Gun turret assembly

Abstract

A weapons assembly that includes a turret; a turret cage attached to and being disposed underneath the turret; a plurality of weapons supported in the turret, each weapon having a barrel and a belt magazine received in part in the turret and in part in the turret cage. The belt magazine has a loading belt and a plurality of horizontally disposed, ammunition-accommodating container tubes attached to the loading belt. The turret containing the plurality of barrels is vertically movable to an elevated position to provide up to an unimpeded 360 degree field of fire.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to a weapons assembly and is of the type which has a gun turret, a weapon supported in the turret, a turret cage and a loading device for transporting ammunition to the weapon in the turret. [0002] For storing ammunition in a magazine in an armored vehicle, it is known, for example, from German Offenlegungsschrift (application published without examination) No. 34 3'588 to store ammunition in a region of the turret and to load ammunition into the weapon by a loading device. It is a disadvantage that the stored ammunition is loaded manually into the weapon, so that substantial space must be provided to allow the loader to feed ammunition to the turret weapon. [0003] The above disadvantages may also be found in armored vehicles in which the ammunition magazine is arranged laterally of the weapon, as disclosed, for example, in German Patent No. 2,501,426. [0004] Further, as disclosed in German Patent No. 1,301,742, when the ammu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a weapons assembly for a turret that allows for a relatively large number of shots to be fired while maintaining the size of the turret cage relatively small. The turret can rotate beyond 90 degrees and can be raised, lowered, and moved from front to back or side to side. The assembly includes a belt magazine with a loading belt and a plurality of ammunition-accommodating container tubes. The method of manufacturing the assembly includes providing a turret with multiple weapons and a belt magazine. The technical effects of the invention include a high firing frequency, improved efficiency, and flexibility in weapon usage."

Problems solved by technology

It is a disadvantage that the stored ammunition is loaded manually into the weapon, so that substantial space must be provided to allow the loader to feed ammunition to the turret weapon.

The above disadvantages may also be found in armored vehicles in which the ammunition magazine is arranged laterally of the weapon, as disclosed, for example, in German Patent No. 2,501,426.

Further, as disclosed in German Patent No. 1,301,742, when the ammunition is disposed partially in the lower region of the turret, there is the disadvantage that the turret cage must have a substantial volume because the ammunition is swung by a loading device from a lower receiving position to a location behind the breech ring of the weapon.

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