What is "autoloader"

n. 1 (context military English) A mechanical device that loads ordnance into weapons such as tanks and artillery that would otherwise be loaded by a dedicated crew. 2 (context computing English) A mechanical device that automatically loads storage media (such as tapes or disks) into the device that can read them. 3 a semi-automatic firearm

n. a firearm that reloads itself [syn: self-loader]

In armored warfare, an autoloader or auto-loader is a mechanical aid or replacement for the personnel that load ordnance into crew-served weapons, such as tanks and artillery. The term is generally only applied to larger weapons that would otherwise have a dedicated person or persons loading them.

An autoloader, as its name suggests, extracts a shell and propellant charge from the ammunition storage rack/compartment and loads it into a magazine, if the gun has one, or directly into the chamber of the gun if it does not. It can and often does replace a human loader. By automating the loading process, it can streamline and speed up the loading process, resulting in a more effective fighting machine. In addition, by removing the need for one (or more) crew member, the overall size of the vehicle can be reduced, which in turn reduces the amount of surface area that needs to be armored, and thus a vehicle designed to use an autoloader can benefit from a significant decrease in weight and size. Also, since an autoloader can take up less volume inside a tank than a human, it potentially allows for a lower profile, making the tank harder to hit. Autoloaders are mechanical devices, and therefore their reliability depends on how well they are designed, manufactured, and maintained.

An autoloader is a mechanical aid or replacement for the personnel that load ordnance into crew-served weapons, such as tanks and artillery.

Autoloader may also refer to:

• A jargon term for a semi-automatic firearm.
• Autoloader (data storage device), sometimes called a stacker or a jukebox, a data storage device containing multiple media units that can be automatically loaded into the drive.
• A system to Autoload parts of a computer program on demand instead of defining them explicitly
• A fictional magazine featured in the Punisher MAX imprint
• Autoload a feature in some programming languages