Whither the Autoloader?
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Published 2019-09-14
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All Comments (21)
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The other advantage to most Tankers is that an autoloader wont drink your Beer
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Autoloaders are just unreliable because nobody is using properly sanctified lubricants and performing the rites of reloading during the firing, how can you expect proper function without calming the machine-spirit?
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13:00 it seems that one set of the crews hasn't even finished evolving yet.
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Chieftain, I always find it hilarious that you are named for a British tank, are Irish, and drove American.
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Mildly amused by the spontaneous evolution of crewmen at 13:00 ; Since we're losing the human in the right image, does that mean the loader is the peak of the tanker species?
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The loader is the bass player of the tank crew. He exists to pay for the pizza, drink your beer, and hold up the entire band without thanks.
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Two advantages to autoloaders often overlooked: - autoloaders can work with bigger rounds than human can handle - smaller crew means lower maximum casualties in case of catastrophic tank explosion
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One thing that might make a move to autoloaders necessary is the rise in the weight and dimensions of the ammunition. When Rheinmetall unveiled the 130mm l51 gun, they themselves said that the ammunition would be too large and heavy for a manual loader to load effectively, and that an autoloader would be required for any tank mounting the new gun.
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If you get rid of the loader/operator who brews the Tea and the Pot Noodles. British tanks dont run on diesel they run on boiling water
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"Hey, dudes we can use elsewhere!" Reminds me of my time in the army, then the officers didn't like medics sitting at the field hospital "not doing anything" and wanting to put them to work. I mean, sure, but what good are the medics when something goes wrong and they're miles away on guard duty or digging a ditch?
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"Put the manpower to other uses....." yes......as long as there are Sgts Maj in the Army there will never be 14 guys idle in a tank company.
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The best counter to "If it is not broken why fix it" is "Do you want to fight the next war the same way you fought the last one?"
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Slaps Loader on the back after his return from the APC "There are some tracks that need tensioning with your name on them!"
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As a fellow Irishman I appreciate your commitment to adhering to the “farmers tan” tradition.
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I actually quite liked the idea of rounding up all the now unemployed loaders and forming two 'panzergrenadier' squads out of them
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OR , you have a dedicated crew member that makes the Tea conclusion , autoloaders are bad for crew morale
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I worked on many of the US autoloaders that you mention - TTB, Block 3, FastDraw, Compact Autoloader, Stryker MGS, FCS, et al. Your commentary is pretty accurate and I’m amazed that you know of some of the “minor” projects that only went to prototype phase. Well done.
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" ... the primary weapon of a tank is its tracks" is how I will now forever refer to mobility as the tracks being the primary armament
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The other advantage of a three man crew is that every man has his own hatch to get out of. No more gunners trying to get out through the commander.
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Sweden did not really drop the autoloader. It was more that the best option availible didn't have an autoloader. For example the Leclerc was a part of the swedish trials and if Sweden had gone ahead with the Strv 2000 project - it would most likely had an autoloader.
