VERTICAL LOADING SYSTEM FOR A GUN MOUNT

摘要

A gun mount having a gun cover or shield contains a gun which may be directed in both azimuth and elevation. An ammunition storage space is disposed below the gun mount. Ammunition components are combined in the storage space to provide an ammunition round with the long axis of the round substantially vertical. The barrel of the gun is elevated to the 90.degree. or vertical position and when the breech block is opened the vertically disposed ammunition round is hoisted directly into the open breech. The round is latched in the breech while the hoisting mechanism is withdrawn and the breech is closed. Thereafter the gun may be depressed to a desired firing elevation and the round fired. The gun is then positioned at a predetermined intermediate elevation angle so that the gun breech is adjacent to a door in the gun cover which is controlled between open and closed positions. The breech is opened, the door is opened and the empty propellant case from the fired round is ejected through the open door. The gun is then repositioned to the vertical position to receive another round in the breech and the process is repeated. Conventional length ballistic projectiles and ultra-long guided projectiles may be handled by the disclosed loading system and the loading may be accomplished at any angle or azimuth or train.