Oscillating turret

Under a cradle tower (also: Weigh- tower) is defined as a gun turret of a tank, in which the cannon is rigidly installed, and can be adjusted for in the slope ( instead of the normal cannon in turrets ). For this, the tower is placed on the turntable on two journals. These are used to change the elevation range.

The rigidly built cannon moves - except for the recoil - not against the tower and is embedded in a cradle. The advantage is that higher shot rates can be achieved and the installation of a self-loading mechanism as well as a fire control system is much simpler.

A disadvantage of however, that the tendency of the whole tower requires more energy and the Inclination adjustment fails considerably lower than in most other tanks. Since these disadvantages outweigh the advantages battle tanks, the cradle tower did not prevail with them.

On mass-produced tanks of the French Enlightenment tank EWC -75, the light French tank AMX -13 and based on this Austrian Cuirassier Jagdpanzer were equipped with a weighing tower. Prototypes for battle tanks, such as the French AMX - 50 and based on the M48 Patton American T54E1 were not produced in series.