Abstract: The assembly comprises a bottom plate mounted to freely rotate with respect to a stationary base plate and carrying the saddle frame structure for a gun barrel. A gear unit includes drivable gear mechanism for drivingly rotating the bottom plate with respect to the stationary base plate. A coupling mechanism includes a device for operatively engaging the drivable gear mechanism to rotate the bottom plate member with respect to the stationary base plate. The coupling mechanism includes a gear engaging mechanism movable between a disengaged position in which the drivable gear mechanism is not operatively engaged so that the bottom plate is in a freely rotatable condition and an engaged position in which the gear mechanism is effecitve to rotate the bottom plate with respect to the stationary base plate. In the disengaged position, free rotation of the bottom plate with respect to the stationary base plate may be made in a simple and quick manner via an actuating device.

Abstract: A support apparatus for a grenade thrower tube comprises a height adjustment assembly that raises and lowers the tube along a vertical axis and a sideways adjustment assembly that moves the tube back-and-forth in a direction transverse to the vertical axis. The novel combination with the support apparatus comprises an extension mechanism pivotally mounted to rotate about the vertical axis and a coupling device for rotatably connecting the sideways adjacent assembly on the extension mechanism at a location laterally spaced from the vertical axis. In a specific embodiment, the coupling device includes a locking mechanism which fixes the sideways adjustment assembly at a selected rotational position with respect to the extension mechanism. The locking mechanism has an automatically actuating capacity to lock the rotational position of the sideways adjustment assembly at a preselected location.

Abstract: Height adjustment apparatus for the firing barrel of a shell launcher includes a mounting mechanism which pivotally supports the firing barrel about an axis of rotation for movement to various tilt positions. A further support device pivotally connects at a point along the firing barrel and laterally displaced from the axis of rotation. The support device includes an upper support section, a lower support section and a joint intermediate mechanism for pivotally moving the upper support section between an extended rest position and a bent position with respect to the lower support section. The firing barrel is in a firing position when the upper support section is in an extended rest position and in a stored position when the upper support section is in the bent position.

Abstract: A shell launching assembly includes a projector barrel having a smooth, inner wall and an upper end into which a shell is loaded by insertion from above. The assembly comprises an ignition mechanism disposed in a lower end of the barrel closed by a cap member. The projector barrel is positioned in a variable tilted position. A recoil brake mechanism is mounted to cushion the recoil of the projector barrel from a starting position to a recoil position upon firing a shell therefrom. The projector barrel is removably disposed with respect to the recoil brake mechanism so that the barrel may be independently used apart from the launching assembly.