Also a
TLA for
Armored Box Launcher, referring to the boxy devices on
ships that are used to store and fire
missiles. In the U.S. and other modern navies, the
ABL has mostly been eclipsed by the
VLS. For an example, see the second of three photos in the following article at
FAS:
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/vla.htm