Improvements in Gun-mountings.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Gun-mountings.
A communication from abroad by LAURENCE V. BENET, Artillery Engineer, of
21, Rue Royale, Paris, France.
HOTCHKISS ORDNANCE Co. LTD., 49, Parliament Street, London, S.W., do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to gun-mountings in general, but more particularly to
mountings for automatic machine guns of the type described in Letters-Patent
of Great Britain dated March 10, 1896, No. 5426.
In guns of this type, two men are required for the convenient service of the
piece, one to feed the gun and one to aim and fire. It is essential that an armored
protection be afforded to both these men against musketry fire, that definite
positions be provided for each man convenient for the service of the piece, and
that the mounting be capable of being readily and quickly divided into parts
of size and weight suitable for stowage in ships boats. At the same time, pro-
vision must be made for the transportation of a reasonable amount of ammunition
on the mounting itself.
In order to fulfil these requirements, the improved mounting is constructed as
follows: The body of the mounting consists of a bullet-proof shield, hinged
together and so arranged that the two sections may be folded one upon the
other. To the lower section of this shield, is rivetted or otherwise attached an
axle, on which are mounted wheels of any approved pattern. To the middle
line of this shield, is separately attached a trail, preferably of metallic tubing,
on either side of which is secured an adjustable support for a seat respectively
for the gunner and the loader. This trail also carries a bracket carrying the
elevating gear or a clamp for securing the gun in elevation. To one side of the
middle line of the shield (right or left) is secured a socket in which is mounted
the pivot carrying the gun.
It is to be observed that, heretofore, the gun has been invariably mounted in
the middle line of the carriage, and that, by the new arrangement, many advan-
tages are secured. In fact, by this construction, one half of the shield is utilized
for the protection of the gunner and the other half for the protection of the
loader.
In the shield is provided a suitable port or embrasure for the gun. On the
left (or right) of the shield are provided suitable attachments for separately
securing an ammunition chest convenient for the loader, and with a capacity for
the amount of ammunition necessary for an ordinary engagement.
Whilst many of the details of this mounting are well-known contrivances, the
conception of the mounting as a whole has enabled us to produce a light and
compact mounting, a result which would be impossible without placing the gun

page_text: out of the centre line of the carriage. This, therefore, is the gist of this inven-
tion.
Dated this 9th day of February 1898
Improvements in Gun-mountings.
A communication from abroad by LAURENCE V. BENET, Artillery Engineer, of
21, Rue Royale, Paris, France.
We, THE HOTCHKISS ORDNANCE CO. LTD., of 49, Parliament Street, London, S.W.,
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 relates to gun-mountings in general, but more particularly to
mountings for automatic machine guns of the type described in Letters-Patent
dated March 10, 1896 No. 5426.
In guns of this type, two men are required for the convenient service of the
piece, one to feed the gun and one to aim and fire. It is essential that an armoured
protection be afforded to both these men against musketry fire, that definite
positions be provided for each man convenient for the service of the piece, and
that the mounting be capable of being readily and quickly divided into parts
of size and weight suitable for stowage in ships boats. At the same time, pro-
vision must be made for the transportation of a reasonable amount of ammunition
on the mounting itself.
In order to fulfil these requirements, the improved mounting is constructed as
follows. The body of the mounting consists of a bullet-proof shield, hinged
together and so arranged that the two sections may be folded one upon the
other. To the lower section of this shield is rivetted or otherwise attached an
axle, on which are mounted wheels of any approved pattern. To the middle
line of this shield is separably attached a trail, preferably of metallic tubing,
on either side of which is secured an adjustable support for a seat respectively
for the gunner and the loader. This trail also carries a bracket carrying the
elevating gear or clamp for securing the gun in elevation. To one side of the
middle line of the shield (right or left) is secured a socket in which is mounted
the pivot carrying the gun.
It is to be observed that heretofore the gun has been invariably mounted in
the middle line of the carriage, and that by the new arrangement many advan-
tages are secured. In fact, by this construction, one half of the shield is utilized
for the protection of the gunner and the other half for the protection of the
loader.
In the shield is provided a suitable port or embrasure for the gun. On the
left (or right) of the shield are provided suitable attachments for separably
securing an ammunition chest convenient for the loader, and with a capacity for
the amount of ammunition necessary for an ordinary engagement.

page_text: produce a night and
compact mounting, a result which would be impossible without placing the gun
out of the centre line of the carriage. This, therefore, is the gist of my inven-
tion.
Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are
indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the mounting;
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation;
Fig. 3 is a plan, and
Figs. 4 to 9 are details.
1 is the lower section of the shield, which forms, so to speak, the body of the
mounting. To it is secured the axle 2 of such form as to afford the maximum of
resistance with the minimum of weight On the axle are mounted wheels,
seoured by the usual linch pins and swivels. On the top of the lower section 1
is hinged at 3, 3, 3; the upper section 4 so arranged as to afford protection for the
heads of the gunner and loader., When in the developed position the section 4
is secured by means of pins 5, 5. Partly in the section 1 and partly in the
section 4 is cut the embrasure 6. This embraṣure is so carried to one side of the
mounting that the gun and the gunner are entirely between the trail and the right
(or left) wheel.
In the central vertical plane of the mounting is attached the trail 7 which
makes such an angle with the ground as to ensure stability of the mounting as
a whole. The trail 7 is separably secured to the lower section 1 of the shield by
the following device. To the head of the trail 7 is attached a casting 8, Figs. 1,
2, 4 and 5, the lower part of which is formed into a locking lip 9 and the upper
part into a pair of lugs 10, 10. On the lower section 1 of the shield is secured a
U-shaped strap 11, into which may be engaged the lip 9, and a lug 12 which registers
with the lugs 10, .10 on the casting 8. Through the lugs 10, 12 and 10 on the
trail and shield may be passed a key 13, which firmly secures the
trail 7 to the section 1 of the shield. To the right and the left
of the trail 7 are adjustably attached the brackets 14, 15 which support seats of
any approved form, and on which the gunner and the loader may seat themselves
conveniently for the service of the piece. These brackets are adjustably clamped
to the trail so that the seats may be adjusted to the desired distance from the
gun or ammunition box, or to the desired height. The trail 7 is also provided
with a bracket 16 for supporting at its extremity a clamp or elevating device 17
of any well known form, such for instance as the clamping device described and
shown in application for Letters Patent of Great Britain dated March 29, 1898,
No. 7502. The sole of the trail is formed of a casting 18 which is formed at the
end into an eve-piece 19 for engaging with the pintle of the limber. I sometimes
mount in this sole-piece an adjustable roller 20 of well known construction for
supporting the trail 7 when the gun is hauled without its limber.
The said roller 20 is mounted upon a hollow axis 21 fitted to a pair of arms 22
pivotted at 23 to the casting 18. In the casting 18 are formed two eyes 24, 24
receiving a pin 25 for supporting the hollow axis 21 of the roller when it is
desired to haul the gun mount from place to place.
As already stated, the gun is carried by a pivot 26 which, in turn, is supported
by a socket 27 rivetted or otherwise attached to the lower section 1 of the shield.
The socket may be provided with means for securing the gun in any fixed vertical
plane, as shown, or with means for adjustably limiting its horizontal sweep of
fire, suitable elevating gear being then provided.
On the opposite side of the trail from the gun (left or right) and directly in
front of the loader's seat 28 is secured the ammunition chest 29. On the lower
rearward edge of the chest 29 are attached hooks 30 so formed that they may be
disengaged from stirrups 34 on the shield, only when the chest has been so swung

page_text: down as to be essentially horizontal. The chest 29 is prevented from taking this
position by chains 32, attached to the shield and engaging by means of snap-
hooks with rings 33 on the chest. When swung down to the limit of the chains 32,
the lid of the chest may be opened and the ammunition (in loading strips or
otherwise) is in a convenient position for handling by the loader.
On the march, the chest 29 may be swung upwards until parallel to the shield,
and there secured by means of a bolt 35, Figs. 1, 7 and 8, riveted to the shield
and capable of engaging a stirrup 36, Figs. I and 9, on the chest.
To dismount the mounting for stowage in ships boats, proceed as follows:
Throw back the cap-squares, free the gun from the elevating gear and dismount,
free the bolt 35 from the stirrup 36 on the chest 29, swing the chest downwards
to full extent of the chains 32, free the chest from the chains, swing down until
horizontal and remove; remove the linch-pins, swivels and wheels, and lower the
mounting to the ground; withdraw the key 13 and unship the trail 7; withdraw
the pins 5, 5 and fold the section 4 of the shield down upon the section 1. The
mounting is now divided into light and handy parts, readily assembled and con-
venient for stowage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
-
1. In a gun mount, the combination of a plate shield, an axle secured to said
shield, wheels mounted on said axle, and a trail secured to said shield, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a gun-mount, the combination, with a plate shield, of an axle secured to
said shield, wheels mounted on said axle, and a trail detachably secured to said
shield, substantially as described.
3. In a gun mount, the combination of a plate shield, an axle secured to said
shield, wheels mounted on said axle, a trail secured to said shield, and a gun
supported by said shield at one side of the longitudinal axis of the gun mount,
substantially as described.
4. In a gun mount, the combination, with a plate shield, of an axle secured
to said shield, wheels mounted on said axle, a trail detachably secured to said
shield, and a gun supported by said shield at one side of the longitudinal axis of
the gun mount, substantially as described.
5. In a gun mount, the combination of a shield formed of a plurality of plates
hinged together, an axle secured to one of said plates, wheels mounted on said
axle, and a trail also secured to said plate, substantially as described.
6. In a gun mount, the combination of a shield conformed of a plurality of
plates hinged together, an axle secured to one of said plates, wheels mounted on
said axle, and a trail detachably secured to the same plate as the axle, substantially
as described.
7. In a gun mount, the combination of a shield formed of a plurality of plates
hinged together, of an axle secured to one of said plates, wheels mounted on said
axle, a trail secured to said plate, and a gun supported by the same plate to which
the trail and axle are secured, and at one side of the longitudinal axis of the gun
mount, substantially as described.
8. In a gun mount, the combination of a shield formed of a plurality of plates
hinged together, an axle secured to one of said plates, wheels mounted on said
axle, a trail detachably secured to the same plate with the axle, and a gun sup-
ported by the same plate, substantially as described.
9. In a gun mount, the combination, with a plate shield forming essentially
the framework of the mount, of means for supporting the gun on said shield,
substantially as described.
10. In a gun mount, the combination, with a plate shield forming essentially

page_text: the framework of the mount, of means for supporting the gun on said shield, and
an ammunition box detachably secured to said shield, substantially as described.
11. In a gun mount, the combination, with a shield formed of a plurality of
plates hinged together, one of which plates constitutes essentially the framework
of the mount, of means for supporting the gun on said plate, substantially as
described.
12. In a gun mount, the combination, with a shield formed of a plurality of
plates hinged together, one of which plate constitutes essentially the framework
of the mount, of means for mounting the gun on said plate, and an ammunition
box detachably secured to said plate, substantially as described.
13. In a gun mount, the combination, with a shield formed of a plurality of
plates hinged together, one of which plates constitutes essentially the framework
of the mount, of means for mounting the gun on said plate, and an ammunition
box hooked to said plate, substantially as described.
14. In a gun mount, the combination of a plate shield and an axle, trail, and
ammunition box secured to said shield, substantially as described.
15. In a gun mount, the combination, with a plate shield, of an axle secured to
said shield and a trail and an ammunition box, both detachably secured to said
shield, substantially as described.
16. In a gun mount, the combination of a plate shield, an axle secured to said
shield, wheels mounted on said axle, a trail secured to said shield, a gun sup-
ported by said shield at one side of the longitudinal axis of the gun mount, and
an ammunition box secured to said shield on the opposite side of the trail from
the gun, substantially as described.
17. In a gun mount, the combination, with a plate shield, of an axle secured
to said shield, wheels mounted on said axle, a trail detachably secured to said
shield, a gun supported by said shield at one side of the longitudinal axis of the
gun mount, and an ammunition box detachably secured to said shield on the
opposite side of the trail from the gun, substantially as described.
this 28th day of October 1898.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
40, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.
ober 1898.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
40, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.