates. The amount of this rotation changes the area of the orifices through which the oil can pass. Its rotation is accomplished as the gun is elevated by means of an arm and gear sectors in such a manner as to shorten the recoil as the gun elevates.
A replenisher or gravity tank is provided in connection with the recoil cylinder which assures the recoil cylinder being full at all times and also takes care of any expansion of the oil due to heating. Its capacity is about 17 quarts.
The recuperator mechanism consists of two connected cylinders, one containing the piston and piston rod which are attached to the breech lug, while the other contains a mushroom valve and a diaphragm. The diaphragm separates the oil contained in the first cylinder and part of the second cylinder from the high pressure air which compels the return of the gun into battery after recoil. Normally a small amount of oil must be between the valve and diaphragm. Oleonapth is the liquid used in this recoil mechanism. The amount of oil in the recoil and recuperator mechanism is shown by an indicator so that it can always be seen whether or not they need filling.
The top carriage is a large steel casting mounted on the bottom carriage on which it pivots to traverse the piece.
The handwheels and mechanism for both elevating and traversing, are mounted on the top carriage. The tipping parts are carried on the trunnions of the top carriage.
Belleville Springs carry the weight of the gun when traversing, but on firing the springs compress and the firing stresses are taken on the bearing surfaces between the top and bottom carriages.
The bottom carriage is a large steel casting suspended from the axle (in traveling position) by a heavy multiple leaf spring. It supports the top carriage, houses the axle and provides hinge connections for the trail. When firing the axle is unshackled from the left spring and the bottom carriage bears directly on the axle.
Traversing is accomplished by turning the top carriage which pivots on the bottom carriage. This is done by means of a rack and train of gears which are operated by the handwheel on the left side of the carriage. A traverse of 60 degrees, 30 degrees right and 30 degrees left, is possible.
Elevating is accomplished by a rack on the cradle operated through gears by the handwheel located on the gear box at the left of the top carriage. Elevations from 0 degrees to 35 degrees can be obtained.
The trail is of the split type and consists of steel plate beams of box section. Locks are pivoted at the forward end of the trails for securing them in the open position. When closed together they are clamped and attached to the limber. A traveling lock is provided on the trail for retaining the gun in retracted position.
Two types of spade are pivoted, one for soft and one for hard ground. When traveling the spades are always removed from the trail.
The wheels are of cast steel, each wheel having two solid rubber tires.
Wheel shoes for traveling over soft ground are provided, which assemble over the rubber tires. They consist of twelve plates for each wheel which give a broad bearing surface under the wheel. The wheels are equipped with band brakes.
The sighting equipment is exactly the same as that described with the 155-mm Schneider howitzer.
The ammunition used is of the separate loading type. Either shrapnel or high explosive steel shell is used, as well as gas shells and other special ammunition. The projectile weighs 95 lbs. The propelling charge of smokeless powder is a sectionalized charge made up of two sections; a base charge and one smaller increment. The weight of the charge is 25 lbs.
The fuzes commonly used are the 31 sec. combination fuse for use with shrapnel and combining time and percussion elements: the point detonating fuse Mark IV used with the steel high explosive shell and the mark III point detonating fuze used with gas shell.
155-MM. HOWITZER CARRIAGE, MODEL OF 1918 (SCHNEIDER). TRAVELING POSITION.
155-MM. HOWITZER CARRIAGE, MODEL OF 1918 (SCHNEIDER). RIGHT SIDE VIEW.