Guided Missile Launching System
Encyclopedia
The Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) is a device for launching guided missile
s, and is found on many U.S. Navy
ships.
Guided Missile
Guided Missile is a London based independent record label set up by Paul Kearney in 1994.Guided Missile has always focused on 'the underground', preferring to put out a steady flow of releases and developing the numerous GM events around London and beyond....
s, and is found on many U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
ships.
Launchers by Designation
| Designation | Description |
|---|---|
| Mk 1 | Twin Arm Terrier Launcher on USS Mississippi (AG-128) for initial Terrier testing. |
| Mk 4 | Early Twin-arm launcher for the RIM-2 Terrier RIM-2 Terrier The Convair RIM-2 Terrier was a two-stage medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships. Originally, the Terrier had a launch thrust of 23 kN , and weight of 1392 kg... . Fit only to the Boston class Boston class cruiser The United States Navy's Boston class were the first guided missile cruisers in the world. Both ships in this experimental class were originally Baltimore class heavy cruisers that had been decommissioned after World War II, but were redesignated as guided missile heavy cruisers and entered refit... guided missile cruisers. Vertically loading design distinguished this launcher from the horizontally loading Mk 9 and Mk 10. |
| Mk 5 | Twin-arm launcher for the Terrier RIM-2 Terrier The Convair RIM-2 Terrier was a two-stage medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships. Originally, the Terrier had a launch thrust of 23 kN , and weight of 1392 kg... , Tartar RIM-24 Tartar The General Dynamics RIM-24 Tartar was a medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships... and Standard Standard missile Standard Missile can refer to a family of several different American missiles:* RIM-66 Standard , a medium range surface-to-air missile, the successor of the RIM-24 Tartar missile... missiles. Terrier Extended Range missiles were fired from its right arm rail, while Tartar Medium Range missiles were launched from its left arm. Used at the USS Desert Ship (LLS-1) USS Desert Ship (LLS-1) USS Desert Ship is a concrete blockhouse providing assembly and launch facilities simulating shipboard conditions for Navy surface-to-air weapons testing at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division - White Sands.-Origin:... Navy surface-to-air weapons testing facility at White Sands Missile Range. |
| Mk 7 | Twin-arm launcher for the RIM-8 Talos RIM-8 Talos The Bendix RIM-8 Talos was a long-range naval surface-to-air missile, and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships. The Talos used radar beam riding for guidance to the vicinity of its target, and semiactive radar homing for terminal guidance... missile. Used on Galveston class cruiser Galveston class cruiser Originally built as Cleveland-class light cruisers in the United States Navy during World War II, in 1957 three ships were re-designated as Galveston-class guided missile light cruisers and fitted with the Talos long-range surface-to-air missile system... s. Differed from Mk 12 in that all missiles were stored above main deck. |
| Mk 8 | |
| Mk 9 | Twin-arm launcher for the RIM-2 Terrier RIM-2 Terrier The Convair RIM-2 Terrier was a two-stage medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships. Originally, the Terrier had a launch thrust of 23 kN , and weight of 1392 kg... missile. Used on Providence class cruiser Providence class cruiser Originally built as light cruisers in the United States Navy during World War II, in 1957 three ships were re-designated as Providence-class guided missile light cruisers and fitted with the Terrier surface-to-air missile system... s. Differed from Mk 10 in that all missiles were stored above main deck. |
| Mk 10 | Twin-arm launcher for the RIM-2 Terrier RIM-2 Terrier The Convair RIM-2 Terrier was a two-stage medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships. Originally, the Terrier had a launch thrust of 23 kN , and weight of 1392 kg... or RIM-67 Standard RIM-67 Standard The RIM-67 Standard ER is an extended range surface-to-air missile and anti ship missile originally developed for the United States Navy... missile. Employed below main deck magazines. Used on Belknap class cruiser Belknap class cruiser The Belknap class cruiser was a class of single-ended guided missile cruisers built for the United States Navy during the 1960s... s and other Terrier ships. Some launchers are modified to store and launch the RUR-5 ASROC ASROC ASROC is an all-weather, all sea-conditions anti-submarine missile system. Developed by the United States Navy in the 1950s, it was deployed in the 1960s, updated in the 1990s, and eventually installed on over 200 USN surface ships, specifically cruisers, destroyers, and frigates... . . |
| Mk 11 Mk 11 missile launcher The Mk-11 guided missile launching system is a twin-arm missile launcher designed for use on frigates and other military vessels.The launcher could use the RIM-24 Tartar or RIM-66 Standard missile. Used on Albany class cruisers and the first thirteen Charles F. Adams class destroyers. The New... |
Twin-arm launcher for RIM-24 Tartar RIM-24 Tartar The General Dynamics RIM-24 Tartar was a medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships... or RIM-66 Standard RIM-66 Standard The RIM-66 Standard MR is a medium range surface-to-air missile originally developed for the United States Navy . The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar that were deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships... missile. Used on Albany class cruiser Albany class cruiser The Albany Class guided missile cruisers were converted Baltimore and Oregon City class heavy cruisers of the United States Navy. All original superstructure and weapons were removed and replaced... s and the first thirteen Charles F. Adams class destroyers. The New Threat Upgrade New Threat Upgrade -The Program:New Threat Upgrade was a program to improve the anti-aircraft capability of Terrier and Tartar ships. It allowed the full use of newer Standard missiles and improved the interoperability of the radar and computer systems aboard the ships... added the ability to launch RGM-84 Harpoon Boeing Harpoon The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas . In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7,000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977... anti-ship missiles. |
| Mk 12 | Twin-arm launcher for the RIM-8 Talos RIM-8 Talos The Bendix RIM-8 Talos was a long-range naval surface-to-air missile, and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships. The Talos used radar beam riding for guidance to the vicinity of its target, and semiactive radar homing for terminal guidance... missile. Employed below main deck magazines. Deployed on Albany class cruiser Albany class cruiser The Albany Class guided missile cruisers were converted Baltimore and Oregon City class heavy cruisers of the United States Navy. All original superstructure and weapons were removed and replaced... s and the USS Long Beach. |
| Mk 13 Mk 13 Missile Launcher The Mk-13 guided missile launching system is a single-arm missile launcher designed for use on frigates and other military vessels.The Mark 13 is equipped to fire the RIM-66 Standard, RGM-84 Harpoon, and RIM-24 Tartar missiles for anti-air and anti-ship defense, and is capable of firing the... |
A Single-arm rail-launch system. Initial mods fired RIM-24 Tartar RIM-24 Tartar The General Dynamics RIM-24 Tartar was a medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships... missiles, while later mods supported RIM-66 Standard RIM-66 Standard The RIM-66 Standard MR is a medium range surface-to-air missile originally developed for the United States Navy . The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar that were deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships... and RGM-84 Harpoon Boeing Harpoon The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas . In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7,000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977... missiles. (40 missiles total) Used on Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate The Oliver Hazard Perry class is a class of frigates named after the American Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the naval Battle of Lake Erie... s and California class cruiser California class cruiser The California class cruisers were a set of two of nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers operated by the United States Navy between 1974 and 1998. Other than their nuclear power supply and lack of helicopter hangars, ships of the California class were comparable to other guided missile cruisers... s and other Tartar ships. . |
| Mk 14 | A Mk 13 launcher for the RIM-55 Typhon MR Typhon Combat System The "Typhon Combat System" was an integrated weapons system being developed by the United States Navy. The system was being developed to replace the previous Talos, Terrier, and Tartar missile systems in service in the early 1960s. The earlier systems were determined to be vulnerable to large scale... . Canceled. |
| Mk 16 | The 8 round ASROC ASROC ASROC is an all-weather, all sea-conditions anti-submarine missile system. Developed by the United States Navy in the 1950s, it was deployed in the 1960s, updated in the 1990s, and eventually installed on over 200 USN surface ships, specifically cruisers, destroyers, and frigates... "Pepper Box" launcher for the RUR-5 ASROC ASROC ASROC is an all-weather, all sea-conditions anti-submarine missile system. Developed by the United States Navy in the 1950s, it was deployed in the 1960s, updated in the 1990s, and eventually installed on over 200 USN surface ships, specifically cruisers, destroyers, and frigates... . Used on many USN and other vessels. Some vessels such as the last three Brooke class frigate Brooke class frigate The Brooke class was a United States Navy frigate class that is based on the Garcia class, but with the addition of the Tartar Guided Missile Fire Control System.-Description:... s, all Knox class frigate Knox class frigate Knox class frigates were United States Navy warships, originally laid down as ocean escorts , but were all redesignated as frigates on 30 June 1975 in the USN 1975 ship reclassification and their hull designation changed from DE to FF.A sub-class of the Knox class was built, commonly referred to as... s, California class cruiser California class cruiser The California class cruisers were a set of two of nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers operated by the United States Navy between 1974 and 1998. Other than their nuclear power supply and lack of helicopter hangars, ships of the California class were comparable to other guided missile cruisers... s and the Spruance class destroyer Spruance class destroyer The Spruance-class destroyer was developed by the United States to replace a large number of World War II-built Allen M. Sumner- and Gearing-class destroyers, and was the primary destroyer built for the U.S. Navy during the 1970s.... s had reloading systems and up to 16 reloads. Other classes of vessel had no reloads. . |
| Mk 22 Mk 13 Missile Launcher The Mk-13 guided missile launching system is a single-arm missile launcher designed for use on frigates and other military vessels.The Mark 13 is equipped to fire the RIM-66 Standard, RGM-84 Harpoon, and RIM-24 Tartar missiles for anti-air and anti-ship defense, and is capable of firing the... |
A single-arm rail-launch system similar to the Mk 13, but with a smaller magazine (16 missiles total). It supports RIM-24 Tartar RIM-24 Tartar The General Dynamics RIM-24 Tartar was a medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships... , RIM-66 Standard MR RIM-66 Standard The RIM-66 Standard MR is a medium range surface-to-air missile originally developed for the United States Navy . The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar that were deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships... and RGM-84 Harpoon Boeing Harpoon The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas . In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7,000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977... missiles, and is currently deployed on US-design, Baleares class frigate Baleares class frigate The Baleares class are a group of five frigates built for the Spanish navy in the 1970s. The ships are a modified version of the American Knox class frigates. The key differences are the replacement of the Sea Sparrow PDMS and ASW helicopter facilities by Standard SAM and associated radars... s Spanish frigates. Formerly used on Brooke class frigate Brooke class frigate The Brooke class was a United States Navy frigate class that is based on the Garcia class, but with the addition of the Tartar Guided Missile Fire Control System.-Description:... s. |
| Mk 25 | The Box launcher for Basic Point Defense Missile system (BPDMS) carrying 8 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow RIM-7 Sea Sparrow RIM-7 Sea Sparrow is a US ship-borne short-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon system, primarily intended for defense against anti-ship missiles... with mid-fins not folded. Used on Knox class frigate Knox class frigate Knox class frigates were United States Navy warships, originally laid down as ocean escorts , but were all redesignated as frigates on 30 June 1975 in the USN 1975 ship reclassification and their hull designation changed from DE to FF.A sub-class of the Knox class was built, commonly referred to as... s and others. Replaced by Mk 29. |
| Mk 26 | A twin-arm rail-launch system which supports RIM-66 Standard RIM-66 Standard The RIM-66 Standard MR is a medium range surface-to-air missile originally developed for the United States Navy . The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar that were deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships... , RUR-5 ASROC ASROC ASROC is an all-weather, all sea-conditions anti-submarine missile system. Developed by the United States Navy in the 1950s, it was deployed in the 1960s, updated in the 1990s, and eventually installed on over 200 USN surface ships, specifically cruisers, destroyers, and frigates... , and other missile types. It was used on U.S. Navy ships including early Ticonderoga-class cruisers Ticonderoga class cruiser The Ticonderoga class of missile cruisers is a class of warships in the United States Navy, first ordered and authorized in FY 1978. The class uses phased-array radar and was originally planned as a class of destroyers... , Virginia class cruiser Virginia class cruiser The Virginia-class nuclear guided-missile cruisers were a series of four double-ended guided-missile cruisers commissioned in the late 1970s, which served in the US Navy until the mid- to late-1990s... s and Kidd class destroyer Kidd class destroyer The Kidd class guided missile destroyers were a series of four warships based upon the hull of the Spruance class destroyers. These ships were originally ordered by the Shah of Iran for service in the Persian Gulf in an air defense role... s. |
| Mk 29 | The 8-cell launcher, featured on Nimitz-class Nimitz class aircraft carrier The Nimitz-class supercarriers are a class of ten nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the United States Navy. With an overall length of and full-load displacements of over 100,000 long tons, they are the largest capital ships in the world... aircraft carrier Aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations... s and other NATO Sea Sparrow Missile (NSSM) carrying ships. It fires RIM-7 Sea Sparrow RIM-7 Sea Sparrow RIM-7 Sea Sparrow is a US ship-borne short-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon system, primarily intended for defense against anti-ship missiles... missiles, with mid-fins folded making it smaller than the Mk 25 launchers. Launchers are being retrofitted to launch the RIM-162D Evolved Sea Sparrow. |
| Mk 32 | Single round launcher for the standard missile. Used only by Taiwan, currently fit to Chi Yang Class frigates Knox class frigate Knox class frigates were United States Navy warships, originally laid down as ocean escorts , but were all redesignated as frigates on 30 June 1975 in the USN 1975 ship reclassification and their hull designation changed from DE to FF.A sub-class of the Knox class was built, commonly referred to as... . |
| Mk 41 Mark 41 Vertical Launch System The Mark 41 Vertical Launch System is a shipborne missle canister launching system which provides a rapid-fire launch capability against hostile threats. The Vertical Launch System concept was derived from work on the Aegis Combat System. Refinement of the concept continued through the 1960s and... |
The vertical launch system first fitted to . These launchers are highly versatile and can launch a wide range of USN ordnance. Currently missiles that are operational from this launcher type are the RIM-66M Standard RIM-66 Standard The RIM-66 Standard MR is a medium range surface-to-air missile originally developed for the United States Navy . The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar that were deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships... , RIM-156A Standard RIM-67 Standard The RIM-67 Standard ER is an extended range surface-to-air missile and anti ship missile originally developed for the United States Navy... , RIM-161 Standard 3, RUM-139 VL ASROC ASROC ASROC is an all-weather, all sea-conditions anti-submarine missile system. Developed by the United States Navy in the 1950s, it was deployed in the 1960s, updated in the 1990s, and eventually installed on over 200 USN surface ships, specifically cruisers, destroyers, and frigates... , RIM-7 VL Sea Sparrow RIM-7 Sea Sparrow RIM-7 Sea Sparrow is a US ship-borne short-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon system, primarily intended for defense against anti-ship missiles... , RIM-162A/B Evolved Sea Sparrow, and the RIM-174A Standard ERAM. |
| Mk 45 | Vertical Launcher for the UGM-109 Tomahawk BGM-109 Tomahawk The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures... cruise missile on USN submarines. |
| Mk 48 | The Mk 48 GMLS is a vertical launch system for RIM-7 VL Sea Sparrow RIM-7 Sea Sparrow RIM-7 Sea Sparrow is a US ship-borne short-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon system, primarily intended for defense against anti-ship missiles... and the RIM-162C Evolved Sea Sparrow missile. This launcher is used primarily by the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, and has not been adopted by the USN. |
| Mk 49 | The 21 round launcher for the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile. |
| Mk 53 | Nulka anti-missile decoy launcher. |
| Mk 57 | Peripheral Vertical Launching System, being developed for the DDG-1000 Destroyer. |
| Mk 141 | The RGM-84 Harpoon missile tube launcher. |
| Mk 143 | The "Armored Box Launcher" for the BGM-109A/B/C Tomahawk BGM-109 Tomahawk The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures... cruise missiles. |