Abstract: A pressure-released brake assembly restrains a projectile in a launch tube prior to launch and automatically releases the projectile at launch. A brake assembly housing defines cavities that extend substantially radially out from the projectile when the housing is attached thereto. A brake pad adjoins the housing and has holes formed therethrough with each hole being aligned with one of the housing's cavities. Means are provided for positioning a loose-fitting pin partially in each of the brake pad's holes and partially in a correspondingly aligned housing cavity. When a launch pressure is generated in the projectile's launch tube, the launch pressure acts on each pin via the holes in the brake pad. The launch pressure causes the positioning means to fail and drives each pin out of engagement with the brake pad to effectively uncouple the brake pad from the housing.