GB2197277A

GB2197277A - Improvements in airships

Info

Publication number: GB2197277A
Application number: GB08623256A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reginald Harold Hillsdon
Original assignee: Airship Industries UK Ltd
Current assignee: Airship Industries UK Ltd
Priority date: 1986-09-26
Filing date: 1986-09-26
Publication date: 1988-05-18
Also published as: GB8623256D0

Abstract

Armament apparatus for an airship gondola comprises a firing platform 15 capable of carrying weapons, e.g. missiles 17, and a telescopic ram 14 to deploy the firing platform underneath the gondola to allow firing of the weapons, the firing platform being able to swivel through 360 DEG about a vertical axis to allow the direction of fire to be controlled. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in airships This invention relates to airships and in particular to airship armament apparatus.

The invention provides armament apparatus for an airship gondola, comprising a firing platform capable of carrying one or more weapons at a time, retractable means for deploying the firing platform underneath the gondola to allow firing of the weapons, and means to enable the firing platform to swivel through 360" about a vertical axis at least in its deployed position.

The retractable deployment means may comprise a telescopic ram. The firing platform preferably has an external housing which is aerodynamically shaped.

The gondola preferably has a door or doors on its underside which are operable to allow deployment of the firing platform and closable when the firing platform is in its deployed position.

There is preferably included a magazine or magazines for storing weapons within the gondola. There is preferably further included means for loading weapons from the magazine or magazines onto the firing platform when the firing platform is in its fully retracted position, and the weapons loading means is preferably usable for loading weapons into the magazine or magazines at a loading station.

By way of example, an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of airship armament apparatus according to the invention, showing the weapons deployment mechanism in both retracted and deployed positions.

There is seen in Figure 1 a section 10 of an airship gondola. The section houses the airship armament apparatus and is separate from any pressurised portion of the gondola. The section 10 contains a magazine 11 for weapons storage, a conveyor system 12 for weapons handling and loading and a retractable weapons deployment mechanism 13. The weapons deployment mechanism 13 is shown in Figure 1 in both its retracted and deployed positions.

The weapons deployment mechanism 13 comprises a telescopic ram 14 on the end of which there is mounted a firing platform 15.

The ram 14 is mounted in the section 10 to be retractable and extensible vertically up and down. The section 10 is provided with doors 16 on its underside to provide access into the section interior. When the doors 16 are open, the ram 14 can be extended to deploy the firing platform 15 beneath the gondola. With the firing platform 15 thus deployed, the doors 16 can then be closed. The firing platform 15 has the capability to carry one or more weapons. In Figure 1, the firing platform 15 is seen carrying four missiles 17, each in a canister 18. Each canister 18 is slung under the firing platform 15 and is carried by means of pincers 19 on the firing platform which grab holds 20 on the sides of the canister.

After launch of each missile 17 in action, its canister 18 is jettisoned. In an exercise, however, it is preferable for these canisters to be retained. The firing platform 15 advantageously has an external housing which is aerodynamically shaped (though this is not shown in Figure 1 in the interests of clarity). The missiles may have'a self-powered lauch capability or may simply be released to drop under gravity. The firing platform 15 may include a mechanism for accelerating the missiles up to a minimum launch speed. Other kinds of weapons, e.g. machine guns, may additionally or alternatively be deployed on the firing platform 15. References herein to the "firing" of weapons, therefore, will be understood to mean the launch of such weapons as missiles, whether under propulsion or gravity, as well as the firing of such weapons as machine guns.

The launch platform 1 5 is capable of swivelling through 360" about a vertical axis. As airships move relatively slowly, they are often travelling in a direction which is offset from their longitudinal axis. The swivelling capability of the firing platform 15 enables compensation to be made for variations in the yaw angle of the airship so that the deployed weapons can be fired in the right direction. The firing platform 15 may have the capability to pivot about a horizontal axis in order to provide a variable firing angle of elevation. However, such movement would have to be carefully restricted to avoid the risk of hitting the airship itself. The firing platform 15 can be rotated and elevated under direct command from the gondola personnel or by servo drive from a firing control system.

The weapons conveyor system 12 is in two parts. A horizontal conveyor 21, conveniently comprising chains and sprockets, conveys weapons to a position below the firing platform 15 (in its retracted position) enabling the weapons to be loaded onto the firing platform at a loading station. The horizontal conveyor 21 also enables empty canisters ?8 unloaded from the firing platform 15 to be carried away after launch of their missiles 17 and is used for initial loading of weapons into the magazine 11. A vertical conveyor 22 conveys weapons between the horizontal conveyor 21 and the magazine 11 which is at a level above the firing platform. Weapons are loaded into the magazine through automatic safety doors. The vertical conveyor 22 is again conveniently chain and sprocket driven and here includes end trays 23 which are designed for handling the missile canisters 18.Here, the weapons are conveyed longitudinally from the magazine 11 for loading onto the firing platform 15, although alternatively or additionally, weapons storage may be provided in laterally disposed magazines. It will be appreciated that the weapons conveying system 12 in the section 10 may take many different forms, including a manual system. The horizontal conveyor 21, for example, may be in two parts, one on each of the doors 16. This enables the conveyor 21 to swing out of the way when the doors are opened to provide access for deployment of the firing platform. To load weapons into the section 10, a winch is conveniently provided to enable weapons to be hauled up into the interior of the section. This is done when the ram 14 is fully retracted.

The winch may be mounted on the firing platform or on an adjacent structure with, for example, a cable through a sheave on the firing platform. After hauling weapons into the section interior, the doors can be closed to provide a safe working platform. Weapons can be stored in the magazine in an inert condition for safety and added protection for the magazine may be provided in the form of lightweight armour. Inert gas, water spray or other extinguishants provide fire risk control in the section interior and/or magazine.

Claims

1. Armament apparatus for an airship gondola, comprising a firing platform capable of carrying one or more weapons at a time, retractable means for deploying the firing platform underneath the gondola to allow firing of the weapons, and means to enable the firing platform to swivel through 360" about a vertical axis at least in its deployed position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the retractable deployment means comprises a telescopic ram.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the firing platform has an external housing which is aerodynamically shaped.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the gondola has a door or doors on its underside which are operable to allow deployment of the firing platform and closable when the firing platform is in its deployed position.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim and further including a magazine or magazines for storing weapons within the gondola.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and further including means for loading weapons from the magazine or magazines onto the firing platform when the firing platform is in its fully retracted position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claimed 6 wherein the weapons loading means is usable for loading weapons into the magazine or magazines at a loading station.

8. Armament apparatus for an airship gondola substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.