Mark 26 missile launcher

Mark 26 Guided Missile Launching System
A RIM-66 Standard MR on a Mark 26 launcher, USS Ticonderoga, 1983.
Type	Guided Missile Launching System
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1976 - 2005 (USN) 2005 - present (ROCN)
Used by	United States Navy (formerly) Republic of China Navy
Wars	Cold War
Production history
Designed	1970s
Manufacturer	FMC / United Defense / BAE
No. built	26 systems on 13 ships
Variants	Mod 0 to 5
Specifications
Rate of fire	2 missiles every 9 seconds 1 second salvo delay

The Mark 26 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) was a United States Navy fully automated system that stows, handles, and launches a variety of missiles. The system supported RIM-66 Standard, RUR-5 ASROC, and potentially other weapons.^[1] The Mark 26 had the shortest reaction time and the fastest firing rate of any comparable dual arm shipboard launching system at the time. With only one man at the control console, a weapon can be selected, hoisted to the guide arm, and launched. Several mods (0 to 5) provided magazine capabilities of 24 to 64 missiles.^[2]