515 
DESCRIPTION OE THE 1-in. TORPEDO BATTERY 
GUN, 
BY 
CAPT. E. BAINBRIDGE, R.A. 
Barrels —The barrels, made of the best cast steel, and four in number, 
are placed horizontally side by side, and run parallel. They are pro¬ 
vided with chambers to take the cartridges as described below, and 
are rifled according to the Henry system. 
Length of barrel . 38Tins. 
Weight of barrel . 31 lb. 
Mechanism. —The whole function of the gun is derived from a lever 
which moves sideways. As soon as the lever is drawn back, the springs 
are held fast and a layer of cartridges falls out of their feed-case into 
the right position. 
1. In pushing the lever gradually forward every cartridge is first 
brought exactly in the direction of the rear of the chamber ; secondly , 
they enter the chamber, and the breech-block is pressed firmly against 
the bottom of the cartridge; thirdly , the recoil bolts are pressed into 
the sides of the frame; fourthly , the extractors are made to catch the 
rims of the cartridges; fifthly , the compressed spiral springs are released 
one after the other (or, if necessary, for volley firing, immediately one 
after the other), so that the pins strike the percussion cap and fire the 
four cartridges. 
2. In drawing back the lever into its first position, the recoil bolts 
are first brought away from the sides of the frame ; secondly , the empty 
cartridge cases are taken out (all four at the same time); thirdly , these 
empty cases are released by the extractors, so that they fall out \ 
fourthly , the carrier is brought directly under the cartridge cham¬ 
bers of the feed, so that four fresh cartridges fall in; fifthly, when 
the lever is drawn back as far as possible, it again compresses the 
