US Mk 40 FFAR Launchers
The United States was the primary user of this type of weapon and developed a number of different launching pods for it. Initially pods were intended to be disposed of by launching aircraft, either in flight or on the ground following a mission. With the advent of the armed helicopter, the need for launching pods that were reusable became apparent. Though the rocket was initially developed by the US Navy, the US Air Force and later US Army were most responsible for the development of rocket pods for all services. These pods are described as follows:
- Launchers designated under the US Air Force system:
| Designation | Description |
|---|---|
| LAU-3/A | 19-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher |
| LAU-3A/A | LAU-3/A variant; differences unknown |
| LAU-3B/A | LAU-3A/A variant; differences unknown; US Army XM159 |
| LAU-3C/A | LAU-3B/A variant; supports single or ripple fire |
| LAU-3D/A | LAU-3C/A variant; differences unknown |
| LAU-32/A | 7-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher |
| LAU-32A/A | LAU-32/A variant; differences unknown; US Army XM157A |
| LAU-32B/A | LAU-32A/A variant; differences unknown |
| LAU-49/A | 7-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher |
| LAU-51/A | 19-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher |
| LAU-59/A | 7-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher |
| LAU-60/A | 19-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher; similar to LAU-3/A series except in the position of the grounding safety device |
| LAU-61/A | 19-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher; US Army M159A1 |
| LAU-61A/A | LAU-61/A variant; differences unknown |
| LAU-61B/A | LAU-61A/A variant; differences unknown |
| LAU-68/A | 7-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher; US Army M158A1 |
| LAU-68A/A | LAU-68/A variant; differences unknown |
| LAU-68B/A | LAU-68A/A variant; differences unknown |
| LAU-68C/A | LAU-68/A variant; differences unknown |
| LAU-69/A | 19-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher; US Army M200A1 |
- Launchers designated under the US Army system:
| Designation | Description |
|---|---|
| XM141 | Launcher, 2.75-inch Rocket, Seven-Tube, Reloadable, Reusable; 7-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher |
| XM157A | 7-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher; not compatible w/ Mk 66 rocket motor; USAF LAU-32A/A |
| XM157B | XM157A variant; longer launch tubes, capable of further mounting an XM118 dispenser |
| XM158/M158 | Launcher, 2.75-inch Rocket, Seven-Tube, Reloadable, Reusable, Repairable; 7-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher |
| M158A1 | M158 variant; modified hardback mount; USAF LAU-68/A |
| XM159 | Launcher, 2.75-inch FFAR, 19-Tube, Reloadable, Reusable, Not Repairable; 19-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher; USAF LAU-3B/A |
| XM159B/C | XM159 variants; differences unknown |
| M159 | 19-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher; type standardization of what XM159 unknown |
| M159A1 | M159 variant; differences unknown; USAF LAU-61/A |
| XM200/M200 | 19-Tube 70 mm (2.75”) rocket launcher |
| M200A1 | M200 variant; differences unknown; USAF LAU-69/A |
| MA-2A | 2-Tube rocket launcher |
Early UH-1B/UH-1C Gunships had the XM-3 Subsystem using paired 24 round rectangular launchers mounted near the back edge of the sliding side doors. These pods were ground reloadable and were semi-permanent aircraft parts. The mounting point had been used to mount booms for 3 SS-11 Launchers on each side for anti-tank missions. The co-pilot had a roof mounted sight and control box to fire these. Later UH-1C and D aircraft had a mount on each side to carry a 7 round pod coupled with paired M-60D machine guns. Some carried M-134 Miniguns with 3000 rounds per gun instead, though these aircraft were normally used by Air Cavalry units, not the Aerial Rocket Artillery (ARA) units.
Also various ground launchers using discarded aircraft pods were used for fire base defence. A towed configuration consisting of 6 19 round pods called a Slammer was tested for airborne infantry support. The range was approximately 7000 meters using Hydra 70 family rockets.
Read more about this topic: Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket