Mk 41 Vertical Launch System

The Mark 41 Vertical Launching System (Mk 41 VLS) is a shipborne missile canister launching system which provides a rapid-fire launch capability against hostile threats. The Vertical Launch System (VLS) concept was derived from work on the Aegis Combat System.

History

Refinement of the initial concept of Aegis system in the 1960s continued through the 1960s and 1970s, and the Mk 41 was conceived in 1976. Originally, the system was only intended to fire the RIM-66 Standard missile, but the height of the Mk 41 was increased to accommodate the larger Tomahawk missile. The prototype for the launcher was tested and evaluated on board . The first operational launcher was installed aboard .

Specifications

Mark 41 (Mk 41)

The Mk 41 is capable of firing the following missiles:

* RIM-66 Standard
* RIM-67 Standard
* RIM-161 Standard Missile 3
* RIM-174 Standard ERAM
* RGM-109 Tomahawk
* RUM-139 VL-ASROC anti-submarine missile
* RIM-7 Sea Sparrow anti-air missile
* RIM-162 ESSM
* Joint Strike Missile

The missiles are pre-loaded into "canisters", which are then loaded into the individual "cells" of the launcher. The ESSM is loaded in a quad-pack with 4 missiles in one Mk 25 canister, older types of 8 cell modules are not able to use ESSM. Launcher cells are fitted to ships in 8 cell modules (2 rows of 4) that share a common uptake hatch (exhaust system) sited between the two rows. The Mk 41 VLS adopts modular design concept, which result in different versions that vary in size and weight due to different "canisters" in various modules. The height (determining missile length) of the launcher comes in three sizes: for the self-defense version, for the tactical version, and for the strike version. The empty weight for an 8-cell module is for the self-defense version, for the tactical version, and for the strike version. ''Ticonderoga'' cruisers and ''Arleigh Burke'' destroyers up to DDG-78 have a Strikedown module fore and aft, which consists of five cells and a collapsible crane for assisting with replenishment at sea. As replenishment of large missiles at sea was later seen as impractical and dangerous, Strikedown modules fell out of use on newer ships.

Mark 57 (Mk 57)

The Mk 57 Peripheral Vertical Launch System (PVLS) is an evolution of Mk 41 VLS used on Zumwalt-class destroyers. Unlike the Mk 41, the Mk 57 is designed to be installed on the ship periphery instead of in centralized magazines. Developed by Raytheon, it provides backwards compatibility with existing missiles while allowing new missiles with significantly increased propulsion and payloads. While allowing for slightly larger missiles than the Mk 41, the primary improvement of Mk 57 is its exhaust gas management system that can accommodate new missile designs having up to 45 percent greater rocket motor mass flow rate than that of Mk 41. The unique symmetric geometry of the U-shaped gas management system facilitates the egress of gases, while minimizing flow into adjacent cells and reversed flow into the active cell. Another advantage is the elimination of the water deluge system, which is used to cool the missile canister in the event that the missile restraint bolts do not release after rocket motor ignition. Elimination of the water deluge system significantly reduces maintenance and personnel requirements, and protects against accidental missile wet-down.

Variants

*MK 41 Mod 0, s, two 61 cell Vertical Launcher Mk 158 Mod 0 or Mod 1, forward and aft.NAVEDTRA 14324, Gunner's Mate, Chapter 7.
*MK 41 Mod 1, s, 61 cells forward.
*MK 41 Mod 2, s, DDG-51 to DDG-78, one 29 cell Vertical Launcher Mk 159 Mod 0 forward, one 61 cell Vertical Launcher Mk 158 Mod 0 aft.
*MK 41 Mod 3, s (Germany), 16 cells.
*MK 41 Mod 5, s (Australia, New Zealand), 8 cells
*MK 41 Mod 7, ''Arleigh Burke''-class destroyers, DDG-79 to DDG-91, one 32 cell Vertical Launcher Mk 177 Mod 0 forward, one 64 cell Vertical Launcher Mk 176 Mod 0 aft.U.S. Navy Guided Missile Launcher Systems
Accessed May 15, 2014.
*MK 41 Mod 8, s (Turkey), 8 or 16 cells
*MK 41 Mod 9, s (Netherlands), 40 cells
*MK 41 Mod 10, s (Germany), 32 cells
*MK 41 Mod 15, ''Arleigh Burke''-class destroyers, DDG-92 and up, one 32 cell Vertical Launcher Mk 177 Mod 3 forward, one 64 cell Vertical Launcher Mk 176 Mod 2 aft.
*MK 41 Mod 16, s (Australia), 8 cells

Operators

;
* ''Adelaide''-class frigate - (8 cells) (Retired)
*''Anzac''-class frigate - (8 cells)
* - (48 cells)
* - (32 cells)

;
* - (29 cells) (Retired)
* Canadian Surface Combatant - (24 cells)

;
* ' - (8 cells)

;
* - (32 cells)

;
* - (8 or 16 cells)

;
* '' Sachsen''-class frigate - (32 cells)
* ''Brandenburg''-class frigate - (16 cells)

;
* - (96 cells)
* - (96 cells)
* - (90 cells)
* - (16 cells)
* - (16 cells)
* - (32 cells)
* - (32 cells)
* - (32 cells)
* - (16 cells)
* - (8 cells)

;
* '' De Zeven Provinciën''-class frigate - (40 cells)

;
* - (8 or 16 cells)

;
* (KDX-II) - (32 cells)
* (KDX-III) - (80 cells)

;
* - (48 cells)

;
* ''Kaohsiung''-class tank landing ship - (Test ship)

;
* ''Naresuan''-class frigate - (8 cells)
* ''Bhumibol Adulyadej''-class frigate - (8 cells)

;
* - (8 cells)
* ''Barbaros''-class frigate - (16 cells)

;
* Type 26 frigate - (24 cells)
*Type 31 frigate - (to define)

;
* ''Spruance''-class destroyer - (61 cells, installed on 24 of 31 vessels) (Retired)
* ''Arleigh Burke''-class destroyer - (90 or 96 cells)
* ''Ticonderoga''-class cruiser - (122 cells)
* - (80 Mk 57 cells)
* DDG(X) class destroyer - (At minimum up to 128 cells (4x32 module configuration), dependent on number of hypersonic missiles carried as per current US Navy design proposal)

Gallery

File:US Navy 030303-N-3235P-503 A topside view of the forward MK-41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) aboard the guided missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56).jpg, The VLS cells onboard .
File:US Navy 050110-N-9851B-056 Sailors aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) stabilize a crate containing a Tomahawk cruise missile.jpg, A Tomahawk missile canister being loaded into a VLS aboard the ''Arleigh Burke''-class destroyer
File:US Navy 050903-N-1332Y-146 A Sailor aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) inspect the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) for water to prevent electrical failure.jpg, VLS cells open for inspection aboard
File:US Navy 021121-N-0000X-005 A developmental Standard Missile-3 (SM-3), designed to intercept short to medium-ranged ballistic missile threats, is launched from the Pearl Harbor-based Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70).jpg, An SM3 departs the Mk 41 VLS aboard with uptake hatch and cell hatch open.
File:110909-N-XQ375-035 USS Mitscher VLS Strikedown Crane folded.jpg, VLS Strikedown crane folded, aboard
File:020805-N-XP218-008 USS Hopper VLS Strikedown Crane.jpg, VLS Strikedown crane extended, aboard
File:MK 41 VLS Diagram.jpg, Diagram of a Mk 41 Mod 0 VLS.

See also

* French Sylver
* Chinese GJB 5860-2006
* Russian Redut

References

External links

{{commons category, Mark 41 Vertical Launching System
FAS - Mk 41Lockheed Martin - Mk 41 VLS Factsheet

Naval guided missile launch systems of the United States
Military equipment introduced in the 1980s