This paper describes the characteristics of the continuous electromagnetic launcher as a linear electromagnetic actuator capable of allowing a magnetic substance like a steel ball to move at high speed. The launcher employs magnetic field generated within a solenoid to produce large, instantaneous thrust. This paper discusses the characteristics of the continuous electromagnetic launcher from both the experimental and theoretical viewpoints. This linear electromagnetic actuator is characterized in that it is capable of producing large, instantaneous thrust with niether any use of conversion mechanism nor any application of impact on the substance. An experiment has revealed that steel balls of mass 3.54 [g] can be launched continuously one per second at the speed of 23.9 [m/s] by passing current through the solenoid at I =0.96 [kA]. A theoretical calcuration has derived that a steel ball can be launched at the speed of more than 150 [m/s] with current I =58 [kA], with resulting flux density inside the solenoid being 10 [T].