Patent ID: 8857308

Claim:
A breech assembly for a cannon having a barrel with a central longitudinal axis and a breech ring fixed to one end of the barrel, the breech assembly comprising: a sliding breechblock disposed in the breech ring and translatable in the breech ring in a direction normal to the central longitudinal axis of the barrel; an insert assembly disposed on a muzzle side of the breechblock and translatable in the breechblock in the direction normal to the central longitudinal axis, the insert assembly including a muzzle side, a breech side, and at least one electrical pin module, the insert assembly being removable from the breechblock without removing the breechblock from the breech ring; and mating portions formed on the breechblock and on the insert assembly that prevent displacement of the insert assembly with respect to the breechblock in a direction along the central longitudinal axis of the barrel.