Mark 13 missile launcher
| Mark 13 Guided Missile Launching System | |
|---|---|
A RIM-66 Standard missile mounted on the Mark 13 missile launcher aboard the French Navy frigate Cassard | |
| Type | Guided Missile Launching System |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | late 1960s to present |
| Used by | United States Navy Spanish Navy Royal Australian Navy French Navy Royal Netherlands Navy German Navy Italian Navy Polish Navy Pakistan Navy Turkish Navy |
| Wars | Cold War Tanker War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1960s |
| Manufacturer | FMC / United Defense / BAE |
| Variants | Mark 22 |
| Specifications | |
| Rate of fire | 1 Standard missile every 8 seconds 1 Harpoon missile every 22 seconds |
The Mark 13 guided missile launching system (GMLS) is a single-arm missile launcher designed for use on frigates and other military vessels. Because of its distinctive single-armed design, the Mark 13 is often referred to as the "one-armed bandit".
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 Standard at a rate of one every eight seconds. Its 40-round magazine consists of two concentric rings of vertically stored missiles, 24 in the outer ring and 16 in the inner. Total capacity was reduced by 1 due to a requirement to carry a Guided Missile Training Round (GMTR) in order to test system functionality. In case of a fire, the system is equipped with magazine sprinkling, CO2 suppression and booster suppression. It is also equipped with a dud jettison function to eject a round overboard if it fails to fire.