Patent ID: 8726784

Claim:
A split lift howitzer, comprising: i) an elevating mass including: a) an ordnance for firing a projectile, the ordnance including a barrel defining a barrel axis and having a muzzle towards a front end of the howitzer and a breech assembly at a rear end of the barrel; and b) a cradle for holding the ordnance at a traverse and an elevation, wherein the cradle includes a front bridge portion which engages with a piston rod of a recoil brake and a piston rod of a recuperator, and the recoil brake is mounted on top of the barrel and the recuperator is mounted below the barrel; and c) two trunnion pins of a trunnion located on said cradle, which co-locate with receiving trunnion bearings on a saddle; ii) wherein in a first position said breech assembly is located forward of said trunnion; iii) in a second position said breech assembly is retracted substantially behind said trunnion; and iv) wherein a recoil stroke is variable depending on a selection of elevation.