1. The document discusses the construction of a gun carrier, specifically its major components which include the bottom carriage, equalizer, top carriage, cradle, sleigh, and equilibrator. 2. The bottom carriage supports the weight of the weapon and may include an axle and trail ends. An equalizer is a mechanical device that allows the four points of contact with the ground to be in different planes to compensate for uneven terrain. 3. A top carriage mounts to the bottom carriage and contains the weapon/cradle. It can rotate about the bottom carriage for traverse via a pintle connection.

1. SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLES –
U14AUT703
CONSTRUCTION OF GUN CARRIER
Presented by,
Kowshigan S V (14BAU031)

2. CONSTRUCTION OF GUN CARRIER
CLASSIFICATION OF CARRIAGES
Self propelled carriage:
• A self propelled carriage is one that contains its own means of propulsion. Current models of
self propelled weapons are air transportable
Towed carriages
• A towed artillery weapon is one that must be moved by some external source of power such as
a tractor or truck. A lunette on the end of the trial and a coupling the carriage to the prime
mover. Because of their relatively light weight, towed weapons are transportable by both rotary
wing and fixed wing aircraft.

3. COMPONENTS OF GUN CARRIER

4. CONSTRUCTION OF GUN CARRIER
Components of the Carriage
• The carriage consists of some combination of the , following major components
Bottom carriage,
Equalizer,
Top Carriage,
Cradle,
Sleigh,
Equilibrator,
Axle trail
Bottom carriage.
The bottom, or lower, carriage (figs 2-1 and 2-2) is that part of the Axle.
Axle
The axle is that part of the carriage that weapon that supports the top carriage. Portions of
supports the weight of the weapon. Spindles on the mels. The size and shape of the bottom
carriage pintle--a vertical pin about which the top carriage may eliminate the need for a standard
axle, in rotates--secures the top carriage to the bottom which case, spindles for mounting the
wheels are carriage. The trail ends may be attached to mounted on either side of the carriage (fig 2-
3). the bottom carriages, and, on some weapons, a equivalizer

5. CONSTRUCTION OF GUN CARRIER
Equalizer.
Certain towed weapons are firing jack or spade (fig 2-3) may also be attached. equipped with an
equalizer (fig 2-5), a mechanical The bottom carrimage may be fixed to the axle, or it device that
permits the four points of contact with may replace the axle and carry the wheels. The the ground
(the two wheels and two trail ends) to be construction of the towed howitzer M102 differs in
different planes. The equalizer compensates for considerably from that of earlier models in that it
irregularity of the terrain so that the weight of the has no bottom carriage. When the weapon is in
the weapon and the shock of firing are transmitted to firing position, the entire weapon and
carriage rest the ground through all four points. The most " on a platform and pivot in traverse
about a pivot common type of equalizer is a horizontal support and socket joint located in the
center of the firing secured to the axle by a horizontal pivot pin. The platform (fig 2-4). support,
located behind the axle, can rotate through a small vertical angle about the A: ,; horizontal pivot pin
that secures the support to the midpoint of the axle. The trails are attached to the ends of the
support. The horizontal pivot pin and the two trail spades provide the three-point suspension for
stability of the weapon in firing. A pin (called a pintle) passes vertically through the center of the
support and provides a pivot point about which the top carriage traverses. When the "weapon is
placed in the traveling position, the axle and support are locked together. Equalizers are generally
used with light artillery carriages. " , MM8" •-
Firing jack.
The firing jack supports the Son •forward weight of the carriage during firing; the firing jack and the
two trail spades provide three-point suspension. A firing jack is used with Figure 2-1. Components
of the carriage, the towed medium artillery carriage. echanism for rotating the top carriage in ends
of the axle provide a means for mounting the traverse are attached to the bottom carriage.