=The Cradle Complete.=—The _cradle_ supports the gun, guides it in recoil, and forms a housing for the recoil-controlling parts; it consists of a flange steel body with the upper edges flanged outward. The flanges are bronze lined, engage the clips on the gun, forming the guide rails for the gun on recoil. Riveted to the bottom of the cradle are four steel forgings, the pintle, traversing lug, rear clip, and elevating and traversing lock lug. The pintle fits the pintle socket in the rocker and forms a bearing upon which the cradle is traversed. The traversing lug has been heretofore mentioned as affording a point of attachment for the traversing-link pivot. The cradle rear clip, in addition to embracing the rear end of the rocker, has a broad bearing on the latter directly over the point of attachment of the elevating screw. To relieve the pointing mechanism from all strains in travelling, an _elevating and traversing lock_ is provided, by which the cradle may be securely locked to the trail. The _recoil-controlling_ parts contained inside the cradle are the _cylinder_, the _piston rod_, the _counter-recoil buffer_, the _counter-recoil springs_ and the _spring support_. To the rear end of the cradle is riveted a steel cradle head, rear, through which the cylinder moves in recoil and projects for attachment to the recoil lug on the gun by means of the cylinder end stud and nut. The front end of the cradle is closed by the cradle head, front, and the retaining ring. [Illustration: _Recoil Controlling Mechanism_] The =cylinder= lies inside the cradle and is surrounded by the counter-recoil springs. Its rear end is closed and has a projection on the inside to which is screwed the counter-recoil buffer, a tapered bronze rod which fits with small clearance into a bore at the rear end of the piston-rod. The front end of the cylinder is closed by a bronze oiltight gland, through which the piston-rod slides. The cylinder is filled with a neutral oil called hydroline. The interior of the cylinder is cylindrical. Three longitudinal ribs or throttling bars of uniform width but varying height extend along the interior from the rear end to within 19 inches from the front end. Three notches are cut in the piston head, forming ports for the passage of the liquid from one side of the piston to the other. The height of the throttling bars is calculated so that the resistance which the liquid offers, plus the resistance of the springs, is constant and such that the recoil will be checked at the desired point. During recoil the front end of the cylinder is supported by the spring support.