Abstract: An advanced lightweight towed artillery weapon system embodying an expendable breech gun provided with a fire-out-of-battery (FOOB) recoil system which utilizes a unique constant force, zone-controlled liquid recoil spring. To facilitate rapid fire, two linear feed ammunition clips are provided to be used alternately.

Abstract: A laminated structural device has the ability to change shape, position and resonant frequency without using discrete motive components. The laminate (10) may be a combination of layers (14,16) of a piezoelectrically active, non-conductive matrix material as shown in FIG. 1. A power source (22) selectively places various levels of charge an electrically conductive filaments (18,20) imbedded in the respective layers to produce various configurations shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 in a predetermined manner. The layers may be electrically conductive having imbedded piezoelectrically active filaments. A combination of layers of electrically conductive material may be laminated to layers of piezoelectrically active material.

Abstract: A constant-force spring of the liquid-gas type comprising a piston slidable n a cylinder and an elastomeric bladder enclosed in the cylinder. The bladder is filled with a gas, preferably nitrogen. The rest of the cylinder is filled with a compressible liquid having a low bulk modulus. A liquid that can be used is dimethyl silicone which has a bulk modulus of only 150,000 psi. The low bulk modulus gives a low spring constant which is necessary if a constant force characteristic is to be achieved.