Posted on 02/01/2024 3:23:58 AM PST by dennisw
A Houthi missile recently put a US destroyer's close-in weapons system to the test, a report said. A warship's CIWS is usually considered its last line of defense and is for close-range intercepts. The Tuesday incident marks the latest Houthi missile attack, though not the latest exchange of fire. A Houthi anti-ship cruise missile fired into the Red Sea came within a mile of a US Navy destroyer on Tuesday, a report said, close enough that the American warship turned to its close-in weapons system — a last line of defense.
Most missiles are shot down farther out. This was the closest that a Houthi attack had come to an American warship, four US officials told CNN, which reported additional details of the incident on Wednesday. US Central Command initially said on Tuesday that around 11:30 p.m. local time, the Houthis fired a single anti-ship cruise missile from Yemen toward the Red Sea, and it was shot down by USS Gravely.
For several months, the Iran-backed rebels have relentlessly fired one-way attack drones and missiles into key waterways off the coast of Yemen. Many of these threats have been shot down by US warships — and sometimes by British or French forces No warships have been struck.
US Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are equipped with at least one CIWS, which features a close-range, radar-guided automatic 20 mm cannon that can fire up to 4,500 rounds a minute and has an effective range out to about two nautical miles.
Before a ship's CIWS is engaged, capabilities such as the warship's SM-2 or SM-3 interceptors come into play. These are fired from vertical-launch-system cells before they then intercept and destroy airborne threats. An SM-3 "hits threats with the force of a 10-ton truck traveling 600 mph," according to Raytheon, the weapon's manufacturer.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Well, we could practice on the mexican drug cartel locations, since they are close by. Refine the protocol and minimize collateral damage on the hootchie-kootchies.
..if I am not mistaken,this weapons system uses a variant of the General Electric M61A1 “Vulcan” 20MM rotary cannon...correct me if I am wrong....am very familiar with the M61A1 as used in several Air Force aircraft that I used to work on...
We could use a few of these on the southern border.
Yuppers
It should be a matter of concern that a Podunk rebel group like the Houthi managed to breach every other layer of protection up until the point the Phalanx had to be used.
If the Houthi can do that, what could a more potent nation state enemy with a better equipped arsenal of drones and missiles do?
So are we.
CC
Deck-mounted A-10.
The new ones have missiles as well though probably not on this ship
At least the Navy has improved the reload time over the older models.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS
The point is that the Houthi tribal zealots have been bought by Iran. A real nation can’t be bought in such a manner. The Houthi riff raff welcome the money because they have no other way
In a very similar manner, the Crown of England paid off the Cherokee dissidents led by Dragging Canoe to attack the western settlements on behalf of England
The key is that the system is active at the time the missile is inbound, on automatic for seeking, acquiring, tracking, and obliterating the target. At times in the past the system didn’t function, not because of a technology or mechanical failure, but because it was on stand-by/dormant.
What a damn shame, a bunch of rag tag scumbags assaulting our navy ships, while the asshole commander in chief sits on his crap filled diapers. This is who so many American women support.
It is the GE the M61 Vulcan cannon, the Mini gun's larger and older brother.
This is the same rotary cannon that is in most U.S. fighter jets. It fires 20mm cannon rounds.
FNC reporting it got within 1 mile where all previous intercepts were at least 8 miles out.
My son was Fire Control Officer on a Navy ship during his enlisted days. He got a degree in Mechanical Engineering & became a Navy pilot flying helos. Now a Lt.
Mustangs are the best officers.....IMHO.....
I did not read this in the article.
We’ve HAVE been doing that.
Read the link.
I did not read this in the article.
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