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In the military, vehicles such as trucks or tractor units can be used to transport or launch missiles , essentially a form of rocket artillery. The missile vehicle may be a self-propelled unit or the missile holder/launcher may be on a trailer towed by a prime mover. They are used in the military forces of a number of countries in the world. Long missiles are commonly transported parallel to the ground on these vehicles, but elevated into an inclined or vertical position for launching. Missile vehicles include transporter erector launchers and multiple rocket launchers such as the Patriot missile system. Single or dual missile vehicles often transport their missiles uncovered. The missile batteries of multiple rocket launchers often hold their missiles inside tubular or rectangular canisters for each missile, from which the missiles or rockets can be launched. Many missile trucks use pneumatic tires, although they may be large and specialized for offroad travel. However, some missile vehicles use tractor crawler drive similar to that of a tank.
The Katyusha rocket launcher was an early launcher mostly mounted on missile trucks used by the Soviet Union during World War II. In turn, the US produced in World War II the T34 Calliope missile-launching vehicle in limited quantities by attaching a multiple-missile battery atop an M4 Sherman tank.
Among the largest missile vehicles are the multi-wheeled 8-axle MZKT-79221 carrying vehicles for Topol-M ICBMs as the Russian army's longest trucks. As of December 2008, there are six such road-mobile missile systems.Another Russian example is the truck for the Pechora-2M Surface-to-Air Anti-aircraft missile system, which can transport and launch two missiles,and also used by some other countries.
American examples of single-missile launcher trucks include M39 Series Trucks, M289 and M896 Honest John Missile Launcher Trucks.In these trucks after transporting the missile, the missile-launching mechanism with the missile on it is pivoted upwards to put it into position for launching.Some trucks carry a battery containing four US Harpoon or Patriot missiles for launching.These multiple missile batteries are also pivoted upwards for launching and the launcher in some cases can be rotated around on the chassis of the truck. To prepare for launching operations, outriggers are extended from the truck and placed on the ground to stabilize the truck from a recoil reaction during a missile launch.