The howitzer is mounted on a sleigh and rigidly secured by means of a breech key and the holding down band. The sleigh contains the recoil and recuperator mechanisms which permits long recoil and insures stability at low elevations. When the gun is fired the sleigh recoils on bronze slides on the cradle, which is a U-shaped steel plate and rests in the trunnion bearings of the trail.
This howitzer may be elevated from 0 degrees to 42 degrees by means of the elevating mechanism. The traverse is 52.2 mils right and left, the carriage sliding on the axle and pivoting on the spade, which prevents the carriage recoiling when the gun is fired. The customary shield protects the gunners from flying shrapnel and fragments.
155 M.M. HOWITZER
MODEL OF 1918
(SCHNEIDER)
In traveling position the howitzer is retracted and locked to the cradle, the cradle locked to the trail, the spade revolved and secured to the bottom of the trail. The lower end of trail rests on the carriage limber, which is used to carry the proportionate share of the load of the howitzer and carriage in traveling position. The limber is equipped with a connecting pole for motor traction. The carriage and limber wheels are rubber tired and considered able to negotiate any roads suitable for field artillery.
Howitzer Description.
The howitzer, consists of a tube and jacket. The jacket is shrunk over, approximately, the rear half of the tube and screwed to it by a short thread near the rear end of the tube. The rear end of the tube is prepared for the reception of the breechblock. On the right of the jacket at its rear are two lugs which receive the hinge pintle of the operation lever. A flat seat with two transverse slots is machined on the top of the jacket at the rear end for receiving the counterweight. The counterweight is securely fastened to the jacket by six screws, and two lugs which engage the slots in the jacket. The bridle is fitted to the underside of the jacket near the rear end and held in place by four screws. The breech key passes through the bridle and holds the howitzer in its seat on the sleigh. On the underside of the jacket just forward of the bridle seat are seven square threads which engage corresponding threads on the sleigh. A holding-down band which encircles the jacket at its forward end also secures the howitzer to the sleigh.
On the top surface of the counterweight are two nickel silver leveling plates.
Vertical and horizontal axis lines are cut on the breech and muzzle faces. A line showing the actual center of gravity with the breech mechanism in place is cut on the upper side of the jacket marked C. of G. The name and model of the howitzer are stamped on the left side of the jacket just below the counterweight. The name of the manufacturer, year of manufacture, serial number of the howitzer and the weight of the howitzer, including the breech mechanism, are stamped on the muzzle face.
