A dual loading and stowage apparatus for handling a pair of cylindrical bodies, such as a pair of missiles, torpedoes, or projectiles. The apparatus includes an elongated base, and a pair of elongated trays which are positioned in tandem above the base and parallel thereto for receiving the cylindrical bodies. A device slidably mounts the trays for lateral movement on the base so that each tray can be selectively centered above the base for off-loading purposes. Each of the trays is pivoted to the mounting device along an inner edge so as to be capable of pivoting between downward and upward positions. The lateral dimension of the pair of trays in their downward positions is greater than the lateral dimension of the base, however, when one of the trays is pivoted to its upward position the lateral dimension of the trays is less than the lateral dimension of the base. With this arrangement, after unloading one of the cylindrical bodies from the apparatus, the unloaded tray can be pivoted upwardly and the loaded tray can be moved inwardly until the lateral space taken by the apparatus is minimized.
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