[JSteff]

“So why the eff wasn’t the Phalanx released to turn the lifeboat into toothpicks?”

Why? It is designed to shoot targets in the AIR, that means up. Why would they want to waste the ammo when a 50 cal would work?

So how do they make it shoot downward? Why use a weapon they could NOT aim right?

Just makes NO sense. Besides the Phalanx is NOT installed on the newer ships despite what the Navies own site says.

So what now cowboy?

[mgc1122]

“So how do they make it shoot downward? Why use a weapon they could NOT aim right?

Just makes NO sense. Besides the Phalanx is NOT installed on the newer ships despite what the Navies own site says.

So what now cowboy?”

How about educating the obviously ignorant? Block 1B Phalanx Surface Mode (PSUM) incorporates a side mounted Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) which enables CIWS to engage low slow or hovering aircraft and surface craft.

Further, they have thermal imager Automatic Acquisition Video Tracker (AAVT) and stablilization system that provide surface mode and electro-optic (EO) angle track. These Block 1B enhancements will allow day/night detection capability and enable the CIWS to engage small surface targets, slow-moving air targets, and helicopters.

Now that you are educated, you can say “thank you”.

[Mathews]

UM... DDG - 96 is armed with a BLK 1 B, CIWS and can engage surface targets. It's been used extensively as the PRIMARY weapon for firing warning shots and disabling fire for some time now. Given the fact the CIWS is controlled by computer and/or very sophisticated optics and the .50 is only as good as the Sailor behind it... I'll take the CIWS. Bring it Skippy!