Installation for launching missiles

Claim 1

An installation for launching a missile from an armored vehicle having a closed compartment for personnel, the installation comprising: a housing located in the compartment and having an opening which opens in a wall of said compartment; a launching ramp; lifting means for moving said launching ramp through said opening between a firing position outside said housing and a retracted position in which said launching ramp and lifting means are within said housing; means for controlling movement of said lifting means; a closure for the opening of said housing which is in closed position when said launching ramp is in its retracted position, said closure in said closed position being substantially in extension of said wall of said compartment; a periscopic sighting device arranged to be extendable through said wall of said compartment; said housing extending about said periscopic sighting device; support means in said housing for said lifting means; and means mounting said support means for rotation within said housing about said sighting device for rotating said ramp about said sighting device at least in said elevated firing position; said lifting means comprising two arms arranged about said sighting device and articulated about a horizontal axis on said rotatable support means, said rotatable support means being movable on rolling bodies in a circular path surrounding said sighting device.