PLATES, or prise plates, in artillery, two plates of iron on the cheeks of a gun-carriage, from the cap-square to the centre, through which the prise bolts go, and on which the handspike rest, when used in raising the breech of the gun, &c.
Breast Plates, the two plates, on the face of the carriage, on the other cheek.
Breast Plates, the clasps, with ornamented heads, by which the cross belts in the army are attached.
Train Plates, the two plates on the cheeks at the train of the carriage.
Dulidge Plates, the six plates on the wheel of a gun carriage, where the fellies are joined together.
PLATEAU, Fr. A flat piece of wood, which is sometimes used to place mortars on, &c.
PLATEBANDES, Fr. Capsquares. A particular part of a piece of ordnance, which, though of a flat form or figure, rises beyond the rest of the metal, and is always cast before the moulding. There are three sorts of platbands upon a regular piece of ordnance, viz. capsquare and moulding at the breech; capsquare and moulding of the first reinforce; capsquare and moulding of the second reinforce.
Platebandes d’affuts, Fr. Iron capsquares, which serve to keep the trunnions fast between the cheeks of a piece of ordnance.
PLATFORM, (Platforme, Fr.) The upper part of every brick or stone building which is arched and has more floors than one, is so called. Hence the platform of a tower, or of a redoubt. All pieces of ordnance that are planted on a rampart, or are disposed along the lines of a besieging army, &c. have their platforms.
PLATFORM, in gunnery, is a bed of wood on a battery, upon which the guns stand; each consisting of 18 planks of oak or elm, a foot broad, 2¹⁄₂ inches thick, and from 8 to 15 feet long, nailed or pinned on 4, 5, or 6 beams, from 4 to 7 inches square, called sleeper. They must be made higher behind than before by 6 or 9 inches, to prevent too great a recoil, and to advance the gun easily when loaded. They are from 18 to 20 feet long, 8 feet before and 14 or 15 feet behind.