308 
NEW FIELD CARRIAGE (IRON) EOR LONG-RANGE GUNS. 
two bolts, h h , which pass through the third transom and also through 
an iron plate. Between these latter is placed the buffer, composed of 
7 plates of cork (or india-rubber) between 2 plates of oak. Nuts, 
screwed on to the ends of the bolts which pass through the iron plate, 
cause, by compressing the buffer, a pull on the frame towards the 
transom. At rest, the axletree and movable collar-bolt should both 
lie, for this reason, against the rear end of their seats. To prevent the 
nuts unscrewing, they are fixed by a double iron key, which does not 
allow them to turn, and is held in its place by a peg fixed in the 
compression plate. 
The cork, before being used for the buffer, ought first to be boiled in 
a mixture of three parts (by volume) of water and one of honey, then 
submitted to a pressure sufficient to reduce its thickness 20 per cent, 
and then coated with soap.* To make the buffer, there are placed 
three times in succession two thicknesses of pressed cork and one plate 
of iron, and then a seventh thickness of cork; further, it is necessary 
that the iron plates should overlap the edges of the cork about *1 in., so 
that pieces of the latter should not become detached. The buffer thus 
formed has a thickness of about 7’1 ins. between the plates; the pres¬ 
sure of the compressing screws brings this down to from 3*35 ins. 
to 3*55 ins. Now the buffer is ready to act. 
In firing, it is necessary to watch that the elasticity of the buffer does 
not diminish, and for this purpose to take note of the movement of the 
axletree in its guide straps. The extent of this movement should not 
exceed 2 ins. 
The wheels of this carriage are of the old pattern; but the nave has 
been a little shortened, and has been furnished with a cylindrical pipe- 
box which projects slightly beyond it, and is arranged so as to give a 
close fit at the end of the axletree-arm. 
The axletree and the tie-bars serve as supports for two seats for 
gunners, and are provided with hinged foot-rests. Each seat is placed 
on three springs formed, like the buffer, of alternate plates of cork and 
iron, placed in an iron cylinder. A bolt passes down the axis of the 
cork, and through the bottom of the cylinder. 
The two front supports are fixed on the axletree, and the rear one 
on the tie-bar. The rear support of the off seat is ended below by a 
hook for the gun-bucket. 
In firing, the trail begins to recoil sooner than the axletree and 
wheels, which only receive a shock already lessened by the compression 
of the buffer. At the end of the recoil, the elasticity of the buffer, 
which re-acts on the compression plate, causes the movable frame to 
come back to its first position. 
Thanks to this arrangement, the axletree lasts well, and the general 
elasticity of the system is greatly increased. This in a very remark¬ 
able degree lessens the destructive effects of the recoil of the gun upon 
the carriage. 
The new carriage allows of an angle of elevation of 20°. 
* At the end of a certain number of rounds (about 1000) the:cork loses its elasticity. It, however, 
can be renewed by boiling it again in the composition. The author says that cork has been re¬ 
placed by india-rubber ,* he does not say anything of its behaviour.— Te. 
