CARRIAGES.
Naval gun-carriages are built of plate-iron, although there are still a few wooden carriages and slides for pivot-guns. Breechings are used with broadside-carriages, except in the directing-bar type.
Boat-Carriages.
As yet the designs for an iron boat-carriage for the breech-loading gun are not finished. The wooden carriage in use consists of a double wooden slide, the bed, or lower slide, having pivot-centres in front and rear and being slotted through the centre for the compressor. The upper slide traverses freely on the lower one, having a piece projecting from its lower face into the slot in the lower slide to act as a guide. A second heavy piece, used as a compressor, travels along the lower face of the slot, and is held in position by screw-handles working on threaded shafts which are tightened or loosened readily by hand. The upper slide holds the trunnion-rests, which are made in a single casting with a bottom plate to bolt on the slide.
Wooden Boat-Carriage.
Field-Carriages.
