![](http://www.alamy.com/thumbs/6/7D21BF85-F98B-407F-8B18-BEF4D18AC613/2RC1DXN.jpg)
12-inch gun on disappearing carriage being fired at the Coast Artillery School in Fort Monroe, VA. The gun recoils for about 3 seconds before returning to the loading position, thanks to the counterweight. This process is triggered by two tripping levers disengaging the pawls from the racks on the cross head and takes around 6 to 8 seconds.
Size: 8397px × 5726px
Photo credit: © piemags/NSC / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 12, 12-, 1918, action, activities, american, army, artillery, battery, carriage, coastal, counterweight, cross, defense, disappearing, enlisted, firing, fort, gun, head, levers, loading, military, monroe, november, pawls, position, racks, recoil, school, specialist, tripping, va, war, world