159 
THE FRENCH FIELD GUNS. 
(Accompanied by a Table of the 'Field Guns of the principal Furopean Powers.) 
EXTRACTED PROM 
“THE FIELD ARTILLERY OF AUSTRIA, GERMANY, RUSSIA, ITALY, AND FRANCE,” 
BY 
CAPTAIN BECKERHXNN. 
The French field guns now in course of issue are of the following 
calibres—viz., 80, 90, and 95 millimetres (3*15, 3*54, 3*74 ins. respec¬ 
tively) . 
The Refiye guns of 5 and 7, and the mitrailleuses, will be gradually 
withdrawn from the service. 
The carriages, limbers, and wagons of the new guns are of iron. For 
the present the old 12-pr. limber and wagon is in use with the 95 Inm 
gun. 
The 80 mm and 90 mm are for field battery service, the 95 mm gun being 
intended for field batteries of position. 
The 80 mm gun is also being issued to the horse artillery. 
The barrels of these guns are steel. They consist of an inner tube 
and of six bands of wrought-iron, strengthening the rear end of the 
inner tube. 
There is a small swell at the muzzle. Of the six bands, that nearest 
the muzzle is of the least diameter, the next four are equal in diameter, 
and that in rear of the greatest diameter; the second band carries the 
cylindrical trunnions. 
The bore consists of the rifled portion [A), the shot seat (2?), the 
conical part (C), the cartridge seat (2>), the conical seat of the gas- 
check arrangement (E), and the seat of the breech-closer ( F ). 
The diameter of the rifled portion of the bore is of the dimensions 
(measured from land to land) by which the guns are respectively 
known—viz., 80 mm , 90 mm , and 95 mm . The 80 mm gun has 24 grooves, 
the 90 mm and 95 mm having 28. 
The rifling of the 80 mm and 90 mm is from left to right, and that of the 
95 mm from right to left, the twist being progressive. The seat of the 
shot is slightly coned. The cone connecting the seats of the shot and 
of the cartridge is more abrupt. The seat of the cartridge is a smooth 
cylindrical space, that of the gas-check is slightly coned. The vent 
communicates perpendicularly with the centre of the cartridge. 
The seat of the breech-closing arrangement (F) is provided with 
sharp, strong screw-threads (female), interrupted in three places. 
There is a conical enlargement to the rear of it. At the rear of the 
tube is the breech-door, working on a hinge, the bolt (n) which holds 
this door fast, and a safety arrangement (o) which ensures the tight 
closing of the breech. 
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