Abstract: An ammunition loading assembly (10) is disclosed for loading a projectile (12) into a barrel (14) of a gun. The assembly includes an urging member (16) for urging the projectile (12) into the barrel (14) and a drive means (18) for driving the urging member (16) between a projectile receiving position outside the barrel (14) and a projectile delivery position inside the chamber (20) of the gun. The drive means (18) includes a drive chain assembly (22) that moves the urging member (16) between the projectile receiving position and the projectile delivery position, so that the projectile is released just before the barrel engraving and engraves on it's own momentum. The assembly further includes first and second chain-retaining devices (42, 44) for limiting curving of the chain assembly and guiding the chain when moving out of the magazine.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gun tube support assembly (10), which comprises four support sections (12) arranged annularly around a gun tube (13) and received in an opening in a cradle (15) of a gun. Each support section (12) comprises a bush housing (14), a cradle bush (16) and a damping means sandwiched between the bush housing (14) and cradle bush (16). The damping means is in the form of a rubber pad (18) made of relatively high-temperature silicon rubber. The rubber pad (18) includes a plurality of protrusions 18.1 extending from a face of the pad (18) for abutting an outer surface of the cradle bush (16). The protrusions (18.1) accommodate compression of the pad (18), the arrangement being such that the rubber pad (18) absorbs and dampens kinetic energy emanating from the gun tube (13) during firing of a projectile.

Abstract: This invention relates to a breech assembly of a gun adapted to fire caseless charges, ignited and enhanced with electrothermal chemical (ETC) charges. The gun utilizes charges as propellant and a plasma generator cartridge (PGC) for generating plasma when an electrical current is applied thereto. The breech assembly comprises a breech ring, a tilting block assembly, with a spindle installed and a sliding block for supporting or locking the tilting block assembly in a sealed position. The tilting block assembly is movable between a PGC firing orientation and a PGC loading/removal orientation. The breech assembly further includes a crank means, which includes a guide means for rotating the tilting block assembly from the PGC firing orientation to the PGC loading/removal orientation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fume extractor (10) for extracting fumes from a bore (12) of a barrel (14) of a gun and comprising an annular main reservoir (16); an annular inlet reservoir (18); and an annular auxiliary reservoir (20), all concentrically surrounding the barrel (14) and being in communication with each other and the bore (12). The inlet reservoir (18) is sandwiched between the main reservoir (16) and the barrel (14). The auxiliary reservoir (20) is sandwiched between the main reservoir (16) and the barrel (14) and is located adjacent the inlet reservoir (18) on a muzzle brake end thereof. The arrangement is such that the main reservoir (16) is pressurized when the gun is fired and such that the fumes in the bore (12) are extracted by the release of pressure in the main and auxiliary reservoirs (16) and (20), after the projectile has left the barrel (14).

Abstract: This invention relates to a fume extractor (10) for extracting fumes from a bore (12) of a barrel (14) of a gun and comprising an annular main reservoir (16); an annular inlet reservoir (18); and an annular auxiliary reservoir (20), all concentrically surrounding the barrel (14) and being in communication with each other and the bore (12). The inlet reservoir (18) is sandwiched between the main reservoir (16) and the barrel (14). The auxiliary reservoir (20) is sandwiched between the main reservoir (16) and the barrel (14) and is located adjacent the inlet reservoir (18) on a muzzle brake end thereof. The arrangement is such that the main reservoir (16) is pressurised when the gun is fired and such that the fumes in the bore (12) are extracted by the release of pressure in the main and auxiliary reservoirs (16) and (20), after the projectile has left the barrel (14).

Abstract: This invention relates to an ammunition loading assembly (10) for loading a projectil (12) into a barrel (14) of a gun comprising an urging member (16) for urging the projectile (12) into the said barrel (14). The assembly (10) further includes a drive means (18) for driving the urging member (16) between a projectile receiving position outside the barrel (14) and a projectile delivery position inside the chamber (20) of the gun. The drive means (18) includes a drive chain assembly (22), for driving the urging member (16) between the projectile receiving and delivery positions. The drive chain assembly (22), is rigid in all directions but one, the arrangement being such that the drive chain assembly (22) pushes the urging member (16) from the projectile receiving position to the projectile delivery position and pulls the urging member (16) from the projectile position to the projectile receiving position.