Phalanx : The Navy’s Antiaircraft Ballistic Buzzsaw Super Gun
Story by Christian Orr • Yesterday 3:49 PM
The word “phalanx” has a time-honored and bad*** significance in warfare, both ancient and modern warfare alike.
In ancient Greece – specifically from the 7th century BCE to the 4th century BCE – the phalanx was an infantry formation used by hoplite soldiers, typically arranged in a rectangular shape which, to make a long story short, presented a solid wall of shields to the enemy, which made it difficult for attackers to penetrate, and in turn enabled the hoplites to mount a highly effective offensive of their own.
Fast-forward to the present day, and the word “phalanx” now refers to a highly sophisticated gun system for defending the warships of America and her allies from enemy warplanes and missiles. Say hello to the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS).
Phalanx CIWS Early History and Specifications
The Phalanx CIWS was designed by General Dynamics and is currently manufactured by Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The design roots trace back to 1969, with actual production starting in 1978; in 1980, the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43) became the first warship to have the weapons system installed.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/phalanx-the-navy-s-antiaircraft-ballistic-buzzsaw-super-gun/ar-AA1cvdjU?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=84095863cf6745299e893ccc290ed2a1&ei=7
