Turret system for lightweight military vehicle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention incorporates several features that may be used alone or in combination but when combined cooperate to provide an optimum lightweight vehicle construction capable of supporting relatively large weapon systems.
The preferred embodiment employs a turret construction having a disk rotatably mounted on a platform.
The platform is connected to the vehicle frame by way of a plurality of stanchions.
Preferably, the stanchions are potted or filled with a elastomeric material to help isolate the vehicle from impulse forces generated by the weapon.
The crew sits in chassis/hull mounted seats, one of the seats being reversed for a gunner.
The crew is thus provided with comfortable quarters and are preferably provided with exterior side doors adjacent each seat for quick exit if required.
Both powered and manual backup drives are provided for moving the weapon in elevation and azimuth.
The elevation drive includes a stationarily mounted lower portion having a manually actuable member accessible by the gunner from his seat.
The upper portion of the elevation drive is rotatably coupled to the lower portion so that the upper portion may rotate with the turret during azimuth positioning and yet still provide elevation control.
Among the advantages of the turret construction of this invention is that the crew members are located comfortably within the protected interior of the vehicle.
Since the gunner does not ride in the turret, the turret construction is simplified, of minimal silhouette and comparatively lightweight.
As will appear, the construction of the present invention enables various weapons and/or weapon stations to be interchangeably used in an easy manner.
All of these advantages and more are provided while employing a basic lightweight vehicle design that can be used in a variety of other configurations as desired.