100 lines
4.8 KiB
Plaintext
100 lines
4.8 KiB
Plaintext
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DESIGNATOR : Mk 15/16
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20-mm/76-calibaer CLOSE IN WEAPON SYSTEM (CIWS)
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NAME: PHALANX GATLING GUN
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DESCRIPTION:
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The Phalanx is a self-contained, shipboard self-defense gun using
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a modified M61 Vulcan six-barrel Gatling cannon, built-in pulse-doppler
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J-band fire control radar, and digital computer. It is intended to treat
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attacking anti-ship missiles. The US Navy uses the designations mk 15 and
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Mk 16 to refer to CIWS.
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STATUS:
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Initial operational capability 1980. In production by Pomona Division,
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General Dynamics Corp., Pomona Calif.. General Electric has a contract to
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qualify as second source for the system and is the supplier of all M61 guns.
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In service in some 200 US ships with plans to equip 250. Also in service
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with several foreign navies.
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USERS/PLATFORMS
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NAVY Aircraft Carriers (3-4 mounts)
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Battleships (4)
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Cruisers (2)
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Destroyers (2)
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Frigates (1)
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Amphibious Command Ships (2)
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Helicopter Carriers (1-2)
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Amphibious Transport Docks (2)
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Dock Landing Ships (2)
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Tank Landing Ships (1)
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Ammunition Ships (2)
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Combat Stores Ships (2)
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Combat Support Ships (2)
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Replenishment Oilers (1)
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Coast Guard High-endurance Cutters (1)
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Australia Great Britain Japan Canada
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Israel Saudia Arabia
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CHARACTERISTICS:
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Weight, Mount 12,000 lbs (5,443)
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Armament
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Performance:
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Maximum range 1,625 yd (1,486 m)
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Rate Of Fire 3,000 rpm theoretical maximum
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Muzzle velocity 3,280 fps (1,000 mps)
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Reaction time 2 seconds from threat detection
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Projectile Mk 149 sub-caliber (12.75 mm) depleted uranium
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Penetrator 2 1/2 times as dense as steel within a
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nylon sabot and spun initially by an aluminum
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"pusher".
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Magazine Capacity
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Mod 0 Block 0 980 rounds
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Block 1 Approximately 1,450 rounds
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Fire Control
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VPS-2 Pulse-doppler, J-band search and track radar with close-loop
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spotting which follows both target and its own 20-mm projectiles.
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High-speed digital computer automatically engages incoming, high
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speed Threat unless countermanded by the operator.
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Crew
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Unmanned
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Protection
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Weather protection for mount radar
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BLOCK 1: Has improved radar with four-plate back-to-back search array for
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high-elevation coverage, greater ammunition stowage, higher rate of fire, and
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enhanced reliability and maintainability. Authorization for limited production
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in 1986
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ISSUES: The installation of Phalanx CIWS came several years after the
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appearance of similar rapid-fire gun systems of larger caliber, in Soviet
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surface warships. Most foreign CIWS designs include 25-mm or 30-mm rapid-
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fire gun rather than the smaller 20-mm of the Phalanx.
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PROGRAM ACQUISITION COSTS (IN MILLIONS)
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Actual Proposed Proposed
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FY87 FY88 FY89
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Procurement (24) 102.2 (5) 28.1 (5) 19.4
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Initial Spares 1.8 1.6 1.1
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RDT&E 5.3 7.6 11.9
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Military Construction ---- ---- ----
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Totals 109.3 37.3 32.4
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Unit Costs (FY1988) $5,604,600
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OPERATIONAL NOTES:
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The CIWS on the USS STARK (FFG31) did not engage the French-Built Exocet
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AM-39 air-to-surface missiles launched against the ship by an Iraqi aircraft
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on 17 May 1987. In Senate Hearings before the Committee on Appropriations
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for FY1986, US Department of Defense officials were asked about the
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effectiveness of the CIWS against Exocet missiles, to which they replied,
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"In Recent operational tests, PHALANX destroyed numerous EXOCETS in an
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imparessive4 fashion."
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Call...Dark Cult of Destruction....+46-303-227581 V32bis
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