Loading apparatus for a large-caliber weapon

The combination of a weapon and ammunition to be loaded into the weapon;

• said weapon comprising
• (a) a weapon barrel having a longitudinal axis;
• (b) a magazine positioned behind said weapon barrel and being formed of two spaced, facing partial magazines situated on either side of said longitudinal axis;
• each said partial magazine having at least one tier accommodating a series of ammunition in a side-by-side relationship;
• (c) a loading tray positioned behind said weapon barrel and between said partial magazines for receiving ammunition therefrom to be loaded by said loading tray into said weapon barrel;
• (d) displacing means for shifting the ammunition in each said tier onto said loading tray;
• and
• (e) at least four spaced guide rails positioned in each tier and extending perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis;
• each ammunition being a two-part ammunition formed of two separate ammunition parts;
• each said ammunition part having
• (a) a frontal region;
• (b) a rearward region;
• and
• (c) at least two guide portions releasably secured to the ammunition in said frontal and rearward regions, respectively;
• said guide portions engage into respective said guide rails.