Guided Missile Launch Systems[edit]

The Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) is a device for launching guided missiles, and is found on many U.S. Navy ships.

Systems[edit]

Designation	Description
Mk 4	Twin-arm rail launcher for RIM-2 Terrier. Used on the Boston class. The magazine is below deck rather than behind the launcher as with the Mk 10 launcher.
Mk 10	Twin-arm rail launcher for the RIM-2 Terrier or RIM-67 Standard missile. Used on Belknap class cruisers and other Terrier ships.
Mk 11	Twin-arm rail launcher for RIM-24 Tartar or RIM-66 Standard missile. Used on some Charles F. Adams class destroyers like USS John King (DDG-3)
Mk 12	Twin-arm rail launcher for the RIM-8 Talos missile. Deployed on Albany class cruisers and the USS Long Beach.
Mk 13	Single-arm rail launcher. Initial mods fired Tartar missiles, while later mods supported RIM-66 Standard and Harpoon missiles. (40 missiles total) Used on Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates and California class cruisers and other Tartar ships.
Mk 16	An 8 round box launcher. ASROC "Pepper Box" launcher for the RUR-5 ASROC. Used on many USN and other vessels. Some vessels such as the Knox class frigates, California class cruisers and the Spruance class destroyers had reloading systems and up to 16 reloads. Other classes of vessel had no reloads.
Mk 22	Single arm rail launcher system similar to the Mk 13, the only difference is a smaller magazine. It supports Tartar missiles, and is currently deployed on US-built Spanish frigates. (16 missiles total instead of 40)
Mk 25	An 8 cell box launcher for Basic Point Defense Missile system (BPDMS) carrying 8 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow with mid-fins not folded. Used on Knox class frigates and others. Replaced by Mk 29.
Mk 26	A twin arm rail launcher system which supports RIM-66 Standard, RUR-5 ASROC, and other missile types. It was used on U.S. Navy ships including early Ticonderoga-class cruisers, Virginia class cruisers and Kidd class destroyers. These launchers have magazine capasities of 24, 44, or 64 missiles.
Mk 29	An 8-cell box launcher, featured on Nimitz-class aircraft carriers and other NATO Sea Sparrow Missile (NSSM) carrying ships. It fires RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles, with mid-fins folded making it smaller than the Mk 25 launchers.
Mk 41	A vertical launch system. These launchers are highly versitile and can launch a wide range of USN ordinance. Currently missiles that are operational from this launcher type are the RIM-66M Standard, RIM-156A Standard, RIM-161 Standard 3, RUM-139 VL ASROC, RIM-7 VL Sea Sparrow, and the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow. Versions with 61 and 29 cells are fitted to USN vessels. Late Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyers are fitted with launchers with the reloading system deleted and 64 and 32 cells instead.
Mk 48	A vertial launch system for RIM-7 VL Sea Sparrow 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 box launcher for the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile.
Mk 141	The tube launcher for the RGM-84 Harpoon missile.
Mk 143	The "Armored Box Launcher" for the Tomahawk cruise missile. This system is no longer in service.

Gallery[edit]

Mk 10 launcher
Mk 11 launcher
Mk 12 launcher
Mk 13 launcher
Mk 16 launcher
Mk 25 Sea Sparrow launcher
Mk 26 launcher
Mk 29 launcher
Mk 41 Vertical Launcher
Mk 49 launcher
Mk 143 launcher
Mk 141 launcher

Mk 141 launcher
An un-winged and un-finned SM-2ER inside the missile house of a Mk 10 GMLS on USS Mahan (DDG-42)
An SM-2ER in the magazine area, on a ready service ring of the Mk 10 GMLS on USS Mahan (DDG-42)