\Dis`ap*pear"ing\,
p. pr. & vb. n. of {Disappear}.
{Disappearing carriage} (Ordnance), a carriage for heavy
   coast guns on which the gun is raised above the parapet
   for firing and upon discharge is lowered behind the
   parapet for protection. The standard type of disappearing
   carriage in the coast artillery of the United States army
   is the {Buffington-Crozier carriage}, in which the gun
   trunnions are secured at the upper and after ends of a
   pair of heavy levers, at the lower ends of which is
   attached a counterweight of lead. The levers are pivoted
   at their middle points, which are, with the top carriage,
   permitted restrained motion along the slightly inclined
   chassis rails. The counterweight is held in place by a
   pawl and ratchet. When the gun is loaded the pawl is
   released and the counterweight sinks, raising the gun to
   the firing position above the parapet. The recoil
   following the discharge returns the gun to the loading
   position, the counterweight rising until the pawl engages
   the ratchet.