It was asbestos rope to help insulate the recoil/recuperator from the heat generated from extended periods of firing. I think the intended effect was the same as lagging household hot water pipes, except the heat source was the outside of the lagging. The 18 Pounder had a fairly standard system of recoil/recuperation with a hydraulic buffer absorbing most of the recoil and pre-loaded springs returning the barrel to the loading position. Heating the assembly would thin the hydraulic oil and reduce the damping effect giving excessively long recoil lengths. The recuperator springs were considered to be fairly weak in the 18 Pounder so insulating the springs may have helped avoid problems with recuperation.
Some threads on the 18 Pounder is at: http://landships.activeboard.com/t4560637/british-13-18-pounders/
Later versions of the 18 Pounder used hydro-pneumatic recoil/recuperation like the French Mle 1897 and this didn't seem to have heating problems.
The armoured box on muzzle end of the recuperator on some Mk.1 guns held a reservoir of damping oil - oil leakage was a problem in these guns.
I can't recall seeing images of the 60 Pounder with rope around the recuperators but I can image the 60 Pounder would have similar problems to the 18 Pounders - the twin recuperator cylinders were above, and fairly close to the barrel.
Regards,
Charlie
-- Edited by CharlieC on Friday 9th of March 2012 11:29:48 PM
-- Edited by CharlieC on Friday 9th of March 2012 11:33:49 PM
IIRC it was wrapped round the recuperator, just for protection. There's something about it on the forum somewhere, and the protective armoured box thing that is seen on some 18pdrs.
This is the level of technology I can cope with.
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