Recoil attenuator

In a gun having a supporting frame on a barrel and breech assembly mounted on the frame for sliding motion substantially parallel to the axis of the barrel, the improvement comprising:

• the barrel and breech assembly including a barrel and a breech integral with the barrel at a near end thereof;
• a recoil attenuator coupled between said barrel and said frame, said attenuator having a gas driven movable element for producing a reaction force opposed to that of a projectile in the barrel, including a reaction cylinder having closed end and a reaction piston slidable therein, defining a chamber between the piston and the closed end, the piston being coupled to said barrel;
• a fluid damped attenuator cylinder coupled to said reaction cylinder, an attenuator piston slidably mounted in said attenuator cylinder, the cylinder having a closed end defining a fluid cushioning chamber between the closed end and the piston;
• the attenuator piston being connected to said supporting frame;
• means for extracting combustion gases from said barrel adjacent the breech;
• and
• means for directing the gases to said reaction cylinder between the piston and cylinder.