=To dismount the tube from the recoil mechanism, or sleigh= as it is denoted, a suitably strong overhead beam is selected and the carriage run beneath it. Mount two one-ton duplex blocks on the beam over either end of the tube and thread the bore with a half-inch wire cable sling, in such a manner as to leave a bight at both muzzle and breech ends. Into these loops the hooks of the block catch. Gunny sacks form a suitable packing at the muzzle and breech to prevent the cable damaging these parts of the tube. Provide several blocks of two by four or four by four stuff, to block up the sleigh as it is moved to the rear—as we shall soon see that it does. Remove the locking hoop by knocking out the retaining bolts, and also remove the cradle bolts from their housing on the cradle. This will allow the sleigh to move to the rear of the cradle. Take a strain on the blocks and carefully move the sleigh back over the trail until the recoil-lug key (locking the recoil lug to the sleigh) clears the end of the cradle. Remove the set screw from the bottom of the sleigh which locks the tapered key in place, and proceed to drive the key out with a sledge hammer and a block of wood. During this operation the rear of the sleigh must be blocked up on the trail in order to take the strain off the cradle rails. After the key is cleared, the tube may be raised by means of the two blocks, care being taken to make the lift vertical, otherwise the slots and grooves just in front of the breech will jam and be damaged. Remove the carriage and lower the tube onto blocks. The process of mounting is just the reverse of the above. The elevating and traversing mechanisms give little trouble, if all gear cases are kept packed in grease. It is extremely important that, in laying for elevation with this piece, the final turns of the handwheel should bring the gun into correct position by raising the breech and not by lowering it. In this way all backlash is taken out of the gearing and the howitzer rests solidly for firing. The gunner may easily be taught to remember this by always having him bring the range bubble to the front of the glass and then slowly elevate the breech, bringing the bubble to him.