Ship defense unit having a plurality of rocket launcher pods

Abstract

The invention relates to a ship defense unit (4) with a plurality of rocket launcher pods (6). In order to make retrofitting easier by keeping the volume required for this on the ship (2) low, it is proposed that the ship defense unit (4) has a pivoting mechanism (28, 48) which defines a pivoting motion of the rocket launcher pods (6) from a compact rest position into a launching position requiring a larger volume.

Description

[0001] Ship defense unit with multiple missile launch pods

[0002] The invention relates to a ship defense unit with multiple missile launch containers.

[0003] Retrofitting ships with one or more RAM launchers is costly, complex, and often difficult due to space constraints. While a vertical launcher type is compact on deck, retrofitting requires breaking through the ship's deck, which is very complex and often impossible due to the ship's compact infrastructure. Pivoting deck-mounted launchers require a large amount of free space on deck to allow the launcher to rotate and align the RAM. Since deck space is usually densely loaded, retrofitting requires redesigning the deck infrastructure or even eliminating other deck equipment.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a ship defense unit with multiple missile launch containers that can be retrofitted cost-effectively.

[0005] This task is solved by a ship defense unit of the type mentioned above, which has a pivoting mechanism that allows the missile launch containers to be pivoted from a rest position to a launch position. In particular, the ship defense unit is more compact in the rest position than in the launch position. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the pivoting mechanism dictates the pivoting of the missile launch containers from a rest position to a launch position. Due to the compact rest position, the ship defense unit can be retrofitted in a small space and thus cost-effectively, as there is no need to penetrate the deck or relocate other equipment. Furthermore, there is no need for a space-consuming, rotatable alignment unit, so that retrofitting on a deck, even directly on a deck superstructure, can be implemented in a compact and therefore cost-effective manner.In a defensive situation, only the space for the swiveling system is required, not the area around a rotating launcher. Furthermore, the ship defense unit can be installed very flexibly and cost-effectively on or near the ship.

[0006] When not in use, the missile launch containers of the ship defense unit are arranged in the rest position, for example, parallel to the ship deck on which the ship defense unit is mounted, or vertically, for example, on or in an external wall, such as a deckhouse wall or ship's side. The containers are weatherproof, and this position is suitable for long-term storage. The rest position is the storage position. In the rest position, all missile launch containers of the ship defense unit are expediently aligned parallel, making the rest position compact. Advantageously, all missile launch containers are aligned either horizontally or vertically.

[0007] For deployment, the missile launch pods are moved from their rest position to their launch position. They are each moved from their rest direction to a launch direction. The volume refers to the total volume of the ship defense unit, which can be defined by the envelope of the ship defense unit. In the rest position of the missile launch pods, the ship defense unit is more compact than with the missile launch pods in the launch position. The launch position is larger because at least several of the ship defense unit's missile launch pods are moved from their compact rest position and are oriented differently in their launch position.Even if all launch containers are parallel to each other in the launch position, meaning that the launch directions are all the same, pivoting the launch containers still causes the overall volume of the ship defense unit to increase, because not all of its components are moved; some remain rigidly attached to the ship.

[0008] The pivoting mechanism specifies the pivoting of the rocket launch containers from their rest direction into at least one mechanically predetermined launch direction. The pivoting mechanism can specify precisely one and only one launch direction for one, in particular for all, launch containers, so that the launch container(s) can expediently be oriented in only two different directions: its rest direction and its launch direction. Both directions are determined by the pivoting mechanism, meaning the launch direction cannot be selected, not even by a controller or actuator. In another embodiment, the launch direction can be selected either in one of several discrete directions or continuously along the pivoting path. The launch container is moved along the pivoting path, and the pivoting is stopped in a selectable direction.

[0009] The pivoting of the launch container can be a tilting movement, in which the longitudinal axis of the launch container rotates around a point during the movement from the rest direction to the launch direction. Tilting can occur around a container base, which remains stationary during the movement.

[0010] In their rest position, the missile launch pods are conveniently aligned parallel to a ship's hull or deck on or in which the ship defense unit is positioned. In the launch positions, the missile launch pods can be parallel or fanned out from each other. In any case, each missile launch pod assumes a different orientation in the launch position than in its rest position.

[0011] The swivel mechanism can specify the swiveling of the missile launch containers along a predetermined trajectory. The swivel mechanism can be kept simple, compact, and cost-effective. The goal is not generally to align the launch containers as precisely as possible with an approaching target, but rather to simply, reliably, and cost-effectively guide them into their pre-determined launch direction. These should be selected based on the orientation of several launch containers so that multiple approaching targets can generally be effectively engaged. The design-specific swivel trajectory allows this to be achieved compactly and cost-effectively.

[0012] Advantageously, the pivoting mechanism limits the pivoting of the missile launch containers to a one-dimensional trajectory. A two-dimensional selection of a launch direction in one or part of the hemisphere is therefore not possible. This allows the pivoting mechanism to be compact, robust, simple, and cost-effective. Furthermore, the space requirements of the ship defense unit can be kept to a minimum. The trajectory is expediently straight from the rest direction to the launch direction. This advantageously applies to all trajectories or pivoted missile launch containers of the ship defense unit. The pivoting of a launch container can be achieved with a one-dimensional joint in which the pivoting is fixed around a single axis. Examples include a door hinge or a folding joint.Several axes of the joints of the launch containers of a naval defense unit can be aligned in different directions, allowing the launch containers to be pivoted in different launch directions. Alternatively, a launch container can be pivoted about two axes, in particular an elevation axis and an azimuth axis, with the elevation axis advantageously allowing pivoting only in elevation and the azimuth axis only in azimuth. Advantageously, the joints of all missile launch containers are mounted on a common bearing block.

[0013] The multiple rocket launch containers can be aligned parallel to one another both in the rest position and in their launch position. However, better spatial coverage of the firing directions can be achieved if the rocket launch containers are aligned in different launch directions in their launch position. Advantageously, the pivoting mechanism allows the rocket launch containers to pivot apart from one another from the rest position into different launch directions. In this case, the launch containers can be parallel to one another in the rest direction. The launch directions, however, are aligned with one or more splay angles to one another. A simple, and therefore robust and cost-effective implementation of pivoting apart the rocket launch containers can be achieved if the launch directions continue backwards and have a common intersection point behind the launch containers, at least when viewed from above.Likewise, it is advantageous if the launch directions of at least three launch containers are symmetrical to one another with respect to a direction of symmetry. One of the launch containers can be aligned in the direction of symmetry. Advantageously, the splay angles of several launch containers relative to one another are constant, at least in the azimuth direction.

[0014] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the pivoting apart of the multiple rocket launch containers is mechanically coupled. This allows the pivoting mechanism to be kept simple and cost-effective. The pivoting mechanism can thus form a mechanically forced coupling. The rocket launch containers are thus pivoted together, for example synchronously. In particular, pivoting one of the launch containers forces the pivoting of another launch container for mechanical reasons. The pivoting out can be achieved by pivoting all rocket launch containers simultaneously. Each rocket launch container can have its own individual pivot axis, with the pivot axes being aligned differently in space. Conveniently, all pivot axes are aligned horizontally. The pivoting mechanism can be designed like an umbrella mechanism.Another possibility is that all rocket launch containers are pivoted around a common pivot axis and, in particular, additionally around an individual pivot axis.

[0015] For example, it is advantageous if the pivoting mechanism has a horizontal first pivot axis for pivoting the rocket launch containers and at least one further pivot axis for pivoting only a portion of the rocket launch containers. The two pivot axes can be perpendicular to each other. By pivoting around the second pivot axis, previously parallel-aligned rocket launch containers can be fanned out toward each other.

[0016] A spread-out into a large spatial area can be achieved if an inner and two outer rocket launch containers can be pivoted together around a first horizontal pivot axis in a first pivoting motion, and the two outer rocket launch containers can additionally be pivoted about their own second pivot axis in a second pivoting motion in opposite directions. Here, too, the second axes can be perpendicular to the first.

[0017] An identical elevation of the rocket launch containers can be achieved during a joint first swivel if the inner rocket launch container can be swiveled about another swivel axis during the second swivel. This can be perpendicular to the two second swivel axes and / or parallel to the first swivel axis. The swiveling can occur at an identical elevation despite the azimuthal separation. The swiveling of the inner rocket launch container can be less than the swiveling of the two outer rocket launch containers.

[0018] If the swivel mechanism is an umbrella mechanism, a central linear drive is useful, and in particular a mechanism that causes the rocket launch containers to swivel in a fan-out movement away from the linear drive.

[0019] Before an interceptor missile is launched, or after launch but before each turn, it is advisable for the interceptor missile to have already acquired its target with its seeker. For efficient defense in a space segment, it is therefore advantageous if the launch pods are already aligned so that a target in this entire space segment can be acquired by an interceptor missile without having to make a turn. To achieve such uniform space coverage, it is proposed that the launch directions be evenly distributed within a space segment. The space segment can be the hemisphere, for example, in a defense from a deck surface upwards, half a hemisphere, such as the defense of one side of a ship, or another part of the home sphere.

[0020] The number of launch containers required to fully cover a space segment depends, among other things, on the field of view of the interceptor missiles' seekers. If the field of view is at least ± 45° around the missile's axis, i.e., the launch direction, a single row of launch directions with the same elevation of 45° above the horizon is sufficient to cover half a hemisphere. If the field of view is less than ± 45°, but at least ± 22.5°, two rows of launch directions, each with the same elevation, are sufficient.

[0021] Particularly when defending half a hemisphere, for example a side of a ship, it is efficient if the launch position has several launch directions with identical elevations. The azimuth of the launch directions is expediently symmetrical around a central axis or direction of symmetry, which can be perpendicular to the ship's axis. For example, all launch directions are aligned at 45° or another angle above the horizon. In azimuth, the launch directions are expediently distributed at constant spread angles, for example 45° to each other. For constant angular separations, at least three launch directions must be present so that there are at least two constant spread angles between the three launch directions. The constancy of the angular distribution can also be present in the elevation, whereby the horizon is considered as one direction, and expediently also the zenith, although a launch container does not necessarily have to be aligned in this direction.For example, the launch pods are all aligned at a 45° elevation, ensuring a constant elevation of 0° - 45° - 90° in 45° increments between the horizon and the launch directions on the one hand, and the launch directions and the zenith on the other. Two different elevation directions are also possible, for example, 30° and 60°, ensuring a constant elevation of 0° - 30° - 60° - 90° in 30° increments. Anti-ship missiles usually approach ships in one of the main attack directions, where the destructive effect is greatest. The main attack directions are 90° from the side into the ship's side and vertically from above, i.e. from the zenith into the deck of the ship. Even if the actual attack directions do not necessarily correspond exactly to these 90° directions, these directions will be considered the main attack directions in the following.Particularly in a concerted attack on a ship, it is necessary to have several interceptor missiles flying in one direction – preferably one main attack direction. But even to increase the chances of defense against a highly agile anti-ship missile, several anti-ship missiles should fly in one direction. Since an interceptor missile turning too sharply results in a significant loss of time for kinematic reasons, and it is also advantageous for the interceptor missile's seeker to be able to detect the approaching anti-ship missile upon launch, the launch direction should not be offset from the main attack direction by more than one correction angle. The correction angle can be predetermined by the flight kinematics and / or the seeker's field of view, so that an anti-ship missile approaching from the main attack direction is already within the interceptor missile's field of view upon launch.In particular, the correction angle can be a field of view angle, for example, a maximum span of the field of view of the seeker optics from the longitudinal direction of the seeker head and / or interceptor missile, so that the main attack direction lies within the field of view during launch. Alternatively, the correction angle can be determined based on kinematic considerations, or both. For the rapid and reliable defense of a ship, it is advantageous if several, in particular all, launch directions are spaced at most one correction angle from a main attack direction. Multiple coverage of one or both main attack directions is particularly advantageous, i.e., if several launch directions are spaced at most the correction angle from the main attack direction.

[0022] Depending on the defense situation, several main defense directions may be covered by one or more launch directions - especially with maximum deviation of the correction angle. This can be achieved particularly flexibly if the pivoting mechanism is designed so that at least one rocket launch container remains aligned in its rest direction when the others pivot in their respective launch direction. For example, the rest direction of all launch containers is vertically upwards in the rest position. In the event of an attack, some launch containers pivot to the side, for example, to cover the main lateral attack direction. If at least one launch container remains aligned upwards, i.e., not pivoted, this main attack direction can also be targeted directly.More generally, the rocket launch containers are launched at elevations that may be different from the elevation of another rocket launch container.

[0023] Fast, simple, and robust pivoting of the launch containers using a simple pivoting mechanism is desirable. This can be achieved if the pivoting mechanism is designed to synchronously deploy all pivotable missile launch containers. In this case, only one coupled pivoting mechanism is required for several or all of the launch containers in the ship defense unit. The pivoting can be achieved using a drive that pivots several or all of the launch containers. The drive can be a linear drive. A linearly extendable piston or rod can move the launch containers from their rest direction to their launch direction, and in particular, back again. The piston or rod can be connected to a launch container by one arm each, so that each launch container is moved by its arm and all arms are attached to the piston, in particular around a common pivot point.For example, when the piston is lifted, the arms push their launch containers in the launch direction. When pulled, the launch containers are retracted to the resting direction. The pivoting mechanism can be designed according to the principle of an umbrella mechanism.

[0024] When an interceptor missile is launched, it shoots a hot exhaust jet backwards which is chemically aggressive due to its composition. In order to at least largely prevent the exhaust jet from hitting a ship element, it is advantageous if the exhaust jet is deflected so that it shoots out into the open. To achieve this, it is proposed that the ship defense unit have an exhaust gas deflection unit for deflecting an exhaust jet from a rocket launching from a rocket launch container. The exhaust gas deflection unit is expediently designed so that the deflection occurs by at least 75°, in particular by at least 90°. Depending on the orientation of the launch direction, the exhaust jet can be deflected out to sea or diagonally upwards. A single central exhaust gas deflection unit for several or all launch containers of the ship defense unit, for example on a container base, is cost-effective.

[0025] A compact arrangement of the ship defense unit on or within the ship can be achieved if the missile launch containers are prepared for vertical installation in an exterior wall of a ship. The ship defense unit can, for example, be integrated into a side wall and / or a superstructure wall. When arranged directly within a side wall, the launch containers can each be firmly connected to a side wall segment. The side wall segment can be folded out when the launch container is pivoted.

[0026] A ship can have multiple ship defense units, which are installed, for example, in the hull of one side of the ship. The ship defense units are expediently arranged separately on the ship. The invention is therefore also directed to a system comprising multiple ship defense units as described above. In this case, it is advantageous if they can defend the ship in different directions - even if they are installed, for example, in the same hull. It is therefore advantageous if the ship defense units are prepared for installation in the same outer wall of a ship with identical rest positions, i.e., identical rest directions of their launch containers. An identical rest orientation means that in their rest position they are aligned parallel to one another, for example, or are mounted in the same way in or on the outer wall.The rocket launch containers are preferably all directed in the same resting direction, for example, vertically upwards. To be able to defend the ship in different directions, it is advisable for the combinations of launch directions of the rocket launch containers of the individual ship defense units to be different from one another. The system can be particularly compact if, in at least several ship defense units, the rocket launch containers of a ship defense unit are aligned parallel to each other in the launch position, i.e., in one direction. Each ship defense unit can have its own direction, although the directions can be different.

[0027] The invention is also directed to a ship with one or more ship defense units as described above. These can be mounted in or on an outer wall of the ship, in particular with the rest direction vertically upwards. The launch containers can, for example, pivot or fold outward from the outer wall into their - expediently different - launch directions. The outer wall can be a side wall or a deck superstructure wall. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a method for activating a ship defense unit containing multiple missile launch containers. A cost-effective retrofitting of a ship with a ship defense unit can be achieved if the missile launch containers pivot from a compact rest position into a larger-volume launch position using the pivoting mechanism.

[0028] The description of advantageous embodiments of the invention given so far contains numerous features, some of which are summarized in several dependent claims. However, the features can also be expediently considered individually and combined into useful further combinations, particularly in the case of claims that refer back to one another, so that an individual feature of a dependent claim can be combined with an individual, several, or all features of another dependent claim. Furthermore, these features can each be combined individually and in any suitable combination both with the method according to the invention and with the device according to the invention according to the independent claims. Thus, method features can also be viewed as objectively formulated properties of the corresponding device unit, and functional device features can also be viewed as corresponding method features.

[0029] The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more readily understood in conjunction with the following description of the embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. The embodiments serve to illustrate the invention and do not limit the invention to the combination of features specified therein, including with regard to functional features. Furthermore, suitable features of each embodiment can also be explicitly considered in isolation, removed from one embodiment, incorporated into another embodiment to supplement it, and / or combined with any of the claims.

[0030] They show:

[0031] FIG 1 a ship with two ship defense units, each mounted in a side of the ship, FIG 2 a ship defense unit from above with several rocket launch containers in their rest position,

[0032] FIG 3 the missile launch containers of the ship defence unit in their launch position,

[0033] FIG 4 Rocket launch container of a ship defense unit in a different launch position,

[0034] FIG 5 shows three monodirectional ship defense units in a single side of a ship, where the launch directions of the missile launch containers are different,

[0035] FIG 6 several rocket launch containers of a ship defense unit in parallel rest position,

[0036] FIG 7 the rocket launch containers unfolded in their launch position,

[0037] FIG 8 several missile launch containers of a ship defence unit with an alternative pivoting mechanism for unfolding into their launch position,

[0038] FIG 9 a ship defence unit from above with launch directions angled by 30° to each other in azimuth and

[0039] FIG 10 a ship defense unit on a ship deck from the front.

[0040] FIG 1 shows a ship 2 in a schematic view from the front, with a ship defense unit 4 mounted on each side of the ship's hull. Each of these ship defense units 4 is equipped with several rocket launch containers 6, hereinafter referred to simply as launch containers 6. The ship defense units 4 are mounted above a deck 8 of the ship 2, which is indicated by dashed lines in FIG 1 because it is invisible from this perspective. It would also be possible to place one or more ship defense units 4 in another outer wall 10 of the ship 2, for example in an outer superstructure wall. The outer wall 10, here the hull, is closed from the outside when the ship defense units 4 are in their rest position; the ship defense units 4 are not visible from the outside, although they are shown visible in FIG 1 for the sake of clarity.

[0041] The launch containers 6 can be tilted outward about a joint 12. The ship defense unit 4 shown on the left is in its rest position, in which all launch containers 6 are stored in their rest direction. The rest direction is the orientation of their longitudinal axis in rest or storage mode, in which they are inactive and not used for ship defense. The rest direction is aligned parallel to the outer wall 10, in this case the side of the ship, for example, vertically upwards. If the outer wall 10 is tilted slightly from the vertical, for example for the stealth effect, a launch container aligned parallel to the outer wall 10 and as far upwards as possible can, for the sake of simplicity, also be understood in this context as being aligned vertically upwards.

[0042] The ship defense unit is located in its launch position on the outer wall 10 shown on the right in FIG 1, with the launch containers 6 aligned in their launch direction. This is aligned at an elevation of 45° to the horizontal, with all launch directions having this elevation. The launch directions can vary in azimuth, although this is not apparent from the perspective of FIG 1. An interceptor missile 14 is launched from one of the launch containers 6 to combat an approaching anti-ship missile (not shown in FIG 1). The exhaust jet 16 of the interceptor missile 14 is directed outwards by 90° towards the sea by an exhaust gas deflection unit, such that the outer wall 10 or any interior of the ship 2 is not hit by the exhaust jet 16. The exhaust gas deflection unit is arranged at the base of the respective launch container 6.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a ship defense unit 4 in an outer wall 10 from above. The ship defense unit 4 has six launch containers 6, which are oriented upwards and parallel to the outer wall 10, i.e., vertically, in their resting direction. The lids of the launch containers 6 are thus visible from above. The outer wall 10, e.g., the side wall, is closed from the outside, and the ship defense unit 4 is not visible.

[0044] FIG 3 shows the ship defense unit 4 from FIG 2 from above with the launch containers 6 in their launch position. Five of the six launch containers 6 are tilted outwards by 45° in the elevation direction. The tilting or pivoting direction is indicated in FIG 2. For five of the six launch containers 6, the pivot axes 18 about which the launch containers 6 are tilted are shown in dashed lines. For the sixth launch container 6, a circle indicates that the launch container 6 has a launch direction identical to the rest direction. In contrast to the other launch containers 6, it therefore remains unswivelled when the ship defense unit 4 changes position from the rest position to the launch position. The tilting or pivoting direction is partially different for the five pivoted launch containers 6. The middle right launch container 6 is only pivoted straight outwards by 45°.In addition to this 45° elevation tilt, the two upper launch containers 6 shown in FIG. 3 are also tilted 45° to the left in the azimuth direction, or upwards in the image, in addition to this 45° elevation tilt. The two lower launch containers 6 shown in FIG. 3 are also tilted 45° to the right in the azimuth direction, or downwards in the image, in addition to this 45° elevation tilt. Other tilt angles are also possible. The view from the front of ship 2 results in the view shown in FIG. 1 on the side of the ship shown on the right.

[0045] From each launch container 6 positioned in launch position, an interceptor missile 14 is launched in the respective launch direction. The launch containers 6 can be single containers, double containers, or quadruple containers, as indicated by the dashed line at the bottom right of the launch container 6. Whether only one, two, or even four interceptor missiles 14 are launched from a launch container 6 in the launch direction is irrelevant for the pivoting.

[0046] To provide space for the launch containers 6 to unfold, and thus for the volume to increase from the rest position to the launch position of the ship defense unit 4, the outer wall 10 contains openings 20 that can be closed by flaps 22. The flaps 22 are closed in FIG. 2 and open in FIG. 3. They each form a segment of the outer wall 10, in this example the side wall. The outer launch containers 6 are connected to segments of the outer wall 10, which each move with the pivoting of the launch containers 6. The individual segments of the outer wall 10 on the launch containers 6 are visible in FIG. 2.

[0047] The launch directions of the pivoted launch containers 6 are aligned symmetrically in their azimuth component around a main direction of attack 24 (see FIG 1), which in this case runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ship 2 and horizontally. In the example shown, the launch directions are spaced from each other by different azimuthal spread angles a, in this case from the direction of symmetry in which the middle launch container 6 is aligned, albeit with an elevation of 45°. The spread angle a is an azimuth angle and amounts to 45°. As a solid angle, it is less than 45°. The spread angle a is therefore to be viewed as the azimuth angle of the polar coordinates and is different from the absolute correction angle. With a spread angle a of 45° between two launch containers 6, the correction angle between these launch containers 6 is less than 45°.

[0048] For the tilted central launch pod 6, the correction angle is 45° in elevation to both the horizontal main attack direction 24 and the vertical main attack direction 26. For the lateral launch pods 6, the correction angle to the vertical main attack direction 26 is also 45° in each case. However, due to the two-dimensional solid angle, the correction angle to both the horizontal main attack direction 24 and exactly to the front or rear of the ship 2 is more than 45°. If the correction angle to the horizontal main attack direction 24 is also to be no more than 45°, the azimuth angle to the direction of symmetry, which is 45° above the horizon in elevation, would have to be slightly reduced. On the other hand, if the correction angle to the front or rear is to be no more than 45°, the azimuth angle of the lateral launch pods 6 to the direction of symmetry would have to be slightly increased.The midpoint between the symmetry direction and the forward or rearward direction at 45° elevation represents a compromise, where the field of view of the side-mounted interceptor missiles 14 does not extend completely horizontally forward or rearward, resulting in a small "blind zone" to the front or rear, respectively—unless the seeker's field of view is larger than ± 45°. However, this is tolerable, since an attack directly from the front or rear is rather unusual.

[0049] The embodiment of FIG 4 is identical to the embodiment of FIG 3 except for the orientation of the three inner launch containers 6. The three outer launch containers 6, where outside refers to the ship 2, which in this case are located directly on the outer wall 10, are tilted by 45° in elevation like the corresponding launch containers 6 in FIG 3 and 45° symmetrical in azimuth about the direction of symmetry. In the case of the inner launch containers 6, however, the middle one is tilted parallel to the middle outer launch container 6 and the two lateral ones remain in their rest direction, i.e. perpendicular. This means that the two middle launch containers 6 can cover the main attack direction 24 with a field of view of ± 45° and the two perpendicular ones can cover the main attack direction 26 directly in the launch direction.In these launch directions, defense in the main attack directions 24, 26 is preferred and defense to the front or rear is somewhat neglected, since fewer launch containers 6 are directed forward or rearward, respectively, and the front and rear can only be reached with larger correction angles or curved flights.

[0050] FIG 5 shows three monodirectional ship defense units 4, each with three launch containers 6, although other numbers are equally possible, for example as in FIG 3. For each of the ship defense units 4, the launch containers 6 are only pivoted in a single launch direction, as indicated by the pivot axes 18 in FIG 5. With this design, the ship defense units 4 can be placed in a monodirectional manner, but more compactly in or on the outer wall 10, since the openings 18 can be made smaller or can be omitted, as in the middle ship defense unit 4. This constellation is particularly advantageous when several ship defense units 4 are placed on an outer wall 10 or on one side of the ship, in particular at least three, so that the multidirectional defense does not have to be created with just one ship defense unit 4.It is also possible to combine monodirectional and multidirectional ship defense units 4, even on one side of the ship. For example, one monodirectional ship defense unit 4 is placed at the front and rear of the ship 2, and one or more multidirectional ship defense units 4 are placed on each of the sides, or vice versa.

[0051] The elevations of the launch directions can also be the same in this example, for example, 45°. The leading ship defense unit 4, as seen from ship 2, defends forward, so its launch directions are aligned forward, the middle one is aligned in the main defense direction 24, and the rear one is aligned rearward. To create better defense to the front or rear without creating a blind spot, the launch directions forward and rearward can be tilted by more than 45° forward or rearward to the symmetry direction or main defense direction 24, respectively.

[0052] The ship defense units 4 from the preceding embodiments each contain a pivoting mechanism for pivoting the launch containers 6 from their rest direction to their launch directions and back. As illustrated by the pivot axes 18, the pivoting path of the launch containers 6 is circular, i.e., one-dimensional in polar coordinates. The pivoting mechanism also has stops in the rest and launch directions, so that only the rest and launch directions are used as permanent directions. A drive and control system are also designed such that the launch containers 6 are stopped or held only in the rest and launch directions. Intermediate directions in which the launch containers 6 are held motionless are not present.Since the pivoting takes place around the pivot axes 18, which are already aligned so that the pivoting can take place in the respective launch direction, each launch container 6 to be pivoted has only one pivot axis 18. This is different with the pivoting mechanisms from FIGS. 6 to 8.

[0053] FIG 6 shows a ship defense unit 4 with three missile launch containers 6 in their parallel rest directions. In FIG 6, the ship defense unit 4 is shown viewed from the inside out, i.e. from a deck area towards the sea. The three launch containers 6 each contain two canisters, each with an interceptor missile 14. Also visible is a pivoting mechanism 28 for pivoting the launch containers 6 of the ship defense unit 4 from their rest position shown in FIG 6 to their launch position shown in FIG 7. In the launch position, the launch containers are pivoted 645° away from the observer and outwards from the outer wall 10 (not shown). The pivoting mechanism 28 has a pivot axis 30 for pivoting the launch containers 6 exclusively in elevation. All launch containers 6 of the ship defense unit 4 are pivoted synchronously in the elevation direction, as shown by the double arrow in FIG 6.A drive (not shown) is provided for this purpose. The central launch container 6 already achieves its launch direction, which may coincide with the direction of symmetry, through the exclusive elevation pivoting. To pivot the launch containers 6 in the azimuth direction, the pivoting mechanism 28 has an additional pivot axis 32 for each launch container 6, each of which is represented by a circle in FIG. 6, each of which represents a one-dimensional joint. Alternatively, instead of the two pivot axes per launch container 6, a two-dimensional joint may be provided, for example, a ball joint per launch container 6.

[0054] The pivoting mechanism 28 has a drive 34 in the form of a linear drive, for example a piston drive with a piston 36 with a joint 38, on which there are as many arms 40 as there are launch containers 6 to be moved, in the example from FIG 6 there are two arms 40. These are each connected to their launch container 6 via a further joint 42. Moving the drive 34 or the piston 36 leads to a synchronous and symmetrical pivoting movement of the launch containers 6 up to a mechanical stop, which specifies the launch direction, as shown in FIG 7, or the rest direction, as shown in FIG 6. The launch directions are again distributed, for example, by 45° in azimuth symmetrically around the direction of symmetry. The middle launch container 6 remains unaffected by this azimuth pivoting and therefore remains at rest when the drive 34 is actuated.In contrast to the previous embodiments, the two lateral launch containers 6 move on a one- or two-dimensional path, depending on the sequence of movement around the pivot axes 30, 32. In any case, in contrast to the previous embodiments, a two-dimensional movement can be generated here. Irrespective of this, there is only one predetermined launch direction for each of the launch containers 6, which is predetermined by the mechanical stop. Stopping the pivoting before reaching the stop is not possible by controlling the pivot mechanism 28. The pivot mechanism 28 is designed as an umbrella mechanism with respect to the two outer launch containers 6. It can have a central linear drive and an arm 40 for each launch container 6.

[0055] In the example from FIG 7, the elevation of the inner launch container 6 is higher than that of the outer launch containers 6, since the elevation is not only changed by pivoting around the axis 30, but also by pivoting around the axes 32. In order to achieve a uniform elevation, the pivoting mechanism 28 can also pivot the central launch container 6 when the outer launch containers 6 are pivoted apart. In this case, the joint pivoting around the axis 30 occurs at an elevation higher than the desired one. Only when they are pivoted apart do all launch containers 6 reach the desired elevation. For this purpose, the pivoting mechanism 28 also has an arm 40 for the central launch container 6, which is, however, shorter than the arms 40 of the outer launch containers 6. The pivoting apart of the inner launch container 6 is therefore less than that of the outer launch containers 6.In this embodiment, the inner rocket launch container 6 can be pivoted about a further pivot axis, which can be parallel to the pivot axis 30 and perpendicular to the two second pivot axes 32.

[0056] The ship defense unit 4 contains a base 44 or generally a fastening unit for attachment to the ship 2. One or more exhaust gas deflection units 46 are arranged on this base, each of which deflects the exhaust jet 16 of one or more interceptor missiles 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown, two exhaust gas deflection units 46 are provided for the three launch containers 6. When mounted in or on an outer wall 10, the exhaust gas jet 16 is deflected away from the outer wall 10 so that it does not hit the outer wall 10. In the perspective of FIG 7, the exhaust gas deflection units 46 are not visible per se because they are located behind the base 44, i.e. in the seaward direction from the base 44. Therefore, the exhaust gas deflection units 46 are only shown in dashed lines.

[0057] From FIG 3 it can be seen that the two tilted inner launch containers 6, due to their longitudinal tilt, are each located behind the launch container 6 positioned outwards in front of them. Outside and inside refer to the arrangement on the ship, i.e. outside, facing the sea, and inside, more inside the ship. Even if no exhaust gas deflection unit is shown in FIG 3, one is present at the respective canister base. In the inner launch container 6, the exhaust gas deflection unit is designed such that its exhaust gas is directed outwards towards the sea, underneath the exhaust gas deflection unit of the outer launch container 6, and in particular also underneath its canister base. The exhaust gas is therefore blown underneath the outer launch container 6. The same applies to the other inner launch containers 6, so that their exhaust gas is directed underneath the launch container 6 positioned outwards in front of them. The same also applies to the arrangement in FIG 4.

[0058] When arranged on an outer wall 10 in the form of a superstructure wall above deck, an exhaust gas deflection of between 150° and 180° is advisable so that the exhaust gas does not hit the outer wall 10 or the deck below the ship defense unit 4. An exhaust gas deflection unit would have to be designed accordingly, particularly at the respective canister base.

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a ship defense unit 4 analogous to FIG. 7, in which the pivoting mechanism 48 has its own drive 34 for each launch container 6 to be pivoted in azimuth. The pivoting movement is analogous to the example in FIG. 7, whereby the drives 34 are not fixed to the middle launch container 6 - as in FIGS. 6 and 7 - but are movable between the middle launch container 6 and the launch container 6 to be moved by this drive 34. The drives 34 can be actuated synchronously or non-synchronously, thus allowing greater flexibility in the variable orientation of the individual launch containers 6. Depending on the direction of attack, the launch containers 6 can be moved individually in their launch direction. For example, the two lateral launch containers 6 can also remain unswiveled in azimuth, which is already possible in the example in FIG. 7.However, the two lateral launch containers from FIG 8 can also be pivoted individually, which is not possible in the example from FIG 7. In this way, a more flexible response can be made to an attack from one side, for example from the front or rear on the ship 2. The pivoting mechanisms 28, 48 are only examples of simple mechanical pivoting mechanisms. Alternatives are also possible, for example a bracket for each pivoted launch container 6 which folds out when activated and takes its launch container 6 with it, or into which the launch container 6 falls outwards or is moved. The bracket holds the launch container 6 in its start position. Furthermore, a direct linear drive for a launch container 6 to be pivoted is possible, which engages it at an angle and pivots it outwards or sideways and can also retract it again.

[0060] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment with launch containers 6 that can be pivoted azimuthally by 30°. The geometry of the launch containers 6 can be hexagonal, as shown, or else different; only the changed azimuthal pivot directions are important. The pivots are—as in the examples from FIGS. 2 to 4—one-dimensional, as shown by the pivot axes 18, although it is equally possible to provide a pivot mechanism as in the embodiments from FIGS. 6 to 8 with combined pivot axes 30, 32. The example from FIG. 8 clearly shows that the number and arrangement geometry of the launch containers 6 combined in a ship defense unit 4, and their pivot directions, can be designed very variably, particularly depending on the kinematic capabilities of the interceptor missiles 16 and the optical properties of their seeker heads.In the example shown in FIG. 9, the launch containers 6 to be pivoted can also be pivoted synchronously so that the outer launch containers 6 make room for the pivoting of the inner launch container(s). One or more inner launch containers 6 can remain unpivoted in order to remain aligned in the main attack direction 26. In the example shown, these are two launch containers 6. However, it is also possible to design them to be pivotable. This should be done depending on the interaction with other ship defense units 4 in order to be able to optimally defend all directions.

[0061] While all of the embodiments explained so far describe ship defense units 4 placed on or in an outer wall 10, other placements are also possible and advantageous. In FIG. 10, the ship defense unit 4 shown is mounted horizontally on deck 50, for example, aligned towards the stern of the ship 2. The example is analogous to FIGS. 2 and 3, whereby the rest directions are not vertical but horizontal. Shown are six rocket launch containers 6 designed as double containers. The launch directions are all directed upwards from the horizontal: for the four lateral launch containers by 45°, analogous to FIG. 3, for the middle upper launch container 6 by 90° upwards, as indicated by the long arrow, and for the lower launch container 6 by 30° or 45° upwards, as the shorter arrow is intended to explain.Movement from the rest direction to the launch direction is achieved by the pivot axes 18, again indicated by dashed lines, so that pivoting is only possible in one dimension. In addition to the 45° elevation in the azimuth direction, the lateral launch containers 6 are each angled 45° to the direction of symmetry in their launch direction. Other azimuth angles are also possible. An angle other than 45° can also be selected for elevation, depending on the optimal defense direction on the ship 2 in question. The upper launch containers 6 can also be pivoted further upward than the lower ones.

[0062] Finally, it should not go unnoticed that a ship defense unit 4 according to the invention can also be arranged on a vehicle other than a ship 2, for example on a land vehicle, so that it is then a vehicle defense unit.

[0063] List of reference symbols

[0064] 2 ships

[0065] 4 Ship Defense Unit

[0066] 6 rocket launch containers

[0067] 8 decks

[0068] 10 Exterior wall

[0069] 12 joint

[0070] 14 interceptor missiles

[0071] 16 Exhaust jet

[0072] 18 swivel axes

[0073] 20 Opening

[0074] 22 flap

[0075] 24 Main attack direction

[0076] 26 Main attack direction

[0077] 28 Swivel mechanism

[0078] 30 swivel axis

[0079] 32 swivel axis

[0080] 34 Drive

[0081] 36 pistons

[0082] 38 joint

[0083] 40 arms

[0084] 42 joint

[0085] 44 feet

[0086] 46 Exhaust gas deflection unit

[0087] 48 Swivel mechanism

[0088] 50 Deck a Spread angle

Claims

Patent claims. A ship defense unit (4) with a plurality of rocket launch containers (6), characterized by a pivoting mechanism (28, 48) that specifies a pivoting of the rocket launch containers (6) from a compact rest position into a larger-volume launch position. A ship defense unit (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rocket launch containers (6) are oriented in different launch directions in their launch position. A ship defense unit (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pivoting mechanism (28, 48) specifies a pivoting apart of the rocket launch containers (6) from the rest position into mutually different launch directions. A ship defense unit (4) according to claim 3, characterized in that the pivoting apart of the plurality of rocket launch containers (6) is mechanically positively coupled.Ship defense unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivoting mechanism (28, 48) has a horizontal first pivot axis for pivoting out the rocket launch containers (6) and at least one further pivot axis (30) for pivoting out only a part of the rocket launch containers (6).

6. Ship defense unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an inner and two outer rocket launch containers (6) can be pivoted together about a first horizontal pivot axis (30) in a first pivoting movement and the two outer rocket launch containers (6) can additionally be pivoted about their own second pivot axis (32) in a second pivoting movement in opposite directions to one another.

7. Ship defense unit (4) according to claim 6, characterized in that the inner rocket launch container (6) is pivotable about a further pivot axis during the second pivoting movement, which is perpendicular to the two second pivot axes.

8. Ship defense unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivoting mechanism (28) is an umbrella mechanism with a central linear drive and a mechanism which causes the rocket launch containers (6) to pivot in a fanning-out movement away from the linear drive.

9. Ship defense unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the launch position has a plurality of launch directions whose elevation is identical and whose azimuth is symmetrical about a central axis.

10. Ship defense unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the launch position has a plurality of launch directions distributed at constant angular intervals in a spatial segment.

11. Ship defense unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the starting position has several starting directions, each of which is spaced at most one correction angle from a main attack direction (24, 26).

12. Ship defense unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the pivoting mechanism is designed such that at least one rocket launch container (6) remains aligned in its rest direction when the other is pivoted out in its respective launch direction. System comprising a plurality of ship defense units (4), each according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a preparation of the ship defense units (4) for installation in the same outer wall (10) of a ship (2) with an identical rest position of the ship defense units (4) and with an identical rest direction of their rocket launch containers (6), wherein in the launch position the combinations of the launch directions of the rocket launch containers (6) of the individual ship defense units (4) are different from one another. Ship (2) with one or more ship defense units (4) according to one of the preceding claims.Method for activating a ship defense unit (4) with several rocket launch containers (6) and a pivoting mechanism (28, 48), characterized in that the rocket launch containers (6) pivot from a compact rest position into a larger-volume launch position by means of the pivoting mechanism (28, 48).

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