The Launch is a military light patrol boat in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Design[]
The Launch is evidently based on the SeaArk Riverine Assault Craft (RAC) used by the USMC.
The vessel is a medium-sized armored boat with a relatively long hull and short hand rails that reach almost to the transom, as well as a small compartment on the bow. The cabin quarters are exposed and feature an angular windshield with sectioned windows, tall frames/supports above and a frontal steel arch mounting the radar and antenna, while the rear deck mounts a rear steel arch with no features on top. The stern area after the deck consists of the large vents for the engine bay, small antennas on either side and a rear-facing seat with an unusable machine gun on the back (which resembles a M2 Browning .50 caliber machine gun and incorporates a small shield), both located on a dedicated compartment. Directly on the rear end, there are two propellers and an additional frame for protection.
The boat is available with minor roof configurations, being a black canopy over the cabin quarters or the rear deck (sometimes with no canopy at all). The vehicle spawns in a bluish primary color for most of the body, with a slightly darker shade of blue as the secondary color on the lower portions of the hull and the flat sections of the steel arches.
Performance[]
The Launch's speed and handling are fairly good, on par with similarly sized speedboats such as the Speeder and Predator, but it is affected by its "heavy" armor.
The boat appears to use two inboard engines given the twin propellers and the two vents on the deck, and it uses the same engine sound as all other boats.
Overview[]
| Acceleration (0-60mph / 0-100km/h) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh / knots) |
Engine (Inboard / Outboard) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 118 / 190 / 103 | Petrol | 2200 / 4850 |
| N/A | N/A | Twin inboard engines | Cannot be observed |
Prominent Appearances in Gameplay[]
- A Launch can be seen during the mission Vertical Bird, where it enters the well deck of the LHD-069. There will be two additional military personnel on the bow and engine bay (rather than in the passenger seat, rear deck or turret seat).
Locations[]
- It occasionally spawns inside the southmost compartment of the submarine pen of the Easter Basin Naval Station in Easter Basin, San Fierro. However, entering the Naval Base automatically gives the player a 5-star wanted level, which means the Launch is tricky to obtain.
See Also[]
- Coast Guard Launch - Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars equivalent, with a functional machine gun turret.
- Destroyer - A military boat with functional torpedo launchers in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.
- Kurtz 31 Patrol Boat and Weaponized Dinghy - Weaponized boats featured in Grand Theft Auto Online as part of The Cayo Perico Heist update.