What's an Autoloader Anyway?

Falathi:  It works differently, but in order to discuss all the technological solutions used in the 40s-50s we would need a whole series of articles.  Also, let's remember that there are two things that often fall into the same category of autoloaders: - mechanisms that served to deliver few shots in quick succession, but then needed a reload of the whole mechanism. Such mechanisms were designed by the Germans towards end of the war ( they tried to make 8,8cm gun with mechanism to quickly reload the gun with another 2-3 shells after the first one was fired ), also IIRC they are pretty often used in the modern artillery, to make sure that they can provide intense barrage in a very short amount of time.  - mechanisms that were intended to replace the loader completely and allow to load all ammunition available, but not necessarily allowing for quick bursts or much higher rate of fire than tanks with loader on board. In game, a good example is the Stridsvagn 103 - no quick salvos, but all the ammunition is loaded by the mechanism. Also, IRL example of such solution would be the T-72 MBT.  AMX 13 is an interesting case here, because you can say that it combines both approaches: thanks to its double drum magazine it can fire several shots in a short amount of time - but IRL once these two drums are emptied they need to be reloaded externally, meaning they contain all the ammunition available for the tank.