BAPID-FIBE GUNS. 708 RAPID-riRE GUNS. operated by a single throw of a lever or crank; mechanisms; Austria uses Skoda and Krupp usescither fixed or separate ammunition, but, mechanisms; the Nordenfeldt (except the Maxira- when usins the latter, requires the powder charge Nordenfeldt) is not much used in any naval to b""n,t up in a metallic cartridge case." (b) service, and the Bofors is found chiefly in the "A quick-fire gun is one that has a quick-working system of breech closure, operated by a single throw of a lever or crank, is fitted with an auto- matic lock, and uses separate amnumition with FLETCHER BAPID-PIRE BKEECH MECHANISM.— END VIEW. the powder charge put up in a cartridge bag." These definitions are purely arbitrary, are used only in the United States Navy, and were decided upon solely as a matter of convenience. There was no hesitation in adopting the terms, as the nomenclature of rapid-firing weajjons was in so chaotic a state that any authoritative change was an improvement. The terms rapid-fire in the United States and quick-fire in England had hitherto lieen synonymous. The best-known and most widely used systems of rapid-firing breech mechanism are the Fletcher, FLETCHER RAPID-FIRE BREECH MECHANISM. — HORIZONTAL SECTION. 1, Breech plug; 2, rotating rack to revolve plug; 4, hinge plate ; 6. carrier ring supiHirtiiiK plug; 7, hinge bolt; 9, operating lever; lU, operating lever handle; 11. oper- ating lever worm to revolve plug ; 12, operating lever teeth to retract plug ; 13. e.Ttractor ; 14, extractor pivot ; 15'and 8, spring locks to hold pins in place ; 16, automatic locking bolt to hold plug in place ; 17. pivot of locking b.olt; 18. locking lever operating locking bolt; 19, pivot of locking lever; 20, locking lever spring: 22. locking bolt recess; 23. steel case inclosing flring-pin ; 24. electric fir- ing-pin (insulated— note heavy black lines); 26, electric firing-pin springs for insuring contact; 29 to :34. electric attachment lug for attaching wire from battery or dy- namo. navies of Norivay, Sweden, and Denmark. The best speed of firing of guns of different calibres is about as follows: 13.5-inch, 2 minutes; 13-inch, 2 minutes; 12-inch, 1 minute and 30 seconds; 11-ineh, 1 minute; 10-inch, 1 minute; 9.2-inch, 25 seconds; 8.3-inch, 20 seconds; 8-inch, 10 sec- FLETCHER KAPID-FIRE BREECH MECHANISM.— VERTICAL SEC- TION. Dashiell. Hotchkiss, Driggs-Sehroeder. Vickers- Maxim, Canet, Alrmstrong, Krupp, Skoda, Norden- feldt, and Bofors. The first five kinds are used in the United States Navy ; in England the Vickers- Maxim and Armstrong are chiefly used; in France the Canet and modifications of it and of other types are used: in Germany the guns are of Krupp model; in Russia various types have been used, but nearly all new guns have Canet DRIQQ8-SCHROEDER RAPID-PIRE GUN, LATEST MODEL, AMER- ICAN ORDNANCE COMPANY TYPE. A, breech block ; B, bore of gun;C, housing of breech; D, main shaft ; E, operating cam ; F, sear ; G, sear spring; H, flring-pin; J, mainspring. onds; 6-ineh, 7 seconds; 5.5-inch, 7 seconds; 5-inch. 5 seconds; 4-inch, 4 seconds; 3-inch, 3.5 seconds; 2.24-inch (6-pounder), 3 seconds; 1.8-inch (3-pounder), in automatic 3-pounder, 1 second; 1.4-inch (1-pounder), in Maxim 1- pounder automatic gun, about 200 rounds per
