Combat vehicle

A track driven combat vehicle comprising:

• a track driven mechanism supporting a lower chassis for movement in a longitudinal direction,
• said lower chassis including at a rear portion thereof a magazine for holding explosive ammunition units,
• a conveyor for receiving ammunition units from said magazine and delivering said ammunition units to a forward position along said chassis to a rotary table for rotating said ammunition units;
• a turret mechanism centrally located for rotation about said chassis including a front portion narrower in width than in length for presenting a minimum target area;
• said front portion including a breech loading firearm, and a rear portion of said turret including a compartment for supporting a crew member, a turret magazine located above said rotary table;
• means for positioning a vertically oriented projectile in said turret magazine to a lateral position;
• a hoist car vertically supported for movement in a vertically extending frame from a position for receiving an ammunition unit from said table, and a projectile in said lateral position, to a breech loading position of said firearm, whereby the vulnerability of a hit to said vehicle is minimized by maintaining the bulk of explosive ammunition units at the rear of said vehicle, and the probability of a hit to said turret is minimized by said front portion presenting a minimum target area.