Improvements in Mounting, Protecting, and Working Garrison and Naval Guns.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1888
Specification Accepted, 5th Oct., 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mounting, Protecting, and Working Garrison and
Naval Guns.
I, JACQUES ANTOINE CREUZÉ DE LATOUCHE Civil Engineer, of 21 Rue Royale,
Paris, France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:―
This invention consists of novel modes of installation of artillery in general and
more particularly of guns of small caliber, such as Revolving Cannon, Rapid Firing
Guns, Mitrailleuses and such like, both on land and on board vessels. The objects of
this invention are; to permit guns First: by a rapid movement to protect their
material from the effects of the direct, lateral or vertical fire of attacking
projectiles of any caliber during the interruptions of their own fire. Second: to
return quickly to battery and firing position, maintaining while in this position an
efficacious protection to their personnel and material against the effects of artillery
and musketry fire.
I distinguish two controlling conditions: according as the sweep of fire of a gun is
limited to a determined sector, or as it commands either a large horizontal zone or the
full sweep of the horizon.
FIRST CONDITION. INSTALLATION FOR A LIMITED SWEEP OF FIRE.
The gun, protected by a covering mass (which may be the natural soil if it is mounted
in a trench, or otherwise an ordinary parapet) is mounted on a Pivot Carriage, or on
a Trunnion Fork and Stand secured on the horizontal platform of a Carriage. This
Carriage is mounted upon two or more series of grooved or flanged Rollers, or upon
two or more Slides, Travelling upon the rails or guides of an Elevator which forms a
ramp and which is protected by the covering mass.
The bearing surfaces of the rails or guides may be straight or helicoidal according
to the type of Elevator.

page_text: The Carriage Rollers may be fitted with excentric axles, in such a way as to be in
action only when carrying the Carriage up the ramp, whilst in firing and during
descent it rests on shoes or slides which flange over the rails, increasing the area of
contact surface and substituting sliding for rolling friction.
The Carriage is held at the upper part of the ramp either by Clips or Locks, or by
one or several Interrupted Screws engaging in screw boxes fixed to the Elevator, or
by Friction Brakes. It is necessary in general to give considerable weight to the
Carriage and to ensure its close contact with the Elevator by as large surfaces as
possible during firing.
In the case of the Helicoidal Elevator whose guide rail sides are developed surfaces
of right cylinders with circular bases, the Carriage may be guided by a Connecting
Rod carrying a double Slide travelling on a Shaft fixed in the axial line of the
developing cylinders. The shaft and the Slide Casing may then be provided with
helicoidal guides corresponding to the pitch of the rails.
The Elevator consists either of a dismountable metallic construction upon which
the rails or guides are bolted, or of a solid ramp of concrete or masonry built against
the covering mass and forming part of it, or of a ramp of metal or wood either sei
into the tread of the banquette or not and firmly secured to the covering mass by
strong ties. All these dispositions may be employed either separately or together.
The Support or Mount of the gun may be rigid and suppress the recoil or at least
reduce it to the elastic movement of the elements of its construction as in the
Hotchkiss mount known as the "non-recoil." It may be provided with apparatus for
modifying the recoil permitting a relative displacement of the gun. This apparatus
may be of simple action as in hydraulic or friction brakes, or give an automatic
return to battery by means of springs, bydraulic recoil brakes combined with return
springs either solid of gaseous, hydraulic recoil brakes with gravity return, etc., (as in
the Armstrong and Albini 57 / gun mounts). The Mount of the gun does not alter
in any manner the principle of the installations which form the object of the present
application.
This Mount may carry a Shield which pivots with it and which may form a Shelter
or a complete or partial Turret for the protection of the gun servants against musketry
fire or if necessary against light artillery fire.
A Platform is provided for the gun servants and is arranged at a convenient height,
either on the Carriage or on the Elevator. It may be composed, according to circum-
stances, of one or of several parts which drop and rise to place either automatically or
at will.
To
preserve the material against vertical fire while not in action, the entire
arrangement may be housed in a reverse casemate constructed in the solid parapet or
against a Traverse, if such exists. An armor plate, horizontal or slightly inclined and
entirely masked by the crest of the epaulement, forms a fixed part of a roof and
covers the lower part of the Elevator upon which the Carriage rests during the
interruptions of its fire. A second plate which is movable and similarly masked from
exterior view by the crest of a lodgment worked in the upper face of the parapet, is
carried by rollers or balls on inclined rails or gutter plates which rest, one end on the
parapet and the other on the fixed plate. This movable plate is connected to the
Carriage by Tackles or by chains and Drums or by Differential Purchases, or by any
other mechanical combination rendering their movements simultaneous and regulating
their respective travels in such a way that the two parts form counterpoises, and that
the movable plate shall come to cover the opening left by the platform when the
Carriage descends. This system is put in movement by means either of Winches, or
Gearing upon Racks, or Hydraulic apparatus, or by any other appropriate means.
fixed plate may be replaced by an Arch worked either into the solid parapet or in a
mass of concrete forming a salient traverse on the tread of the parapet and covering
the lower end of the elevator.
The
In case the movable plate is not introduced, the Carriage may be counterpoised by
one or several weights disposed so as to facilitate its movements, which are obtained
by the means above-mentioned.

page_text: The Shelter is surmounted by a very thick plate, generally corresponding to that of
the roof and cut in such a shape as to exactly fit the opening in the roof when the
Carriage is lowered down. To accomplish this, the joining edges of the covering
plate and of the roof are chamfered so as to ensure their close contact by the weight
of the Carriage and other organs attached to it. In the closed position, the well is
entirely protected against vertical fire.
A shield plate is carried by the lower part of the Shelter or by the Carriage which,
when the gun is in the firing position, closes the opening in the roof left free by the
movement of the platform from rear to front.
The carriage may be counterpoised by weights carried by the Elevator and travelling
either vertically or in any other direction: as for example upon a second system of
rails placed parallel to those of the Carriage and beneath them. By means of a con-
necting Whip this counterpoise may be made to travel along the Shaft of the Elevator
which would serve as a guide to it, or be lodged in the interior of the Shaft, assumed
to be hollow and of large diameter.
The movements of the Carriage and of its counterpoise, if there be one, are obtained
by the methods indicated in the first part of this specification.
The Elevator carries one or more brackets either fixed or movable upon which
the gun servants stand during firing. They may be completed by parts fastened
to the Carriage.
The Bearing Rim of the roof may be lodged in a wall of cement or masonry
forming a lining and supporting the front armour, or be held by hollow metal pillars
set into the cement bottom of the well and distributed about its sides; they being
united by an appropriate system of girders and supporting the Bearing Rim of the
roof and the front armor by the interposition of heavy beams buried in the cement
or masonry. With this disposition, the thrust of the earth is slight since it is not
loaded and the revetment of the well may be reduced to that of a wall of slight
thickness.
Where the Elevator Well, by its position is but little exposed to the effects of
vertical fire, I suppress the rotating roof which closes the well and I arrange the gun
or mitrailleuse in a Shelter, armoured all around, which completely protects the two
gun servants against musketry, case shot and burst shells. This disposition is
simpler and more economical than the others as is shown by the accompanying
Figure 14.
The inclined plane, built as a steel frame-work is mounted on a turntable which
pivots on rollers and to which rotation is given by means of a mechanism arranged
under the parapet. A bracket shaped Carriage travels upon the ramp rails and is
provided with a heavy sheet-iron hood having an embrasure ent in its front part for
the chase of the gun and a doorway at the rear side through which the gun servants
may enter. The horizontal aim is given approximately by rotating the turn-table
through the proper angle, and the fine sighting is given with the gun itself.
This disposition is particularly well adapted for the occupation of mountainous
districts, especially narrow commanding ridges from which a considerable horizontal
sweep may be covered.

page_text: replaced by an armor plate cut to fit the opening in the roof; this plate is supported
by posts secured to the Carriage in such a way that it rises up as the Carriage ascends
and shuts down to close the opening made for the gun at the moment when the piece
descends in recoil. The Carriage is however connected with a system of hydro-
pneumatic brakes, or springs or counterpoise weights, storing up the energy developed
by the recoil and descent of the system, to be utilised in bringing the gun back into
battery and in lifting the movable part of the roof. The gun is loaded either by hand
or by means of mechanical appliances in a gallery completely protected against pro-
jectile effects. In its loading position the gun is given the angle of elevation
corresponding to the range of the target, and the direction by means of a graduated
are let into the ceiling of the Well and upon which travels a vernier connected with
the movable system, bottom and roof plates, elevator and accumulator brakes. This
done, the holding catches of the gun carriage which keep it in position, are let go,
the system, (springs, hydropneumatic accumulator or counterpoise weights) which
has stored up sufficient energy in recoil to carry the gun back to battery, is put in
action; the movable part of the roof is lifted up, the piece comes into battery
completely aimed, it is fired automatically or at will and immediately disappears.
This application of my system thus constituting an arrangement corresponding at the
same time with the closed turret and the Eclipse Carriage, appears susceptible of
numerous applications.
One of the characteristic features of the above-described system consists in that
only so much of the eclipsing armor is raised as is strictly necessary for working and
firing the gun, and in substituting a Turntable for the complete turret, covered by the
protecting plate, this plate completing the protection both in the firing and the loading
positions. This disposition may be applied with any system of Elevator and offers
special advantages over ordinary turrets, in the economy of weight to be moved.
I therefore claim this arrangement whatever be the method employed for obtaining
the eclipse of the protecting plate and the caliber and type of the guns mounted in
this protection.
APPLICATION OF THE ARMORED WELL WITH MOVABLE ROOF TO THE INSTALLATION
OF MORTARS, OR HOWITZERS WITH HIGH ANGLE FIRE.
I furthermore apply my system of Armored Well with Turntable and movable
Roof to the protection of batteries of breech loading Mortars and Howitzers destined
to give high angle fire all around the horizon.
For this particular application, I have devised the following arrangement: the
pivoting armor plate (Figs. 16 and 17 A B; A¹ B :) which covers the Well, has cut
through it the rectangular opening CDEF. The armored Carriage and the Elevator
heretofore described are replaced by a circular disc of a thickness sufficient to contain
the mortar or howitzer mounted in its axial diameter. The rectangular section of this
dise GF, G H¹, is exactly equal to that of the opening in the armoured roof, within
which it may turn freely whilst constantly sealing it hermetically.
This movable disc may be solid or hollow and be constructed independently of the
gun, which may be inserted and adjusted afterwards. In certain cases it may also be
made in one with the mortar. The mortar, in this case, would consist of a bore cut
directly in the mass of the disc itself and to which a special breech piece I would be
adapted, opening and closing without difficulty. This disc, whatever its special
construction carries two heavy trunnions perpendicular to its two faces, revolving in
trunnion boxes which are rigidly secured to the armour plate. These boxes may be
arranged in different manners depending on the caliber and weight of the gun.
1st. For light or small calibered guns, they may be secured in lodgements worked
each side of the rectangular opening C, D, E, F in K and K in the thickness of the
armour plate itself. 2nd. For large calibered pieces in which the percussive effects
would be very violent, the lower part of each trunnion box (Fig. 18 J) is mounted
under the lower surface of the armour plate A, from which it is separated by two teak
chocks; beneath this trunnion box is inserted a spring L or a mass of elastic material

page_text: resting on a heavy base 0; the ends of the trunnion box J, of the Spring L and of
the base O are secured to the roof plate A by heavy bolts P which unite them in a
rigid system. The vertical shock transmitted by the trunnions to the two boxes is
thus partially neutralised by the springs which transmit it to the entire mass of the
armour plate through the vertical bolts. In order to modify the reaction of the
circular racer upon which the roof plate revolves, this racer rests upon a teak backing
and if necessary upon a series of springs appropriately disposed.
The horizontal component of the recoil will be absorbed by the mass of the system
in the case of guns of small caliber. With pieces of large caliber a system of elastic
chocks is interposed between the plate and the front armour.
The vertical angle of fire is given to the mortar by means of a ratchet lever or an
endless screw gearing into an arc fixed to the pivotting disc or by any other
appropriate means. The azimuth is given by means of a rotating mechanism which
may revolve the entire system through 360° or revolve the roof plate alone. The
lower pivotting plate may in fact be rigidly connected with the roof plate by a vertical
frame work PQ, P' Q' built with stout metal stanchions, between which the disc GH
The movement of the lower plate which determines the azimuth of the piece
moves.
is then in one with that of the bottom pivot plate.
The Well and the gallery may be lighted internally by electric incandescent lamps,
whose conductors are carefully buried in the coment forming the walls; or by any other
suitable means.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 represent an Elevator with a straight ramp arranged parallel to the
parapet. Figs. 2 and 3 are both plan views of Fig. 1, the movable armour plate being
differently arranged in each.
b
On the inclined plane, travels a platform Carriage a. The stationary part of the
armour protects the foot of the Elevator; the movable part e, whose movements are
in one with that of the Carriage a, comes to close the opening left by the latter on
descent after firing. This movable part c is mounted on rollers which travel on rails
or metal bands d d.
e is the gun, represented in its two positions by full and by dotted lines.
Figs. 4 and are an elevation and plan of a helicoidal Elevator with movable
Carriage a. The Carriage which carries the gun e descends on the helicoidal inclined
plane and is thus brought under the arched protection built into the thickness of the
parapet or covering mass.
Fig. 6 is a plan of the Carriage a and of its platform.
Figs. 7 and 8 are an elevation and plan of a helicoidal Elevator with movable
Carriage a whose gun e is protected after descent by an armored shelter ƒ built
laterally into the thickness of a Traverse and covered by an armor plate g.
Figs. 9 and 10 are an elevation and plan of the same type of Elevator with a
Carriage protected by an armor Shelter, seen in profile in Fig. 11, which protects
the
gun servants during firing.
Figs. 12 and 13 are an elevation and plan of an arrangement for permitting fire all
around the horizon & which economically replaces turrets. The Elevator with its
inclined plane arranged in a cylindrical Well turns on a pivotting plate i carrying
with it the armoured roof of the Well, which is mounted on rollers or steel balls
travelling on a Racer. The gun is protected by armour carried by the Carriage
& which passes through an opening in the armoured plate of the Well.
Figs. 14 & 15 are corresponding views which only differ essentially from the
arrangements of Figs. 12 & 13 in that the Well is open above and the piece e is
protected by an armoured shelter m.
Fig. 19 is a cross sectional elevation & fig. 20 a top view illustrating an installation
of vertical dises with guns, in the thickness of a rectangular armour-plate covering a
trench of indefinite length or a trench of circular shape.
The armour plate forms a carriage moving on rails 2 by means of rolls or wheels 3;
the same has one or more rectangular holes 4 fig. 20 which each receive a pivotting
disk 5 containing a mortar or howitzer 6 mounted in its axial diameter. When the
trench is a straight one, as in fig. 20, the mortars 6 always fire in a direction which is

page_text: perpendicular to the trench; but the trench may be half circular or it may be entirely
circular so as to make a full sweep of fire.
Below the armour plate is arranged a horizontal platform 7 which is invariably
connected with the armour plate by means of metallic side frames 8, so as to form a
tubular casing, the ends of which are closed by means of armour plates. In this
casing are contained the gun servants and the projectiles of the battery.
The armour plate together with its casing below can be moved along the rails 2 by
a traction cable or by any other suitable means.
In all these various arrangements there necessarily exists a Capstan or some
equivalent apparatus serving to lift and lower the Carriage a. The apparatus is not
indicated in any of the Figures since it possesses no novelty. I have indicated however
in m the position of the handle or throttle which controls it.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First. The use of inclined Elevators forming Ramps, upon which guns & their
carriages or supports are displaced, & and which thus may be rapidly masked, in the
intervals of their fire, behind the covering mass, against which the Elevator is
established either fixedly or movably.
Second. The direct connection, & near its point, of the part of the Mount or Support
of the gun remains stationary during fire (if it exists), with the covering mass;
equally in the case of the use of an Elevator or in the case of a high mount intended
to resist recoil.
Third. The use of Elevators. of the type hereinbefore described, to carry the gun
during the intervals between its fires, into a redoubt protected by a roof or a system
of armoured plates either fixed or movable giving protection against high angle and
vertical fire and masked from the effects of direct fire by the covering mass against
which it is supported or in which it is lodged.
Fourth. The installation of the aforementioned Elevators in Wells, upon Turntables
or upon fixed Racers, permitting the system to be revolved either completely or partially
in a horizontal plane.
Fifth. The installation of Guns in Wells similar to the aforementioned but closed
at their upper extremities by a roof plate rigidly attached to the Elevator and revolving
with it, and in which is cut an opening to permit the passage through it of a metallic
Shelter of appropriate shape to protect the guns, their accessories and the personnel
necessary for their service; this Shelter, rigidly connected to the Carriage, rises
and descends with the gun; when it is lowered its upper part closes the opening
in the roof into which it is chamfered to an exact fit. This disposition is independent
of the system of Elevator used and I claim it, whatever be the method employed for
changing the position of the gun from the firing to that of rest and inversely.
Sixth. The use of Wells similar to the aforementioned, but without lateral sheltering
sides and within which the gun is automatically lowered at the moment of recoil, the
upper plate of the Shelter, rigidly attached to the mount or support of the gun by
stanchions, closing the opening in the roof as the gun returns to the loading position
through the effects of recoil; the loading and indirect aiming being completely
effected under cover by means of appropriate mechanism and vernier graduation. The
energy developed by recoil and by the lowering movement of the gun and its accessories
being stored by an appropriate known arrangement in such a manner as to be utilised
for bringing the gun back to battery.
Seventh. The installation of guns devoted to high-angle fire in Wells closed by a
revolving roof plate and by means of vertical discs within whose thickness the guns
themselves are lodged and which are hung in openings through the roof plate. These
discs, being so arranged as to permit of a revolution about their horizontal axes by
means of trunnions and appropriate mechanical organs, the direction is given to the
gun by the rotation of the roof and the angle of fire by that of the disc, both controlled
by graduated arcs and verniers.

page_text: Eighth. The installation of vertical discs 5 fig. 19 with guns as aforementioned in
the thickness of a rectangular armour-plate 1 covering a french of indefinite length
above which the said plate may be displaced longitudinally by means of rollers 3 on
parallel rails 2 fixed to the edges of the trench. This movable plate 1, provided with
several disc guns, constituting an armored battery whose emplacement may be changed
at will in accordance with the trace adopted for the trench which serves as a shelter
for the gun servants.
Ninth. Any disposition resulting from the combination of any of these installations
above specified in whatever manner such combinations may be made.
1000
For JACQUES ANTOINE CREUZÉ DE LATOUCHE,
Brandon & Son,
Agents.