 When the howitzer fired the recoil was partially absorbed by two hydraulic recoil buffers at the front of the cradle with the remaining recoil transmitted to the wheels of the carriage which rolled up a set of inclined steel rails and then back into firing position by gravity.For travel, the howitzers on De Stefano mounts could be broken down into two loads.A tow bar could was attached to the castoring wheels on the rear of the carriage and towed in one piece by an artillery tractor.