Automatic loading system for fixed ammunition at gun elevation

An automatic loading system for fixed ammunition cartridges for a large caliber gun movable about an elevation axis on trunnions and carried in gun support structure, comprising

• a magazine disposed within the gun support structure below the gun trunnions and mounted for rotation relative to the gun support structure,
• said magazine having a plurality of fixed ammunition cartridge storage cells therein,
• means for indexing said magazine rotationally to bring predetermined ones of said storage cells into a load position,
• a loader arm mounted for rotational movement on the gun support structure,
• a ram tray mounted for rotational movement on said loader arm,
• means for urging ammunition rounds into and out of said ram tray,
• means for translating and rotating said ram tray between a position aligned with said load position and an intermediate position wherein the long axis of a cartridge therein substantially intersects the elevation axis,
• means for rotating said loader arm to move said ram tray between said intermediate position and a ram position aligned with the gun breech at any gun elevation,
• means for receiving spent cartridge cases from the breech and for discharging the cases through the gun support structure, and
• means for controlling actuation of said means for indexing, means for urging, means for translating and rotating, means for rotating and means for receiving in appropriate sequence to operate the system in a selected mode.

An unmanned loading system for moving large caliber fixed ammunition rounds within a turret which is rotatable about an azimuth axis and which has a gun tube mounted therein which is movable within the turret about an elevation axis, comprising

• an annular ammunition magazine disposed within the turret independently rotatable substantially about the azimuth axis,
• a plurality of cartridge storage cells disposed about the periphery of said magazine,
• means for angularly indexing said magazine to bring ones of said cells to a load position on the turret,
• a loader arm pivotally attached to the turret and disposed to rotate about the elevation axis,
• means for rotating said loader arm between a lowered and a raised position,
• a ram tray assembly pivotally attached to the free end of said loader arm,
• means for rotating said ram tray assembly between a lowered magazine position surrounded by said magazine and a raised intermediate position when said loader arm is lowered, said ram tray axis for receiving ammunition cartridges being substantially parallel to said storage cells axes in said magazine position and an extension of said axis substantially intersecting the elevation axis in said intermediate position,
• means for locating said loader arm raised position at any gun tube elevation so that said ram tray axis is substantially aligned with the gun breech when said tray is in said intermediate position,
• means mounted on said ram tray assembly for receiving, engaging and disengaging fixed ammunition cartridges,
• means for translating said ram tray assembly between a retracted and an extended position in said magazine position, so that said ram tray is at said load position when extended,
• means for receiving and discharging spent cartridge stub cases from the breech, and
• means for controlling sequence of actuation of said means for angularly indexing, means for rotating said loader arm and ram tray assembly, means for engaging and disengaging, means for translating said ram tray, and means for receiving and discharging spent cartridge stub cases in appropriate sequence to operate the system in a selected mode, said means for controlling including memory means for tabulating the locations and types of rounds in said cartridge storage cells.