Navies of the world

by Edward W. Very

The friction primer consists of two quill tubes, the lower and larger one being filled with fine musket powder, the bottom being sealed with wax. The upper is filled with fulminating composition, and has passing through its centre a brass friction-wire corrugated along its length. The exterior of the wire is formed in a loop for hooking on the firing laniard. The upper part of the primer is closed by a block of wood forming a fairleader for the friction-wire. A small independent loop is attached to the head of the primer, by which it may be withdrawn from the vent without touching the friction-wire.

SIGHTS.

The sights used in the French Navy are all side-sights, and for the most part the tangent-sights are inclined at a permanent angle.

The front-sights are conical in shape, and are screwed into the rim-bases.

The tangent-sights are square in section, working in boxes screwed to the face of the breech. They are graduated to full and half cable-lengths (200 and 100 metres). As a rule, guns are sighted on the left side, although provision is made for a right tangent and front sight. Sights are graduated on the left side for shell and on the right for shot, the graduations being all carried across the rear face. In general there is a short and a long sight, the long one being used for distances greater than 30 cables (6000 metres).

ACCESSORIES.

The loading-plate is a plate which attaches to the breech of the gun when the breech-block is open; along the bottom of this plate is a groove which forms a prolongation of the bottom groove of the gun (not applicable to model 1870); the projectile being hoisted to the level of the bore is landed on this plate, and is then in position to be rammed home. For small projectiles this plate serves as a shell-bearer for transporting projectiles, being provided with side handles.

The shell is brought to the loading-plate on covered decks by means of a tackle appended to a roller working on a traveller. The projectile being hoisted from the deck is pushed along on the traveller to the plate. In turrets the projectile is hoisted and swung by means of a davit.

The passing-box for the cartridge is made of leather with an ordinary close leather cover.

The rammer and sponge are of the old-fashioned type.