[Smokin' Joe]

'They have nothing to stop a small craft with RPG (rocket-propelled grenades) etc, except their Seals' stinger missiles,' said an entry in the document.

Time to modify the phalanx systems to depress enough to take out small craft. BRRRRRP! and fish food!

[Kozak]

'They have nothing to stop a small craft with RPG (rocket-propelled grenades) etc, except their Seals' stinger missiles,' said an entry in the document.

Except for fighter's, helicopters, rapid fire 5 inch guns and 50 cal machineguns. This is a CARRIER BATTLE GROUP they are talking about. If it floats, swims or fly's it's DEAD.

[PLMerite]

"Time to modify the phalanx systems to depress enough to take out small craft. BRRRRRP! and fish food!"

Exactly. There's a reason the 23mm cannons on the Soviet ZSU-23/4 anti-aircraft gun depress below horizontal.

Okay, for them it was crowd control, but...

[El Gato]

Time to modify the phalanx systems to depress enough to take out small craft. BRRRRRP! and fish food!

Pretty sure they already can. Besides which Stingers would not be much good against small craft and RPGs. The Carriers escorts are bound to have deck guns as well. One airburst from a 5" or 176mm and you get shredded terrorists.

Here's the appropriate armament from a Perry Class Frigate for example :

1 76mm OTO DP, 1 20mm Phalanx CIWS, 2 triple 12.75 inch 2 25mm Bushmaster low-angle, 2-4 12.7mm MG

(12.7mm = .50 BMG! those alone would do the job against anybody trying to get into RPG range. ) That 25 mm Bushmaster is, IIRC, the same weapon that arms the Bradley fighting vehicles.

And of course the Carrier herself mounts F/A-18s, armed with 20mm Vulcan cannon. I'm sure those Hornet drivers would love a little straffing practice.