The Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) is a device for launching guided missiles, and is found on many U.S. Navy ships. This list includes all launchers that are part of the designation series. Included on this list are missile launchers that have not been adopted for service in the United States Navy, as well as decoy launch systems.
Launchers by designation
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| Mk 1
| Twin Arm Terrier Launcher on for initial Terrier testing.
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| Mk 4
| Early twin-arm launcher for the RIM-2 Terrier. Fit only to the guided missile cruisers. Vertically loading design distinguished this launcher from the horizontally loading Mk 9 and Mk 10.
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| Mk 5
| Asymmetrical twin-arm launcher for experimental launches of the Terrier, Tartar and Standard 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 Navy surface-to-air weapons testing facility at White Sands Missile Range.
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| Mk 7
| Twin-arm launcher for the RIM-8 Talos missile. Used on s. Differed from Mk 12 in that all missiles were stored above main deck.
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| Mk 8
| Twin-arm launcher for the RIM-2 Terrier missile. Used on . Two cylindrical magazines with 7 missiles each.
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| Mk 9
| Twin-arm launcher for the RIM-2 Terrier missile. Used on s. Differed from Mk 10 in that all missiles were stored above main deck.
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| Mk 10
| Twin-arm launcher for the RIM-2 Terrier or RIM-67 Standard missile. Employed below main deck magazines. Used on s and other Terrier ships. Some launchers are modified to store and launch the RUR-5 ASROC.
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| Mk 11
| Twin-arm launcher for RIM-24 Tartar or RIM-66 Standard missile. Used on s and the first thirteen s. The New Threat Upgrade added the ability to launch RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
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| Mk 12
| Twin-arm launcher for the RIM-8 Talos missile. Employed below main deck magazines. Deployed on s and .
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| Mk 13
| Single-arm rail launch system. Initial mods fired RIM-24 Tartar missiles, while later mods supported RIM-66 Standard and RGM-84 Harpoon missiles, stored in concentric rotating storage rings. Used on s, s and other Tartar ships.
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| Mk 17
| Vertical launcher for the UGM-27 Polaris ballistic missile on USN , and submarines. Variants with 8 and 16 tubes.
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| Mk 21
| Enhanced version of the Mark 17 for UGM-27C Polaris A-3 missiles. Used on all 41 for Freedom submarines.
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| Similar to Mk 13 launcher
| Mk 22
| A single-arm rail-launch system similar to the Mk 13, but with a smaller nonrotating magazine. It supports RIM-24 Tartar, RIM-66 Standard MR and RGM-84 Harpoon missiles. Formerly used on US s, and deployed to this day on the US-designed Spanish Navy s.
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| Mk 44
| A system using the "Armored Box Launcher" for the BGM-109A/B/C Tomahawk cruise missiles. The launcher itself is also known as the Mark 143.
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| Mk 45
| Vertical launcher for the UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles on and submarines.
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| Mk 70
| Mk 41 derivative, 40 foot ISO-container with 4 strike length VLS cells, developed for the Navy (LCS) and Army (Typhon missile launcher). Compatible with every missile currently integrated into the MK 41 VLS, plus Patriot PAC-3. Full name is Mk 70 Mod 1 Payload Delivery System (PDS)
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|Mk 87
|A box launcher for four RGM-184 NSM.
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| Mk 141
| A tube launcher for four RGM-84 Harpoon missiles.
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References
- Federation of American Scientists - US Navy Shipboard Combat Systems