Phalanx CIWS: Encyclopedia II - Phalanx CIWS - Phalanx in combat at sea

Phalanx CIWS - Phalanx in combat at sea

The Phalanx system has not been credited with shooting down any enemy missiles or aircraft.

In February 1991, during the first Gulf War, the USS Missouri and the Phalanx-equipped USS Jarrett were in the vicinity of an Iraqi Silkworm missile (often referred to as the 'Seersucker') that had been fired, either at Missouri or at the nearby HMS Gloucester. After Missouri fired a bundle of chaff, the Phalanx system on Jarrett, operating in the automatic target-acquisition mode, fixed upon the chaff and fired a burst of rounds, not destroying the incoming missile. Four rounds hit Missouri, which was two to three miles from Jarrett at the time. There were no injuries.[1]

The Seersucker missile was then intercepted by a Sea Dart missile launched from HMS Gloucester. This is the first validated, successful engagement of a missile by a missile, during combat at sea.

In 1996, a Japanese Phalanx accidentally shot down a US A-6 Intruder. The US plane was towing a radar target during gunnery exercises. A Phalanx aboard the destroyer Yuugiri locked onto the Intruder instead of the target. Both pilots ejected safely. The incident was blamed on tactical error.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Phalanx in combat at sea", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki