Patent ID: 7594465

Claim:
A weapon system; the weapon system for use firing a self propelled round, the weapon system comprising: a muzzle end having a first muzzle end and a second breech end, wherein the gun barrel is elevatable through a range of elevations from negative to positive with respect to the breech end; a lockable breech disposed proximate the second breech end of the gun barrel, the breech having an open lading position and a locked firing position, a bore defined by the gun barrel, the bore at the second end of the gun barrel accessible to loading a round when the breech is in the open position; an in bore air regulation system in cooperation with the lockable breech being selectively operably in communication with the bore for selectively applying a vacuum and a positive pressure between the breech and the round, the vacuum being sufficient to bring the round into engagement with the breech and to hold the round in engagement with the breech through the range of elevations of the barrel from negative to positive with respect to the horizontal and the positive pressure being sufficient to expel an unfired round from the barrel without opening the breech.