It has no special cooling system or device, the barrel merely being exposed to the air and the hand of the firer being protected on the under side of the barrel by a large wooden forearm. Since the barrel soon becomes very hot, care must be taken to avoid touching it during firing or for five or ten minutes thereafter.
CHAPTER XVII.
MOTORS.
RECONNAISSANCE CAR.
The reconnaissance car as supplied to regiments of 155-mm howitzers, motorized, consists of two units: Reconnaissance body, model 1918; 1-ton truck chassis, White, T E B-0.
Further information concerning these units will be found in Ordnance Handbooks “Reconnaissance Body, Model 1918;” “1-Ton Truck Chassis White, T E B-0” (No. 1972).
Weights and Dimensions.
| Rated load capacity (body allowance plus normal load) | 1 ton—1,040 kg. |
| Body weight allowance | 1,500 lb.—862 kg. |
| Chassis only | 3,850 lb.—1,750 kg. |
| Oil, water and gasoline | 190 lb.—86.5 kg. |
| Chains | 69 lb.—31.5 kg. |
| Tool kit | 37 lb.—16.8 kg. |
| Chassis weight on front tires (without load) | 54%. |
| Chassis weight on rear tires (without load) | 46%. |
| Gross weight (capacity load) | 7,150 lb.—3,250 kg. |
| Load weight on front tires | 0.78%. |
| Load weight on rear tires | 99.22%. |
| Gross weight on front tires | 27%. |
| Gross weight on rear tires | 73%. |
| Overall length of chassis (without body) | 205 in.—5,220-mm. |
| Overall width of chassis (at widest part) | 61 in.—1,550-mm. |
| Chassis wheel base | 140 in.—3,560-mm. |
| Permissible loading space back of driver’s seat | 97 in.—2,470-mm. |
| Width of frame (outside dimension, widest part) | 34 in.—865-mm. |
| Height of rear end of frame from ground (empty) | 33.75 in.—856-mm. |
| Diameter of turning circle (right) | 60 ft.—18.3 meters |
| (left) | 45 ft.—13.7 meters. |
| Tread of wheels | 56 in.—1,422-mm. |
| Road clearance under front axle (lowest point) | 10.75 in.—273-mm. |
| Road clearance under rear axle (lowest point) | 10 in.—254-mm. |
| Length of reconnaissance body, overall | 160 in.—4,072-mm. |
| Width of body | 59.875 in.—1,522-mm. |
| Height of body, overall (including top) | 62.125 in.—1,580-mm. |
| Weight of body (without equipment) | 1,180 lbs.—536 kg. |
Brief Description.
The reconnaissance car is provided with a special steel body, mounted on a 1-ton truck chassis, White Model T E B-0. Four seats are built into the body. The two front seats are placed back to back. The two rear seats have a space between them of about 2 feet and are also placed back to back. There is a compartment between the two pairs of seats. The floor boards at the back end are extended to form a foot rest for the rear seat. The car is protected by a canopy top and roll curtains. A full set of tools is carried on the car. Also five chests are provided in which are carried all the special equipment assigned to the car. One chest slides into the body compartment under the rear front seat, one into the compartment between the rear seats, and the other three under the rear seat.
The chassis used is similar to that used with the Staff Observation car on page [95]. A complete description and directions for care, operation, and maintenance are contained in the “Handbook of the Reconnaissance Car, Model of 1918.” Ordnance pamphlet No. 1972.