Posted on 01/09/2019 9:39:43 AM PST by C19fan
The U.S. Navy, without fanfare or notice, tested a new weapon last summer that could revolutionize surface warfare. The hyper velocity projectile (HVP) is a Mach 3 shell fired from existing guns on cruisers and destroyers. A guided projectile, HVP can drop high explosives on enemies on the ground up to three times as far as conventional ship gun ammo with a high rate of precision. It can also intercept incoming anti-ship missiles, providing an economical alternative to increasingly expensive anti-missile interceptors.
According to USNI News, the guided missile destroyer USS Dewey fired 20 new HVP projectiles during the 2018 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises. Although the test was unclassified, it was not reported at the time by the U.S. Navy. It was the first known use of HVPs at sea by a warship.
Large surface combatants in the U.S. Navy all carry the Mk.45 5-inch (127mm) Naval Gun System. Unlike railguns, these are chemical energy guns that use gunpowder to launch projectiles, a basic technology hundreds of years old. Guided missile cruisers of the Ticonderoga-class carry two Mk.45 guns, while guided missile destroyers of the Arleigh Burke-class carry one. These guns are typically used for shore bombardment, softening up enemy defenses before an amphibious assault, although in a pinch they could be unleashed against enemy surface ships and incoming aerial threats.
(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...
None. The Iowa class is in mothballs or on display. They won’t be coming back.
I doubt it was quiet when they were testing...
Yeah, I thought it was anything but quiet
any idea of the barrel twist?
What the Navy really needs are rapid firing 5” “shotgun” shells to send a hail of steel to engage incoming missiles as a last line of defense.
Headline writer has odd idea of what constitutes a naval heavy gun.
18,16,15,14,12.
Maybe even 8.
But not 5
Single barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist)
These will be a partial defense to high Mach number missiles, but probably not to sub-orbital ballistic warheads.
Bottom line, carrier groups, capital ships and sometimes even submarines will face a growing risk of not surviving an engagement.
What is the capabilities of a 16 inch battleship firing 16 inch versions of these rounds.
Gerald Bull could have told us that 20 years ago, if the US had been smart enough to keep him on the DOD payroll.
Both up and down...
When does this come to the infantry man’s gun ?!?
I believe their #1 purpose is to defend against China's new high speed missiles/torpedoes that travel barely above the water. They're currently the main threat to our large ships.
The writer of that headline will get to hear that said for years to come.
I guess if a 5" gun is all you have in inventory - that would be "heavy". I mean, it's heavier than the .50 cal....
https://news.usni.org/2015/06/01/navy-researching-firing-mach-5-guided-round-from-standard-deck-guns
Testing has been going on for years.
The 5” has to be modified to accept the round.
Yet another Navy program that’ll take decades to implement if ever.
Larger defensive weapons will use a debris field obstruction, both are only partially effective.
The U.S. Navy Quietly Tested Mach 3 Heavy Gun Shells That Could Revolutionize Surface Warfare .................................. An exact copy should appear on the Chinese navy ships shortly.
Actually, the Iowa class battle ships on display like the USS Missouri are capable of being brought into service on short notice.
I don’t believe The article made mention of modifications to the gun. Not saying it doesn’t. But if they could make the round to feed in any gun without gun mods, that would be a game changer.
Well, the 2015 article was about the program as a theoretical exercise, and this article is about an actual sea trial. So the thing is moving along.
Ping. Thinking of you.
#NoHomo
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