Baffled muzzle brake and seal system for submerged gun operation

A barrel for an underwater firearm having a propellant charge and a projectile with a sabot, the barrel comprising:

• a housing having breech and muzzle ends, the breech end being mounted to the firearm and having a projectile inlet port in said housing, the muzzle end having a projectile outlet port in said housing, the projectile inlet port and the projectile outlet port defining a first projectile path that is substantially coaxial with the axial bore of the firearm;
• baffle means for deflecting and slowing propellant gasses produced when the propellant charge is ignited, the baffle means comprising a plurality of deflectors for deflecting the propellant gasses and being disposed within the housing wherein the baffle means and the housing define an annular cavity;
• and
• valve means for selectively sealing the housing from entry of the water, the valve means defining an aperture and having a seal means for closing and opening the aperture, the valve means being mounted to the muzzle end of the housing, the aperture defining a second projectile path that is substantially coaxial with the first projectile path, the seal means being moveable between an open position wherein no portion of the valve is in the second projectile path and a closed position wherein the seal means seals the aperture;
• a first inlet means in fluid communication with the housing for supplying a flow of pressurized air;
• and
• an outlet means in fluid communication with the housing for exhausting propellant gasses produced when the propellant charge is ignited.

A barrel for an underwater firearm having a propellant charge and a projectile with a sabot, said barrel comprising:

• a housing having breech and muzzle ends, the breech end being mounted to the muzzle end of said underwater firearm and comprising a projectile inlet port, the muzzle end of the housing comprising a projectile outlet port, the projectile inlet port and the projectile outlet port defining a first projectile path;
• valve means mounted on the muzzle end of the housing for selectively sealing the housing from entry of the water, said valve means defining an aperture and including seal means for closing and opening the aperture, the aperture defining a second projectile path that is substantially coaxial with the first projectile path, the seal means being moveable between an open position wherein no portion of the seal means is in the second projectile path and a closed position wherein the seal means seals the aperture;
• baffle means disposed within the housing for deflecting and slowing propellant gasses produced when the propellant charge is ignited;
• and
• a controller means for moving the seal means to the open position prior to ignition of the propellant charge.

A barrel for an underwater firearm having a propellant charge and a projectile with a sabot, said barrel comprising:

• a housing having breech and muzzle ends, the breech end being mounted to the muzzle end of said underwater firearm and comprising a projectile inlet port, the muzzle end of the housing comprising a projectile outlet port, the projectile inlet port and the projectile outlet port defining a first projectile path;
• valve means mounted on the muzzle end of the housing for selectively sealing the housing from entry of the water;
• and
• a baffle means disposed within the housing for deflecting and slowing propellant gasses produced when the propellant charge is ignited, said baffle means comprising a plurality of frustoconical rings for deflecting the propellant gasses, each of the rings having a smaller outer diameter end and a larger outer diameter end and defining an opening having an axis that is substantially coaxial with the first projectile path, the smaller diameter end of each ring being oriented toward the breech end of the housing.