NOMENCLATURE.
A. Ammunition-scuttle.
B. Starting-bar for revolving turret and training gun.
C. Shaft on which turret revolves.
D. Travelling-bar on which moves the shell-whip.
E. Position of Engineer stationed at bar to revolve turret and train guns.
F. Compressor-wheel to check recoil, hove taut before firing.
G. Crank for running gun in and out.
H. Smoke-box of XV-inch (Passaic class).
O. Officer at sight-hole.
P. Port-hole.
R. Port-stopper.
S. Sight-hole.
416. In the Passaic class the ports for the XV-in. gun are only of sufficient dimensions to allow the passage of the shot at such elevations and depressions as were judged necessary: the gun being fired entirely within the turret. In order to protect the crew of the gun from the blast of the explosion, the smoke-box was devised, which to a certain extent accomplished the desired object, but at the expense of rapidity of loading.
417. In designing the Tecumseh class it was decided to enlarge the port, so as to allow the face of the muzzle to run out flush with the exterior of the turret. The gun was therefore lengthened sixteen (16) inches, and the muzzle turned down to the minimum size.
418. The contracted space within the turret rendered it necessary to introduce additional mechanical aids in lieu of manual labor in running out, loading, and checking the recoil.
D. Van Nostrand Publisher. Julius Bien, pr.
419. The exercise therefore conforms to the established exercise for great guns only as far as circumstances will admit.
The gun is supposed to be run in, and not loaded.