Abstract: A round is rapidly transferred from a magazine, located at a fixed position on the chassis of a tank, to a ramming position adjacent a traversable firearm mounted in a turret on the tank, by use of a loading trough which is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder to transport a round from the magazine to a round cradle. The round cradle is rotatable about an axis extending at right angles to the traversing plane of the firearm, is located in a predetermined feeding position relative to the magazine for receiving the round delivered by the loading trough, is thereafter rotated through an angle to orient the cradle and round thereon to a position coinciding with the prevailing traverse position of the firearm, whereafter gripping members are activated to move the round from the cradle to the ramming position adjacent the firearm.

Abstract: A tank having a firearm mounted thereon for selective elevation and depression about trunnions located within a turret, is provided with a cover pivotally mounted on said turret and adapted to be engaged by the recoil jacket of the gun when the gun barrel is in a depressed position to swing the cover upwardly thereby to cause the recoil space to extend at least partially above a frame for the cover. The arrangement further includes a cartridge case deflector located within the tank below the cover and pivotally fastened at its opposing ends to a portion of the cover and to the recoil jacket of the barrel respectively, and the sides of the cartridge case deflector are adapted to be compressed by one another when engaged by a loading tray within the turret to enable rounds to be moved from a magazine to a loading position.