Autoloader
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- For other uses, see Autoloader (disambiguation)}}}.
An auto-loader, as its name suggests, extracts a shell and propellant charge from a magazine, loads it into the chamber of the gun, and closes the breech. It can and often does replace the loader. Theoretically, by automating the loading process, it should streamline and speed up the loading process, resulting in a more effective fighting machine. Also, since an auto-loader can take up less volume inside a tank than a human, it allows for a lower profile, saving weight and making the tank harder to hit. However, auto-loaders on tanks often fail to live up to these promises and even when they do, they are often to the detriment of other factors that determine combat effectiveness in the real world.
History
Auto-loaders were developed at the beginning of World War II. Their first combat use was in tank-buster aircraft such as the 75mm-equipped Henshel 129. The "Schwerer Gustav" rail way guns used hydralic crane and rammer to assist loading crews. The Sturmtiger assault mortar had a winch to assist in the loading process. Auto-loaders were used in cases where space was at a premium or shell weight prevented the use of human loaders, but their mechanical complication precluded widespread use. Auto-loaders in the modern sense bear closest similarity to those fitted to aircraft. Every Soviet and Russian derived tank since the T-64 main battle tank has used an autoloader, allowing a significant decrease and weight and size. Their use has been mostly shunned by American and British tanks, although the American T22 medium tank was one of the first to use an autoloader; the M551 Sheridan has been the only British or American tank with an autoloader to see service. The French have used an autoloader on every tank since the AMX-13.Issues with Autoloaders on Ground Vehicles
In the modern era, autoloading is ubiquitous on any large (3-5 inch) naval gun. The size of the shells, when combined with the more elaborate autoloading facilities available in the wider spaces of a ship, makes an autoloader much faster than human loaders. For example, the [WWII US 5"/38], arguably the best DP destroyer gun in WWII, used hand-loading w/ power assist, and can load about 20 rounds per minute. The Soviet [AK-130] (twin barrel 130mm), using autoloading, can achieve up to 40 rounds per gun per minute. The Italian 127mm/5" Compact has similar performance. Another example is the USS Des Moines 8-inch guns, which can fire 10RPM when other guns of the same caliber can only do 2. This massive advantage in firepower makes autoloading unarguably the superior choice, whatever its shortcomings.
The contest, however, is a lot closer for ground vehicles, and where most of the discussion lies. The following is a brief rundown:
Reliability
Experiences with the reliability of auto-loaders in tanks have been mixed. Some Soviet models, such as the T-64, have had very reliable auto-loaders, while others, such as the T-72, have had less reliable auto-loaders. For example, if the tank gunner's arm or clothing is near the breech, he may find his arm being torn off and loaded into the barrel of the weapon. The American M8 AGS (cancelled) autoloader was supposed to work quite well, while the Stryker MGS' autoloader is supposed to be poor. In any case, it is quite unlikely an autoloader can get as reliable as a human loader. If the autoloader fails, manual loading becomes very awkward because the autoloader takes up most of the required space.Rate of Fire
A modern autoloader for a 120-125mm caliber weapon in good condition can achieve about 10-12 rounds per minute. This rating may or may not include the time required the bring the gun to the appropriate loading angle (if required) and then bringing it back up to firing angle after loading. This is fast, but not quite as fast as a human loader, for which claims of 15 rounds per minute (at least for a short time) are made.On the other hand, the very newest [autoloaders] claim to match this rate of fire. Furthermore, it is considered atypical to engage more than a few targets per minute in a tank. The autoloader may also have an advantage over bumpy ground that may jar the human loader enough to disrupt his loading cycle.
For weapons above 125mm, the increased weight of the round pushes this issue decisively in favor of the autoloader. For 6-inch self-propelled artillery, for example, autoloaders can typically achieve 8-12 rounds per minute, while humans typically achieve 4. For sustained bombardments, this may not be so important for sustained firing rates for artillery is typically only 1-2RPM, but the rapid-fire capability is vital to "shoot-and-scoot" tactics to deliver enough fire and then avoid the rapid counterbattery response provided by modern counterbattery systems.
Survivability
Another common, but not universal, issue is survivability; many autoloaders store their ammunition in the turret basket, increasing the possibility of a catastrophic explosion should the armor around the ammunition be penetrated, although such a penetration is unlikely in this location.Size
Autoloaders are often implemented in an attempt to save on tank size. The T-64 is an example of this. The current generation of tanks using autoloaders (T-90, Japanese Type 90, Chinese Type 98, French Leclerc) all weigh between 45-55 tons. Tanks that don't use autoloaders tend to weigh in the 55-70 ton range (M1A2, Challenger II...etc). This produces advantages in cost savings, from material required to produce the tank to logistics.The relative value of the 4th crewmember
Autoloaders are often criticized for replacing the fourth crewmember of the crew. The loader represents a lookout, emergency backup driver/gunner, mechanic and sentry, all of which are lost when replaced with an autoloader.On the other hand, this saves on training costs per tank. It can also be argued that while the loader has marginal utility in all these auxiliary roles, his primary role can be replaced with a machine quite well, so he can be reassigned for greater overall utility. For example, in a tank platoon of 3 tanks, a switch to autoloading means 3 outstanding crew members. They can man a 4th tank, which will arguably go a long way towards compensating for any autoloader weaknesses. They can also be retrained as dedicated mechanics, or as a SAM team to provide anti-air protection.
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