Abstract: An artillery weapon includes a cradle, a recoil mechanism body, a flange that fastens the body to the cradle, first rigid fastening structure for fastening the flange to the cradle and second fastening structure for fastening the body to the flange.

Abstract: A manual breechblock opening device that actuates a breechblock lever to open a wedge breechblock of a gun against an elastic return force includes a manual control member, a drivetrain and a holder. The manual control member is disposed within reach of an operator. The drivetrain includes a rotating output shaft coupled to the breechblock lever and a rotating input shaft coupled to the output shaft and coupleable to the manual control member. Actuating the manual control member rotates the drivetrain in a first rotational direction and causes the output shaft to engage the breechblock lever and to open the wedge breechblock. The blocking member is coupled to and disposed to prevent the rotation of the drivetrain in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction.

Abstract: An equilibrating system connects a top carriage of a piece of artillery and a pivoting mass. The equilibrating system includes a pressurized gas chamber that exerts a force opposing a force exerted by the pivoting mass. The system also includes two mechanical control devices to modify the volume of gas in the chamber to compensate for adjustments in temperature and to modify the speed of adjustment of the volume of gas to compensate for different elevation laying angles.

Abstract: An anti-buckle fitting for a large caliber gun barrel, the fitting being constituted by an envelope that surrounds the barrel at a distance therefrom and of a length that is substantially equal to the outside portion of the barrel, the fitting comprising a front ring fixed near the free end of the barrel and a back ring fixed near the fume extractor of the barrel, and wherein the envelope is in the form of two half-shells assembled together by link means.

Abstract: An equilibrating device for a gun having an oscillating mass mounted on a movable top carriage includes a gas chamber, a laying mechanism and an equilibration rod. The gas chamber contains a gas under pressure. The laying mechanism is connected to a gun and orients the oscillating mass with respect to the top carriage in a predetermined position. The laying mechanism has a laying axis and an elongate laying screw extending along the laying axis that applies a laying force to orient the oscillating mass. The equilibration rod is disposed to cooperate with the elongate laying screw and is connected to the gas chamber. The equilibration rod transmits an equilibration force exerted by the gas in the gas chamber along an equilibration axis in a direction opposite the laying force to reduce the laying force. The equilibration force varies in accordance with the laying force based on the predetermined position. As a result, the complexity of the laying mechanism and the equilibrating device can be reduced.

Abstract: A maneuvering device for a recoiling mass of a piece of artillery. The maneuvering device includes first and second ends that are attachable, respectively, to a recoiling mass and a cradle of the piece of artillery. The present invention is applied to the inspection of correct functioning of the recoil mechanism of a large or medium caliber piece of artillery during the counter-recoil of the recoiling mass.

Abstract: A breech block has, for each cheek of a breech ring, at least one bearing surface facing a rear of the breech. The bearing surface is adjustable to slide along a paired bearing surface of a matching bearing element of the cheek and bears on the paired bearing surface to transfer strain to the cheek generated during firing of a round. The bearing surface of the breech block and the paired bearing surface of the cheek of the breech ring face each other so that the plane of each of the matched bearing surfaces intersects a plane defined by the axis of the barrel and a horizontal line along a half-line terminating at the axis. The half-line defines an angle greater than 90.degree. with respect to the axis.

Abstract: An assembly includes a rod, an element and a blocking part insertable into and removable from the element. The blocking part is arranged to be associated with the element in a first position wherein the blocking part lies in the trajectory of a rod portion of a circumference of the rod, thereby preventing relative translation of the rod. The assembly is arranged so that, as soon as the blocking part occupies the first position, the element supports the blocking part and prevents its movement.

Abstract: A weapon is fitted with a barrel that is screwed into a breech ring and is mobile in axial translation with respect to a cradle. The assembly also comprises removable fastening structure to fasten the breech ring directly onto the cradle and relative coaxial centering structure for centering the cradle and the breech ring.