An autoloader is a mechanical aid or replacement for the personnel who retrieve ammunition and feed a crew-served weapon. This definition separates the handling system from mechanisms integrated into the gun itself. A smaller operating crew can reduce the access space needed inside a turret and the accommodation, food, water, and support services required elsewhere in the ship. Those savings can produce a smaller hull or release weight and volume for armor and other capabilities. The payoff extends well beyond a faster loading cycle.
Notable Point · 6:58-9:01
What an autoloader changes aboard ship
A working definition of the autoloader leads into its wider effects on turret size, crew accommodation, weight, and armor choices.