This invention is concerned with improvements in the efficiency of Electromagnetic Rail Launcher armatures. The armature has two or more electrically conducting solid parts 10 in contact with the rails 11. Electric current flows from the rails to and from the armature between the adjacent rail and armature surfaces 14 and across the or each gap 12 by electric arcing between the conducting solid parts 10. The resulting electromagnetic forces on the armature accelerate it and any attached projectile along the rails. A member of insulating or high resistivity material located forward of the armature closes the or each gap 12 to confine the electric arcing across the smallest gap spacing to minimise the arc voltage and armature resistive losses. Exhaust chambers for the confinement and/or cooling of arcing erosion products are provided at the rear of the armature. IMAGE
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