GB2255620A

GB2255620A - Armoured vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2255620A
Application number: GB8625618A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Armin Zonak
Original assignee: Mak Maschinenbau GmbH; Mak System GmbH; Krupp Mak Maschinenbau GmbH
Current assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH and Co KG; Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH
Priority date: 1985-11-06
Filing date: 1986-10-26
Publication date: 1992-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2006-10-26
Also published as: FR2677745A1; GB2255620B

Abstract

In an armoured vehicle e.g. a tank, with a weapon turret 7, the turret ring 3 is mounted beneath the hull roof 2, and the diameter of the turret ring 3 corresponds approximately to the width of the weapon turret 7, viewed in the firing direction of the main weapon 11, in order to make it possible to obtain an asymmetric weapon arrangement and good seating possibilities for the turret crew (Fig. 1). The ammunition supply 14 from a bunker 13 into a turret magazine 15 is on one side of the vehicle opposite to the side housing the crew members (8). The main viewing means 17 is also on said one side with an auxiliary aiming means 18 above the main weapon 11. Turret armouring 4 drawn down into the hull roof 2 protects the crew space (23). <IMAGE>

Description

Armoured vehicle Armoured vehicle The invention relates to an armoured vehicle with a rotatable weapon turret which is connected to the vehicle hull via a turret ring mounting.

In armoured vehicles of this type, it is known to design the vehicle hull and the weapon turret as separate units and mount the weapon turret in the hull roof by means of the turret ring mounting. At the same time, the diameter of the turret ring mounting is made as small as possible, so that the turret outer walls projecting beyond it protect it from being damaged by shots. The turret is also made as low-slung as possible, in order to ensure that the vehicle has a low overall silhouette. At the same time, the turret crew is accommodated in the turret cage inside the hull, only their heads and shoulders being in the turret region, and is distributed on both sides of the main weapon.

The defect of arrangements of this type is that the turret ring mounting, despite being covered by the turret outer walls, can be damaged relatively easily and impedes the rotary movement of the turret. On the other hand, the particular arrangement of the crew means that there have to be a large turret-roof surface and turret front sides to be armoured. Arranging the main viewing means within the turret front wall to be equipped with strong armouring causes additional vulnerability because of the perforations necessary for optical channels.

The object of the invention is to improve armoured vehicles of the particular generic type, increase their degree of safety against damage and influence favourably the ratio between the protection of the vehicle and its weight.

According to the invention, this object is achieved because the turret ring mounting is arranged underneath the hull roof, the armouring of the weapon turret penetrates with its lower outer edge into the hull armouring, and the diameter of the turret ring corresponds approximately to the width of the weapon turret.

It is thereby possible to draw the turret armouring down into the hull roof, especially on the front side of the turret, and finish the Lower edge of the outer wall flush with the hulL roof. The large turret ring also makes it possible to accommodate some of the turret crew in the sitting position in the region between the turret ring and turret roof, without increasing the overall height of the vehicLe.

In a favourable design, the inner height between the turret roof and the turret ring corresponds to the sitting height of the turret crew over the seating area of the latter.

It is also proposed that the weapon turret should carry a main weapon arranged asymmetrically, and that the space for the turret crew be provided on one side of the main weapon. This design makes it possible for the front and roof surfaces of the turret, which are to be armoured, to be reduced considerably in comparison with known arrangements.

In order largely to eliminate the danger to the crew presented by the ammunition of the main weapon, it is proposed that the ammunition supply from the vehicle hull be arranged on the side of the main weapon facing away from the turret crew.

As an additional safety measure, the outlook for the main viewing means is arranged on the side of the main weapon facing away from the turret crew.

Moreover, the auxiliary aiming means is arranged above the main weapon in the region of the weapon hood and is connected to the eyepiece of the main viewing means via an optical channel.

To be independent of the aiming movement of the main weapon, it is proposed that the optical channel of the auxiliary aiming means be guided through the pivot mounting of the main weapon.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated diagrammatically in the drawing. In this: Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through an armoured vehicle.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a weapon turret on an en larged scale.

Figure 3 shows a part longitudinal section through the vehicle with an illustration of the ammunition flow.

Figure 4 shows a front view of the turret.

The armoured vehicle illustrated consists of a hull 1 with a hull roof 2, a turret ring 3 being mounted underneath the surface of the hull roof and a weapon turret 7 being arranged above it. This makes it possible to draw a turret armouring 4 down into the hull roof 2, especially on the front side of the turret, until its outer wall 5 is practically flush with the hull roof 2.

The diameter of the turret ring 3 corresponds approximately to the width 6 of the weapon turret 7. It is thus possible to accommodate at least some of the turret crew 8 in the sitting position in the region between the turret ring 3 and the turret roof 9, without increasing the overall height 10 of the vehicle.

The large diameter of the turret ring 3 also makes it possible to arrange the main weapon 11 asymmetrically in the weapon turret 7, without thereby impairing the aiming and stabilizing behaviour. This arrangement makes it easier to accommodate the turret crew 8 on only one side of the main weapon 11, and consequently the front and roof surfaces of the weapon turret 7 which are to be armoured can be reduced considerably.

Furthermore, the ammunition 12 is conveyed, via a transport device 14 on the side of the main weapon 11 facing away from the turret crew 8, from a bunker 13 fixed to the hull (Figure 3) into a turret magazine 15.

To Load the main weapon 11, the ammunition 12 is extracted either from the turret magazine 15 or directly from the transport device 14 by means of a loading device 25, is swung behind the main weapon 11 and is pushed in.

This arrangement largely eliminates the additional danger to the crew presented by the ammunition of the main weapon.

Moreover, an outlook 16 of a main viewing means 17 is likewise placed on the side of the main weapon 11 facing away from the crew 8, thus avoiding the need to make a perforation associated with the outlook 16 through the armouring in the region of the crew 8.

An auxiliary aiming means 18 is aLso shifted out of the region of the turret crew 8 into the weapon hood 19 and is connected to the eyepiece 21 of the main viewing means 17 via an optical channel 20 teasing through the pivot mounting 24 of the weapon 11. This arrangement makes it possible, in addition, for the eyepiece 21 to remain stationary independently of the aiming movement of the main weapon 11.

Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment, auxiliary armourments 22 parallel to the main weapon are shifted out of the region of the turret crew and arranged on the side of the main weapon 11 facing away from it, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 4.

Figure 4 shows particularly clearly some of the abovementioned advantages of the design of the weapon turret 8, specifically the asymmetric main weapon 17, the front armouring 4 of the crew space 23 which is not interrupted -and weakened by any devices, the outlook 16 of the main viewing means 17 on the side of the main weapon 11 facing away from the turret crew 8, the auxiliary aiming means 18 directly above the maio-~eapon 11 within the weapon hood 19, and the auxiliary armourment 22 on the side of the main weapon 11 facing away from the turret crew 8.

Abstract Armoured vehicle In an armoured vehicle with a weapon turret, the turret ring mounting is arranged underneath the hull roof. At the same time, the diameter of the turret ring corresponds approximately to the width of the weapon turret, in order to make it possible to obtain an asymmetric weapon arrangement and good seating possibilities for the turret crew, without increasing the height of the vehicle, and to ensure safety against damage.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. Armoured vehicle with a rotatable weapon turret which is connected to the vehicle hull via a turret ring mounting, characterized in that the turret ring mounting (3) is arranged underneath the hull roof (2), the armouring of the weapon turret (7) penetrates with its lower outer edge into the hull armouring, and the diameter of the turret ring (3) corresponds approximately to the width (6) of the weapon turret (7).

2. Armoured vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the inner height between the turret roof (9) and the turret ring (3) corresponds to the sitting height of the turret crew (8) over the seating area of the latter.

3. Armoured vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the weapon turret (7) carries a main weapon (11) arranged asymmetrically, and the space for the turret crew (8) is provided on one side of the main weapon (11).

4. Armoured vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the ammunition supply from the vehicle hull (1) is arranged on the side of the main weapon (11) facing away from the turret crew (8).

5. ' An armoured vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. Armoured vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outlook for the-main viewing means (17) is arranged on the side of the main weapon (11) facing away from the turret crew (8).

6. Armoured vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the auxiliary aiming means (18) is arranged above the main weapon (11) in the region of the weapon hood (19) and is connected to the eyepiece (21) of the main viewing means (17) via an optical channel (20).

7. Armoured vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the optical channel (20) of the auxiliary aiming means (18) is guided through the pivot mounting (24) of the main weapon (11).

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Armoured vehicle comprising an armoured vehicle hull with a roof in which a rotatable weapon turret is mounted for rotation on a turret ring arranged below the level of the hull roof with armour on the weapon turret penetrating with a lower outer edge thereof into the hull armour, wherein the weapon turret carries a main weapon arranged asymmetrically therein, a seating area for a turret crew being positioned on one side of the main weapon with a seat at the level of the turret ring, and an ammunition supply from the vehicle hull being arranged on the.

other side of the main weapon,and the diameter of the turret ring corresponding approximately to the maximum width of the weapon turret viewed in the firing direction of the main weapon.

2. Armoured vehicle according to Claim 1 further comprising main viewing means with an outlook arranged on the side of the main weapon remote from the turret crew.

3. Armoured vehicle according to Claim 2, which further comprises auxiliary aiming means arranged above the main weapon in the region of a weapon hood and connected to the eyepiece of the main viewing means via an optical channel.

4. Armoured vehicle according to Claim 3, wherein the optical channel of the auxiliary aiming means is guided through a pivot mounting of the main weapon.