EP1128152B1 - Launcher system for smoke or explosive charges which is mounted on a fighting vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A multiple-barrel mortar assembly for launching grenades and similar items and mounted on the side of a combat vehicle. Several modules that can rotate in azimuth are mounted in a mount. Each mount is provided with a barrel accommodated in a block. Each barrel extends at a prescribed acute angle to the base of the block. The angle establishes the assembly's elevation. Each block is secured in a frame. The frame can rotate around an axis perpendicular to the base of the block. A drive mechanism can rotate all the frames simultaneously through a prescribed range of angles around the axis.

Description

The invention relates to a throwing device for smoke candles, explosive devices and the like arranged on a combat vehicle (for example IR fog, soft kill and flares) with the features of the preamble of claims 12 and 14.

Such a launcher is described in WO 00/02000 A.

In this known launcher, which is primarily intended for arrangement on a helicopter, individual launcher are arranged to pivot about two mutually perpendicular axes to a fixed support. A fan-shaped shooting of projectiles is not possible with this system.

EP 0 240 819 A describes a launcher column for launching projectiles with a base unit, above which a column is rotatably arranged in a controllable manner, on which throwing devices are arranged at superposed rows on the circumference at an elevation angle of 45 °. The system is structurally relatively large and difficult to integrate into the silhouette of a combat vehicle.

Furthermore, in DE 43 38 650 C a fog throwing system of an armored vehicle is described with a plurality of three-dimensional fan-shaped combined into a common height and side orientable Werfereinheit combined, each differently oriented Durfbechem. This known system is very specially designed for arrangement below a pivotable roof hatch flap of the vehicle and not intended in this embodiment for the arrangement on the outside of a combat vehicle.

The invention has the object of providing a litter system in particular with the features specified in the preamble of claims 1 and 2 in such a way that the individual litter cups are aligned such that a fan-shaped shooting of throwing bodies at the same time is possible and the orientation of this fan can be changed can without turning the combat vehicle or the combat vehicle tower. The litter facility should be located on the outside of the combat vehicle but be integrated into the silhouette of the combat vehicle.

The solution of this object is achieved according to the invention with the features of the characterizing part of claims 1 or 2 and with the features of claim 14. Advantageous developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

A basic idea of the invention is to arrange a plurality of dome beakers within each frame part associated with each dome carrier block and to mount the frame part rotatable on the vehicle in azimuth, so that each dome is pivotable in the desired direction in azimuth by a drive device. In this case, several litter cups are combined into a litter system in such a way that the litter bodies are fired in a fan with fixed predetermined angular intervals. For this purpose, a plurality of units consisting of dome cup, cup carrier block and frame part are arranged horizontally next to each other or vertically or in a combination of horizontal or vertical arrangement in a bracket attached to the vehicle, said dome in azimuth fixed predetermined angular intervals and synchronous from a common drive device are drivable and wherein each cup passes through a predetermined angular range in azimuth, without the angular distance between the individual throwing cups is changed.

According to a further basic idea of the invention, it is also possible to construct the units rotatably mounted on the vehicle not from cup carrier block, throwing cup and frame part, but to arrange a plurality of each throw cup in a columnar cup carrier block and in each case several of these units side by side in the substantially horizontally mounted on the vehicle Support rotatably mount and drive synchronously by a common drive device.

Since the launching of a throwing body considerable recoil forces are free, it has proved to be very beneficial for the stability of the throwing equipment when the cup carrier block is arranged with the throwing cup in the respective holder, that the axis of action of the throwing cup cuts the axis of rotation of the frame part. In this way, acting on the directional drive Moments avoided. Furthermore, the stability of the litter system can be increased by the fact that each cup carrier block or each frame part is mounted in the fixedly connected to the vehicle holder at two points of the axis of rotation respectively below the cup carrier block and above the throwing cup. It has also proven to be favorable if the center of mass of the cup carrier block and the dome cup lies on or in the immediate vicinity of the axis of rotation.

• a) es kann bei einem festen Elevationswinkel von 22° bis 45° ein richtbarer Fächerwinkel bis 220° Azimut erreicht werden;
• b) bei geringen Massenträgheitsmomenten, d.h. wenn die Wurfbecher dicht um ihren Massenschwerpunkt gedreht werden, ist eine sehr rasche Ausrichtung des Systems möglich;
• c) infolge der Möglichkeit eines neutralen symmetrischen Kraftverlaufs durch den Becherdrehpunkt, wirken keine störenden Abschußlasten auf den Antrieb;
• d) es ist eine stabile Zweipunktlagerung jedes Wurfbechers sowohl bei horizontaler Parallelanordnung als auch bei vertikaler Reihenanordnung der Wurfbecher möglich;
• e) bei Synchronantrieb von mehreren Wurfbechern innerhalb einer Einheit können die Antriebsvorrichtungen konstruktiv einfach aufgebaut werden, beispielsweise als Zahnstangen-Zahnsegmentantriebe, Gestängeantriebe, Antriebe mit Stirnrad zwischen Zahnsegmenten und Direktantriebe (Stellmotoren);
• f) es ist ein modularer Aufbau der Wurfanlage möglich, die dadurch beliebig erweiterbar wird;
• g) vorhandene Wurfanlagen sind nachrüstbar und an vorhandene Schnittstellen anschließbar;
• h) es ist möglich, die Wurfbecher einer Einheit in eine innerhalb der Nulllage liegende Transportstellung innerhalb der Silhouette des Fahrzeugs einzuschwenken;
• i) es ist möglich, die Rahmenteile der Wurfbecher über Hohlwellen anzutreiben, durch welche die aus dem Fahrzeug zur Zündvorrichtung der Wurfbecher laufenden elektrischen Kabel geführt sind.

Thus, the invention provides a directional launcher with which an extension of the fan-effective range or a multiple shot in the same direction of action is possible and depending on the embodiments, the following advantages can be achieved:

• a) it can be achieved at a fixed elevation angle of 22 ° to 45 °, a directional fan angle to 220 ° azimuth;
• b) at low mass moments of inertia, ie when the dome beakers are rotated close to their center of gravity, a very rapid alignment of the system is possible;
• c) due to the possibility of a neutral symmetric force curve through the bucket pivot point, no disturbing firing loads act on the drive;
• d) it is a stable two-point storage of each throw cup possible both in horizontal parallel arrangement as well as vertical arrangement of the throwing cup;
• e) in synchronous drive of several litter cups within a unit, the drive devices can be structurally simple, for example, as rack-toothed segment drives, linkage drives, drives with spur gear between toothed segments and direct drives (servo motors);
• f) it is a modular design of the litter system possible, which is arbitrarily expandable;
• g) existing throwing equipment can be retrofitted and connected to existing interfaces;
• h) it is possible to swing the launcher of a unit into a lying within the zero position transport position within the silhouette of the vehicle;
• i) it is possible to drive the frame parts of the throwing cup via hollow shafts, through which the electrical cables running out of the vehicle to the ignition device of the throwing cups are guided.

The control of the litter system according to the invention can be done automatically via sensors, periscope, camera or thermal imaging device or manually via a Tipvisier or Sectorenschalter.

In the following, embodiments of a litter system according to the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• Fig. 1 einen einzelnen Wurfbecher innerhalb eines Rahmenteils in Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 2 den Wurfbecher nach Fig. 1 von oben gesehen;
• Fig. 3 den Wurfbecher nach Fig. 1 von unten gesehen;
• Fig. 4 den Wurfbecher nach Fig. 1 in einer Ansicht von vorne;
• Fig. 5 den Wurfbecher nach Fig. 1 bis 4 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung;
• Fig. 6 eine aus vier Wurfbechern mit Rahmenteilen bestehende Einheit in horizontaler Anordnung der Wurfbecher von vorne gesehen;
• Fig. 7 die Einheit nach Fig. 6 in einer Ansicht von unten;
• Fig. 8 die Einheit nach Fig. 6 in einer Ansicht von oben;
• Fig. 9 in perspektivischer Darstellung die Einheit nach Fig. 6 in einer ersten Ausrichtung der Wurfbecher;
• Fig. 10 die Einheit nach Fig. 6 in einer Seitenansicht bei der Ausrichtung nach Fig. 9;
• Fig. 11 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung analog Fig. 9 die Einheit nach Fig. 6 bei einer anderen Ausrichtung der Wurfbecher;
• Fig. 12 in einer Ansicht von vorne eine Einheit mit vertikal übereinander angeordneten Wurfbechern;
• Fig. 13 die Einheit nach Fig. 12 in einer Ansicht von oben;
• Fig. 14 die Einheit nach Fig. 12 in einer Ansicht von unten;
• Fig. 15 die Einheit nach Fig. 12 in einer Ansicht von der Seite;
• Fig. 16 die Einheit nach Fig. 12 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung;
• Fig. 17 in einer Ansicht von oben einen Kampfpanzer mit zwei am Turm angeordneten Wurfanlagen;
• Fig. 18 in einer Ansicht von oben einen Kampfpanzer mit einer am Heck angeordneten Wurfanlage;
• Fig. 19 eine aus sechs Wurfbechern und drei Becherträgerblöcken bestehende Einheit von vorne gesehen;
• Fig. 20 die Einheit nach Fig. 19 in perspektivischer Darstellung;
• Fig. 21 eine aus acht Wurfbechern und zwei Becherträgerblöcken bestehende Einheit von vorne gesehen;
• Fig. 22 die Einheit nach Fig. 21 in perspektivischer Darstellung.

In the drawings show:

• 1 shows a single shot cup within a frame part in side view;
• Fig. 2 seen the throwing cup of Figure 1 from above.
• Fig. 3 seen the throwing cup of Figure 1 from below.
• FIG. 4 shows the throwing cup according to FIG. 1 in a view from the front; FIG.
• 5 shows the throwing cup according to FIGS. 1 to 4 in a perspective illustration;
• Fig. 6 seen from four litter cups with frame parts unit in a horizontal arrangement of the throwing cup seen from the front;
• FIG. 7 shows the unit according to FIG. 6 in a view from below; FIG.
• FIG. 8 shows the unit according to FIG. 6 in a view from above; FIG.
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the unit of FIG. 6 in a first orientation of the throwing cup; FIG.
• FIG. 10 shows the unit according to FIG. 6 in a side view in the alignment according to FIG. 9; FIG.
• FIG. 11 is a perspective view analogous to FIG. 9 of the unit of FIG. 6 with a different orientation of the dome beakers; FIG.
• Figure 12 is a front view of a unit with vertically stacked throwing cups.
• FIG. 13 shows the unit according to FIG. 12 in a view from above; FIG.
• FIG. 14 shows the unit according to FIG. 12 in a view from below; FIG.
• FIG. 15 shows the unit according to FIG. 12 in a view from the side; FIG.
• FIG. 16 shows the unit according to FIG. 12 in a perspective illustration; FIG.
• FIG. 17 is a top view of a main battle tank with two launches arranged on the tower; FIG.
• FIG. 18 is a top view of a main battle tank with a launcher arranged at the stern; FIG.
• FIG. 19 shows a unit consisting of six litter cups and three cup carrier blocks viewed from the front; FIG.
• FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the unit according to FIG. 19; FIG.
• 21 is a front view of a unit consisting of eight litter cups and two cup carrier blocks;
• Fig. 22, the unit of FIG. 21 in perspective view.

In Figs. 1 to 5 a litter system is shown having a throw cup 2.1 per se known type, which is inserted into a cup carrier block 1.1 such that its axis of action 5 extends at a predetermined acute angle to the bottom surface of the cup carrier block 1.1. This angle is fixed and determines the elevation angle of the throwing cup. Cup carrier block 1.1 and throw cup 2.1 are fixed together in a frame part 3.1. The frame part 3.1 comprises the cup carrier block 1.1 on the bottom surface, the side surfaces and above the top, so that the dome cup 2.1 is included. At the bottom and the top of the frame part, a respective hollow shaft 3.11 or 3.12 are arranged, whose mutually aligned axes determine the axis of rotation 4 of the frame part 3.1 described in more detail below. At the free end of the lower hollow shaft 3.11 is a, explained in more detail below, toothed segment 6.1 attached.

The dome 2.1 and the frame part 3.1 are arranged to each other so that the effective axis 5 and the axis of rotation 4 intersect and the center of mass of cup carrier block 1.1 and 2.1 throw cup on the axis of rotation 4 of the frame part 3.1 is located.

The described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 from cup carrier block 1.1, pitch cup 2.1 and frame part 3.1 existing unit can now be assembled in different ways to a, several such units comprehensive litter system.

A first such possibility is described below with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11.

The litter system according to FIGS. 6 to 11 consists of four units according to FIGS. 1 to 5, which are arranged side by side and one cup support block 1.1 to 1.4, a throw cup 2.1 to 2.4, a frame part 3.1 to 3.4 with hollow shafts 3.11 to 3.41 and 3.12 to 3.42. To the lower hollow shafts each tooth segments 6.1 to 6.4 are attached. These units are rotatably mounted in a holder 7. The holder 7 has a substantially U-shaped configuration such that the units are each rotatably mounted in the holder 7 with the lower hollow shafts 3.11 to 3.41 and the upper hollow shafts 3.12 to 3.42 such that the axes of rotation 4 are parallel to each other and each unit is mounted in the holder at two points of the axis of rotation in each case below the cup carrier block and above the throwing cup. The attached to the lower hollow shafts tooth segments 6.1 to 6.4 are located below the underside of the holder 7 and engage in a guided along the bottom rack 8, which is slidably mounted there in a manner not shown separately relative to the holder 7. In the rack 8 also engages the output gear 9.1 of a fixed geared motor 9 a. As can be seen from the figures, the operation of the Gear motor 9, the rack 8 is displaced in its longitudinal direction and thereby the frame parts 3.1 to 3.4 are about the respective rotational axis 4 (Fig. 1) rotated about the tooth segments 6.1 to 6.4. As can also be seen from FIGS. 6 to 11, the frame parts 3.1 to 3.4 are arranged in the holder 7 such that the effective axes 5 (FIG. 1) of the throwing cups 2.1 to 2.4 each enclose a constant angle in azimuth. This angle can be for example 12 °. The angle which each dome cup 2.1 to 2.4 can run, starting from its zero position, is for example 220 ° azimuth. FIGS. 9 and 11 show the two end positions of the throwing cups 2.1 to 2.4.

The holder 7 with the throwing cups 2.1 to 2.4 containing units is arranged in the manner of a combat vehicle, that the bottom of the holder 7 is horizontal to the vehicle. Examples of this are shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

Fig. 17 shows a schematic representation of a main battle tank KP1 with a rotatable tower T, on whose side walls on both sides of the longitudinal central axis L respectively a litter WA1.1 and WA1.2 is arranged. With these throwing machines, projectiles can be launched into a fan angle of 210 ° on both sides of the vehicle. Another embodiment of the arrangement is shown in FIG. 18. In this case, a launcher WA2 is arranged at the rear of the vehicle on a light main battle tank KP2, with which a fan angle of 200 ° can be achieved in the direction of travel.

A further possibility of the arrangement of the units shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 in a common throwing machine is shown in FIGS. 12 to 16.

In this litter system, four, each of throwing cups 12.1 to 12.4, cup carrier blocks 11.1 to 11.4 and frame members 13.1 to 13.4 existing units are mounted one above the other in a manner not shown vertically mounted on a vehicle bracket 17 such that the axes of rotation (reference numeral 4 in FIG. 1) of the frame parts 13.1 to 13.4 are aligned with each other. The holder 17 has holding straps 17.1 to 17.5 arranged one above the other, between which the individual units are arranged and on which the hollow shafts 13.12 (FIG. 12) to 13.41 (FIG. 14) are mounted. Here, in each case the upper hollow shaft of a frame part is coupled to the lower hollow shaft of the next higher frame part. The lowermost hollow shaft 13.41 carries a toothed segment 16.4, in which the output pinion 19.1 of a geared motor 19 engages. As can be seen in FIGS. 13 to 16, the units in the holder 17 are arranged such that the dome cups 12.1 to 12.4 each enclose a fixed angle of 12 ° in azimuth. Upon actuation of the geared motor 19, the frame parts 13.1 to 13.4 and with them the throwing cups 12.1 to 12.4 are synchronously rotated about the same angle in azimuth via the toothed segment 16.4.

The electrical cables running from the vehicle to the firing devices of the blasting cups 12.1 to 12.4 are respectively passed through the hollow shafts, with the cables leading to the other blasting cups within the frame parts 13.1 to 13.4 between the cup carrier blocks 11.1 to 11.4 and the insides of the frame parts 13.1 to 13.4 are passed in a manner not shown.

In not specifically shown manner, the drive devices in the two illustrated embodiments can be dimensioned and arranged so that each frame part 3.1 to 3.4 or 13.1 to 13.4 from the zero position of the Azimutstellungen comprehensive angle range is pivotable in a transport position in which the dome 2.1 to 2.4 or 12.1 to 12.4 are within a predetermined vehicle contour.

19 to 22 show throwing systems in somewhat different embodiments in which units consisting of cup carrier block, throwing cup and frame part are assembled, but in each case a plurality of throwing cups are arranged one above the other in a columnar cup carrier block, wherein the cup carrier blocks are arranged as a whole in the fixed position on the vehicle Holder are rotatably mounted and each of these cup carrier blocks is driven by the drive device.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show a first embodiment in which three cup carrier blocks 21.1 to 21.3 are rotatably mounted in the holder 27.1 and 27.2 arranged on the vehicle. The cup carrier block 21.1 carries the superimposed litter cups 22.1 and 22.2, the cup carrier block 21.2 carries the stacked litter cups 22.3 and 22.4, while the cup carrier block 21.3 carries the stacked litter cups 22.5 and 22.6. Below the underside of the holder 27.2 carry the Becherträgerblökke 21.1 to 21.3 each tooth segments 26.1 to 26.3. The axes of rotation of the cup carrier blocks 21.1 to 21.3 are vertical and parallel to each other. Each cup carrier block 21.1 to 21.3 is mounted at two points of the axis of rotation above and below the dome. The toothed segments 26.1 to 26.3 engage in a guided along the underside of the rack 28, which is slidably mounted there relative to the lower bracket 27.2. In the rack 28 also engages the output pinion of a fixed motor motor 29 a. During operation of the geared motor 29, the rack 28 is displaced and thereby toothed segments 26.1 to 26.3 are twisted, which leads to the rotation of the cup carrier blocks 21.1 to 21.3.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, two cup carrier blocks 31.1 and 31.2 are rotatably mounted on the vehicle, consisting of parts 37.1 and 37.2. Each of the cup carrier blocks 31.1 and 31.2 carries four litter cups 32.1 to 32.4 and 32.5 to 32.8, respectively. As can be seen from the drawings, in each of the cup carrier blocks 31.1 and 31.2, the throwing cups are offset from each other by a predetermined fixed angular amount in azimuth. The cup carrier blocks 31.1 and 31.2 are connected to below the lower support member 37.2 arranged toothed segments 36.1 and 36.2, which engage in a displaceable rack 38, which is driven by an output pinion geared motor 39 from. Here, too, a synchronous rotation of the two cup carrier blocks 31.1 and 31.2 takes place during operation of the geared motor 39.

The throwing machines described in FIGS. 19 to 22 can be arranged in an analogous manner, as described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, on a main battle tank.

Claims (14)

1. A launch system, arranged on a combat vehicle, for smoke candles, explosive devices and such like with at least one cup-carrier block (1.1-1.4, 11.1-11.4) arranged on the outside of the vehicle (KP1, KP2) by means of a mounting (7, 17), in which at a preset acute angle, determining the elevation of the launch system, relative to the bottom face of the cup-carrier block at least one launch cup (2.1, 12.1) is inserted from which projectiles are capable of being discharged by means of a propellant charge, each cup-carrier block (1.1-1.4, 11.1-11.4) being firmly arranged in a frame component (3.1-3.4, 13.1-13.4) surrounding the cup-carrier block along the bottom face, along the side faces and above the upper side, and each frame component being supported in the mounting (7, 17), which is firmly arranged on the vehicle, so as to be capable of rotating about an axis (4) of rotation perpendicular to the bottom face of the cup-carrier block and being capable of being rotated about the axis of rotation within a preset angular range by means of a drive mechanism (9, 19), characterised in that several units, each consisting of a launch cup (2.1-2.4), a cup-carrier block (1.1-1.4) and a frame component (3.1-3.4), are arranged side by side in a mounting (7) fastened to the vehicle substantially horizontally with preset horizontal separations of the frame components (3.1-3.4) and are capable of being driven synchronously by a common drive mechanism (9) .
2. A launch system, arranged on a combat vehicle, for smoke candles, explosive devices and such like with at least one cup-carrier block (1.1-1.4, 11.1-11.4) arranged on the outside of the vehicle (KP1, KP2) by means of a mounting (7, 17), in which at a preset acute angle, determining the elevation of the launch system, relative to the bottom face of the cup-carrier block at least one launch cup (2.1, 12.1) is inserted from which projectiles are capable of being discharged by means of a propellant charge, each cup-carrier block (1.1-1.4, 11.1-11.4) being firmly arranged in a frame component (3,1-3.4, 13.1-13.4) surrounding the cup-carrier block along the bottom face, along the side faces and above the upper side, and each frame component being supported in the mounting (7, 17), which is firmly arranged on the vehicle, so as to be capable of rotating about an axis (4) of rotation perpendicular to the bottom face of the cup-carrier block and being capable of being rotated about the axis of rotation within a preset angular range by means of a drive mechanism (9, 19), characterised in that several units, each consisting of a launch cup (12.1-12.4), a cup-carrier block (11.1-11.4) and a frame component (13.1-13.4), are arranged one above the other in a mounting (17) fastened to the vehicle substantially vertically with mutually aligned axes of rotation of the frame components (13.1-13.4) and are capable of being driven synchronously by a common drive mechanism (19).
3. Launch system according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cup-carrier block (1.1, 11.1) with the launch cup (2.1, 12.1) is arranged in the frame component (3.1, 13.1) in such a manner that the effective axis (5) of the launch cup intersects the axis (4) of rotation of the frame.
4. Launch system according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each frame component (3.1-3.4, 13.1-13.4) in the mounting (7, 17) is supported at two points on the axis of rotation, respectively below and above the launch cup.
5. Launch system according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the centre of gravity of the cup-carrier block and of the launch cup is situated on the axis (4) of rotation of the frame component (3.1-3.4, 13.1-13.4) or in the immediate vicinity thereof.
6. Launch system according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that each frame component (3.1-3.4, 13.1-13.4) is driven via a hollow shaft, through which the electrical cables running from the vehicle to the detonating device of the launch cup (2.1-2.4, 12.1-12.4) are routed.
7. Launch system according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that each frame component bears, on its underside or upper side, a gear segment (6.1-6.4) which engages a common rack (8) which is supported so as to be horizontally displaceable below or above the mounting (7) and which is coupled with the drive mechanism (9).
8. Launch system according to Claim 1, characterised in that each frame component bears, on its underside or upper side, a drive pinion which engages a drive pinion arranged on a common drive shaft arranged horizontally above or below the mounting, and the common drive shaft is coupled with the drive mechanism.
9. Launch system according to Claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the drive mechanism has an electric motor (9) which drives the rack (8) or the common drive shaft via an interposed reduction gear.
10. Launch system according to Claim 2, characterised in that each frame component (13.1-13.4) is provided on its underside and on its upper side with a hollow shaft (13.41, 13.12), and the hollow shafts of the frame components (13.1-13.4) adjacent to one another are coupled with one another, and the electrical cables running from the vehicle to the detonating devices of the launch cups (12.1-12.4) are passed through the hollow shafts and within the frame components (13.1-13.4) between the cup-carrier block and the frame component.
11. Launch system according to Claim 10, characterised in that the common drive mechanism has an electric motor (19) which drives the lowest or uppermost hollow shaft of the system via an interposed reduction gear.
12. Launch system according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the frame components (3.1-3.4, 13.1-13.4) are arranged in the mounting (7, 17) in such a manner that the launch cups (2.1-2.4, 12.1-12.4) exhibit a preset constant angular separation in each position of synchronous rotation in azimuth.
13. Launch system according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that each frame component (3.1-3.4, 13.1-13.4) is capable of swivelling out of the zero position of the angular range encompassing the azimuth positions into a transport position in which the launch cup (2.1-2.4, 12.1-12.4) is situated within a given vehicle outline.
14. A launch system, arranged on a combat vehicle, for smoke candles, explosive devices and such like with at least one cup-carrier block (21.1-21.3, 31.1-31.2) arranged on the outside of the vehicle by means of a mounting (27.1-27.2, 37.1-37.2), in which at a preset acute angle, determining the elevation of the launch system, relative to the bottom face of the cup-carrier block at least one launch cup (22.1-22.6, 32.1-32.8) is inserted, the cup-carrier block being supported in the mounting, which is firmly arranged on the vehicle, so as to be capable of rotating about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the bottom face of the cup-carrier block and being capable of being rotated about the axis of rotation within a preset angular range by means of a drive mechanism (29, 39), characterised in that several units, each consisting of a columnar cup-carrier block (21.1-21.3, 31.1-31.2) in which several launch cups (21.1-21.6, 31.1-31.8) are arranged, are rotatably supported side by side in the mounting (27.1-27.2, 37.1-37.2) fastened to the vehicle substantially horizontally with preset horizontal separations of the axes of rotation of the cup-carrier blocks and are capable of being driven synchronously by a common drive mechanism (29, 39).

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