Armored Box Launcher
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
The Armored Box Launcher (ABL) is a four-round protected launch container for the BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile.
Fitted to the Iowa class battleships following their 1980's recommissioning upgrade, each ABL contains four ready-to-fire Tomahawks.
The use of ABL's on these vessels rather than a non-armoured solution was necessitated to enable the battleships to continue to exploit the capability provided by their heavy armour and reduce the vulnerability of the delicate missiles within.
Eight ABL's were fitted to each of the four recommissioned battleships, providing 32 weapons to each ship. Some of the original dual 5 inch gun mounts were removed to fit the ABL's and the launchers are visible at right.
The Armored Box Launcher missile system was eventually replaced with the Vertical Launching System.
