Patent ID: 6457396
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: F41A

Abstract:
A self propelled gun comprising:a vehicle possessing a source of primary power and a gun assembly, said gun assembly comprising: a base; a cradle pivotally mounted to the base about a bearing; and a barrel slidably mounted to the cradle such as to be displaceable from a first to a second position as a consequence of the barrel recoiling on firing, wherein the gun assembly is movably mounted to the vehicle such that in a first, â€œmobilityâ€ , mode the gun assembly is free of any direct contact with the ground, and said barrel points in a first direction allowing said vehicle to be driven and a second, â€œfiringâ€ , mode of operation in which the gun assembly is deployed to a firing position in which the base moves towards and into engagement with the ground and wherein said barrel is deployable through an angle of elevation which differs from said first direction by at least ninety degrees, said bearing is positioned at a point beyond the maximum recoil of the barrel.