Missile Launcher (Fallout 3)

The Missile Launcher is commonly wielded by Super Mutants, certain Enclave Soldiers, Raiders, and Sentry Bots have a built in missile launcher (Missiles can be found on their bodies, but not the launchers). Enemies with Missile Launchers can be problematic, as they will fire multiple missiles, often taking the player by surprise and immediately crippling limbs and severely damaging hit points. They will often inadvertently hit derelict vehicles, causing additional explosions. The advantages for the player is the weapon's large size, which makes it easier to shoot out of an enemy's hands, and that when wielded by raiders, they tend to be in very poor condition. One can be found in the National Guard Depot Armory along with several missiles for it on the nearby shelf. This is a VERY USEFUL weapon for taking out enemies working in close groups and large enemies like Super Mutants.

Note also that the Missile Launcher will "home-in" on certain objects, most notably the heads of several enemy robot types, giving a much larger chance to hit their head from even medium to long range distances.

This is perhaps why it is a Missile Launcher as opposed to a Rocket Launcher. If used in VATS (with sufficient skill) against a fast moving target, the missile quite obviously curves and tracks the selected body part. Hence the projectiles are guided missiles, rather than just simple rockets.