AIRPLANE FLEXIBLE GUN MOUNT - TYPE A

The airplane flexible gun mount, Type A, which is adapted ring from the British Scarff-ring mount, consists of a fixed ring which is bolted to the fuselage over the gunner's cockpit. A revolving ring provided with small rollers fits over the fixed ring and runs on it. The main tube bracket, containing the machine-gun mount socket, is pivoted on the revolving ring.

This bracket may be raised or lowered, and is locked in any position of elevation by the quadrant latch pins, which fit in the teeth of the inside and outside quadrants. The revolving ring is held in position by two plunger stops which are contained in the main tube bracket plates and fit into holes in the fixed ring. The quadrant latch pins and lunger stops are released by means of the Bowden wire lever located under the macbine-gun socket. The weight of the guns is balanced by the exerciser cords, which run under the exerciser cord pulleys on each side of the main tube and over the quadrant hook at the top of the quadrant. This enables the guns to be raised or lowered with ease. The back rest enables the gunner to assist the rotation of the revolving ring with his back.

Inasmuch as the mounting yoke for the gun is fitted with a universal joint, no fine adjustment of setting the airplane flexible gun mount is necessary when bringing the gun into action. Both single and double Lewis gun yokes are adapted for this mount.



SINGLE LEWIS GUN YOKE

The single Lewis gun yoke (see figs. 25 and 26), is designed for adapting one Lewis gun to the airplane flexible gun mount, Type A.

This yoke fits into the socket on b e flexible gun mount and permits of the gun being swung through a greater arc, both in a vertical and horizontal plane. A friction sleeve, operated by a hand lever, locks the yoke in the desired position.

DOUBLE LEWIS GUN YOKE

The double Lewis gun yoke is designed f or adapting two Lewis aircraft machine guns to the airplane flexible gun mount, as shown in figure 27.

The yoke, which holds the two guns rigidly side by side, fits into the socket of the flexible gun mount and permits of the two guns being swung through a vertical are of approximately 315 deg. and through a horizontal arc of 90 deg., independent of the movement of the flexible gun

mount. In addition to this, the two guns may be tilted to either side about 45 deg.

This yoke when used with the airplane flexible gun mount makes a very flexible combination, and taJking into consideration the additional rate of fire and the increased efficiency of having two guns instead of one, this is an extremely effective and satisfactory mounting.

The Duplex trigger control connects the trigger of one gun by means of Bowden wire to a lever on the trigger guard of the second, so that the trigger of either gun, or both may be released with one hand.

LEWIS MAGAZINE RACK

The loaded magazines are carried on the DH-4 plane in a, rack built in the rear of the gunner's cockpit and extending across the fuselage, as shown in figure 28.

It is made of a sheet of aluminum, curved to fit the magazines, and fitted with wood separators forming compartments for eight magazincs. A piece of elastic cord stretched between the sides of the fuselage in front of the rack holds the magazines in place and allows their quick removal.