Abstract: These electromagnetic guns or launchers comprise a pair of switching rails ith a slidable switching armature associated therewith for commutating a high direct current into a pair of projectile rails which are arranged in tandem with the switching rails and are electrically connected thereto. The kinetic energy of the switching armature is transferred to the projectile armature assembly so that the projectile armature assembly has an initial velocity as the current is commutated to the projectile rails. The projectile armature assembly may be mounted on and carried by the switching armature during its entire travel or the switching armature may bump the projectile armature assembly into the conductive breech region of the projectile rails at the end of its travel.