Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: tek@pram.CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude)) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Arm Launchers (was: Missile Pods ...) Message-ID: <1991Jun27.015603.2518@cbnews.cb.att.com> Date: 27 Jun 91 01:56:03 GMT References: <1991Jun20.020943.1923@cbnews.cb.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.cb.att.com (william.a.thacker) Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department Lines: 43 Approved: military@att.att.com From: tek@pram.CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude)) >From: Allan Bourdius >The missiles are stored in the magazine rings ready to fire (fins >attached, etc.) This statement is true for most of the single and twin-arm launchers in the USN (including Mk11, Mk13 and Mk26). >From: deichman@cod.nosc.mil (Shane D. Deichman) >From my recollection of a tour abord LONG BEACH (CGN-9) late last year, the >walls of the loading bay were covered with "snap-on" fins for the SM2s. When >they ran two missiles up from the magazine (which looked just a giant revolver >cylinder) and ran them out the rails onto the launcher, they went sans fins >(because they didn't have the crew there to give us the "full demo."). I believe you are describing the Mk10 launcher firing SM-2ER. (The ER version of the SM-2 is basically the MR version with a booster added for longer range.) Other missiles fired by the Mk10 do not require manual fining. On the other hand, I don't think any other launcher can handle the SM-2ER. The problem with the SM-2ER is the booster requires big fins, which makes it tough to store them in the missile storage ring. >My main point, though, was that the Mk. 41 VLS is a much more capable system >... It should be noted that Mk41 VLS cannot handle the SM-2ER. With fins and booster it's too wide and too long. The Navy's fix to this problem is to stick a shorter booster on the MR which makes use of thrust vectoring in order to avoid big fins. The result is called the SM-2MR Mod 4, which I think is still in development at this point. But because the booster is smaller, the MR Mod 4 doesn't quiet have the range of the ER. -ted -- Ted Kim Internet: tek@penzance.cs.ucla.edu UCLA Computer Science Department UUCP: ...!{uunet|ucbvax}!cs.ucla.edu!tek 3804C Boelter Hall Phone: (213)206-8696 Los Angeles, CA 90024 FAX: (213)825-2273