NEW FIELD CARRIAGE (IRON) FOR LONG-RANGE GUNS. 
301 
tive study of tlie different parts of those already existing. To facilitate 
this, a table, 0,* has been formed, showing the principal dimensions of 
carriages, both Russian and foreign. 
This table shows that all the new carriages are sensibly shorter than 
ours. 
Because, then, it is possible to construct a new carriage shorter than 
the present ones, we can profit by this fact to lessen the weight thereby. 
We can also make a reduction of weight by replacing the angle- 
irons by a flange bent oyer on the brackets of the trail itself—a method 
which ensures sufficient strength in the brackets in a much more certain 
way than the employment of angle-irons. Brackets thus constructed 
cannot in reality be made of metal of bad quality, because good iron 
alone can stand the test of manufacture; and as they are formed of one 
single piece, they offer greater certainty of the necessary solidity than 
do those into whose construction angle-irons enter. With these latter, 
one has always to fear the flying out of one or two rivets, which at once 
lessens the strength. This accident cannot happen with bent-over 
brackets. 
The only inconvenience which these latter present consists in the 
difficulty of procuring them. In Prussia, all the carriages are made in 
the State arsenals, and the brackets are furnished by Krupp, who 
makes a great secret of his method of compressing the steel for them. 
In Austria, they have had to give up the employment of bent-over 
brackets, on account of difficulties of manufacture. In Russia, the 
solution of this question has also presented some very great difficulties; 
but, thanks to the activity of the Golonbieff factory, we have 
succeeded in preparing the formers, and in discovering the qualities 
of iron capable of being subjected to the process; so that the question 
of bending over the edges of iron brackets may be regarded at the 
present time as being finally settled in Russia. 
We must also direct our attention to the means of securing the rigid 
connection of the brackets to each other. 
In the present Russian carriages this connection is obtained by 
means of tie-bolts furnished with nuts. This method of connection gives 
truly the possibility of rapidly taking the carriages to pieces, but pre¬ 
sents also, precisely for this reason, a great inconvenience; in travelling*, 
the nuts, &c., shake loose, from the jolting, so that the two brackets 
do not always form parts of a rigid system. This could not happen 
if they were united by transoms. 
Thus, in the new carriage, the connection is not only made by collar 
bolts but also by transoms. These latter are placed obliquely with 
regard to the edges of the brackets, in place of being normal to them, 
as in the carriages of the other powers. This disposition still further 
strengthens the connection, the obliquity of the transoms opposing all 
lateral bending of the carriage. 
To avoid excessive weight in the construction of the new carriage, 
the brackets are made to converge towards their end. This permits of 
* It Las not been considered worth while to insert this table. It would only be practically useful 
to a manufacturer. The reader is referred to “ Revue d’Artillerie ” of August 1877.—Tb. 
