Pivoted vehicle launch for submarine

Abstract

The launching of a vehicle having front and back ends, from the submerged ll of a vessel that is moving forward through water by allowing the vehicle to pivot outboard clear of the hull, preferably from a launchway cavity, into the flow stream where it is released to move under its own propulsion and/or buoyancy forces. A first mechanism is carried on a submerged exterior surface of the hull and connected to the front portion of the vehicle, for initially supporting the vehicle front portion adjacent to the hull in the direction of hull travel, and then selectively releasing the front portion of the vehicle from the hull so that the front portion can move laterally away from the hull into the flow stream. A second mechanism is connected between the hull and the back portion of the vehicle, for initially providing stationary support to the back portion of the vehicle adjacent to the hull while the first mechanism supports the front portion, and then providing pivoting support to the back portion as the vehicle front portion thereby swings away from the hull. Structure is provided to cooperate with the first mechanism, for urging the front portion of the vehicle laterally away from the hull as the front portion is released by the first mechanism.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.