Configurable weapon station having under armor reload

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted weapon station is configurable to adjust the height of a rotational elevation axis thereof. The weapon station is provided with at least one fixed hanging ammunition container that is reloadable under the armored protection of the vehicle and the weapon station shell. The weapon station may have both electrically-powered and manually-powered drive systems for rotating a pedestal about an azimuth axis relative to the vehicle, and for rotating weaponry and operational units about the elevation axis, wherein the electrical and manual drive systems transmit power through the same output gear.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A cradle for supporting at least one weapon between a pair of yoke arms for rotation about an elevation axis, each of the pair of yoke arms including a respective hub rotatable about the elevation axis, wherein the cradle comprises:
 a pair of laterally-spaced mounting braces configured for respective removable attachment to the hubs of the pair of yoke arms;   a support platform extending between the pair of mounting braces, wherein the support platform extends in a plane parallel to and offset from the elevation axis;   wherein the support platform includes a first under-weapon mounting area upon which a weapon may be seated, the first under-weapon mounting area having an access opening;   wherein the support platform includes an over-weapon mounting area from which a weapon may be suspended;   wherein the cradle is attachable to the hubs in a first orientation such that the plane of the support platform is below the elevation axis for seating a weapon in the first under-weapon mounting area;   wherein the cradle is attachable to the hubs in a second orientation such that the plane of the support platform is above the elevation axis for suspending a weapon from the over-weapon mounting area.   
     
     
         29 . The cradle according to  claim 28 , wherein the support platform further includes a second under-weapon mounting area upon which a weapon may be seated, the second under-weapon mounting area having a corresponding access opening. 
     
     
         30 . The cradle according to  claim 29 , wherein the over-weapon mounting area is between the access opening of the first under-weapon mounting area and the access opening of the second under-weapon mounting area.