Handbook for Light Artillery

by A. B. Dyer

OPERATION OF THE MECHANISM.

Cocking the Lock.—As the lock is brought away from the breech, by the action of the crank, the connecting-rod throws down the hammer, thereby pulling back the firing-pin and compressing the mainspring, which causes the short arm of the trigger to engage under the lug of the hammer, and thus the lock is cocked and cannot act until the trigger is pulled clear of the lug on the hammer. The safety-sear, V, pressed down by a small spring, engages in the upper part of the firing-pin as it is drawn back by the action of the hammer; the firing-pin cannot move forward until this sear is raised; this is done by the connecting-rod, after it rises above the horizontal, thereby securely closing the breech with the lock.

Operation in Firing.—In starting the gun the breech mechanism is operated by hand to insert the first cartridge in the barrel. The gun is then fired by pressing the firing-button. On the explosion of the cartridge the barrel and the gear connected therewith recoil about the distance of one inch. During the recoil the crank-arm comes in contact with the resistance-piece, K, and throws over the crank, bringing the end of the crank-handle onto the spring-buffer. The curve on the crank-arm is so arranged that the crank gets an accelerated movement by which the lock is thrown back clear of the breech and far enough for the carrier to extract the empty case from the chamber and a cartridge from the belt.

The turning of the crank winds the chain attached to the spiral spring round the fusee, thus extending the spring. As the lock goes backwards the carrier is pressed down by its spring, and when in its lowest position the new cartridge is opposite the barrel and the empty case opposite the ejecting-tube.

The action of the spiral spring now brings back the barrel and its extension to their normal position; it also unwinds the chain from the fusee, thus turning the crank to its normal position, which throws the lock forward; as the lock moves forward it pushes the new cartridge into the barrel and the empty case into the ejecting-tube, Q.

During the last one sixteenth of an inch of the forward travel of the lock the carrier is raised by the carrier-levers, which are actuated by the lugs on the fore end of the connecting-rod, and when it arrives at its highest position it is held by a spring.

CARRYING AMMUNITION.

Belts, each holding 350 rounds, are carried in boxes for which there are receptacles on the different carriages. From four to six belts may be carried with each gun. In preparing the belts the cartridges are pushed in until about ⅛ inch of the brass case of the cartridge comes through the belt, or until the ends of the bullets come in line with the ends of the projecting brass strips.

TO LOAD AND FIRE.

Pass the end of the belt through the feed-box from right to left, seize it as it comes through with the left hand, and turn the crank-handle forward with the right hand as far as the spring-buffer; hold it in that position until the belt has been pulled through as far as it will go, and then let the crank-handle return to the firing position of its own accord. Repeat the operation just described. Now press the double button and firing commences.