System and method for retrofit mechanism for motorizing a manual turret

A method of retrofitting a turret that has a manual rotation system with a motorized turret rotation system, the method comprising:

• mechanically coupling a gear box to the turret;
• mechanically coupling an electrically powered prime mover unit to the gear box;
• electrically coupling a user operated control device to the prime mover unit;
• electrically coupling an electrical power supply to the prime mover unit, wherein
• the turret rotates relative to a body structure,
• the gear box and the prime mover unit are mounted to the body structure,
• the control device and the electrical power supply are positioned on the turret,
• the power supply provides electrical power to the prime mover,
• the control device presents a control signal to the prime mover when the user actuates the control device, and
• the turret rotates in response to the control signal;
• and
• positioning an electrical power source on the body and electrically coupling the electrical power source to the power supply via mating electrical connector halves that are disengagable in response to a predetermined tension force, connecting a first tether to a first respective half of the connector halves and the body and a second tether to a second respective half of the connector halves and the turret wherein the electrical power source provides a charging current to the power supply, and the tethers are sized such that when the turret is rotated beyond a predetermined range, the tethers provide a tension force that exceeds the predetermined tension force.