Phalanx is self defense only. The weapons used to protect nearby ships are ESSM and SM-2 missiles. Which should to work fine to intercept cheap drone, artillery and ballistic missiles. (Tho very expressive to intercept artillery with missiles)
The navy has used those systems recently to defend ships during the Houti crisis in the red sea.
An American destroyer has a large number of area defence interceptor missiles, not just the CIWS. The question is, will the interceptors be completely effective if Iran is able to launch a saturation attack on them, and will they have enough interceptors left by the time they get out of the shooting gallery. Personally, I think even they aren’t stupid enough to try it, but I hope I’m proven wrong.
Does Phalanx work for a convoy or just the ship on which it is deployed?
I guess we will also learn how well it works against cheap drones.
I don’t think any of that works well against artillery shells, and oil tankers are not well armoured.
It works when it’s in range. And it’ll only occasionally spray allied ships because the Phalanx doesn’t check whats behind the target.
gee whiz CIWIS
Phalanx is self defense only. The weapons used to protect nearby ships are ESSM and SM-2 missiles. Which should to work fine to intercept cheap drone, artillery and ballistic missiles. (Tho very expressive to intercept artillery with missiles)
The navy has used those systems recently to defend ships during the Houti crisis in the red sea.
An American destroyer has a large number of area defence interceptor missiles, not just the CIWS. The question is, will the interceptors be completely effective if Iran is able to launch a saturation attack on them, and will they have enough interceptors left by the time they get out of the shooting gallery. Personally, I think even they aren’t stupid enough to try it, but I hope I’m proven wrong.