Abstract: A double-acting hydraulic cylinder has a piston disposed therein for dividing the cylinder into first and second portions with a single piston rod extending from one end of the cylinder. Each end of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to a hydraulic reservoir that is hermetically sealed and pressurized through the unique use of a metal bellows which pressurizes the hydraulic fluid. A pressure-compensated, variable orifice control valve is disposed between each end of the hydraulic cylinder and the reservoir for limiting the rate of fluid flow from the cylinder to the reservoir to a substantially constant value independent of external loads applied to the piston rod. The variable orifice increases in size with cylinder depressurization and thereby provides for a rapid release of internal residual hydraulic pressures after high dynamic loads are experienced.