Innovative Large Caliber Gun for Naval Gun Fire Support

The objective of this project is to design a new large caliber naval gun to fit in a relatively small volume within a ship and yet be capable of firing ranges considerably greater than are presently available from equal caliber guns and ammunition. This gun will have a very short recoil whose greater recoil forces will be passed directly to major load bearing structure near the ship's keel thereby reducing the necessity to add heavy structure above the ship's vertical center of gravity (KG). This will enhance ship stability. Whereas existing guns require a double ram to load long projectiles and propellant, this gun will have the ability to conduct automatic simultaneous propellant and projectile loading thereby reducing loading time and increasing the firing rate. The unique design of the gun barrel will allow both short and long range firing. The gun design will incorporate lightweight high strength composite material wherever possible to reduce total gun weight. Radar cross section reduction will be a prime design consideration. A conceptual design of the gun was generated to fit the small ship installation volume, low radar cross section, rapid firing and barrel length necessary to achieve long range accurate payload delivery.