The Phalanx CIWS (Close In Weapons System) was installed aboard Sterett in 1978 to provide protection against attacking anti-ship missiles. A deck was added on the port side one level above and immediately forward of the helicopter deck. on the starboard side, a mount was placed just aft of the former 3" gun tub where the Harpoon missile launcher was placed.
The CIWS system is an unmanned gun system based around the six barreled 20 mm Vulcan gun. The white dome atop the gun mount is a radar system capable not only of tracking a target but also tracking the fired rounds and thus ensuring the two coincide. The gun fires at the rate of 3,000 rounds per minute and has a magazine of 1,500 rounds. This system is considered a "last-ditch" defense system against incoming missiles.
Description: Fast-reaction, rapid-fire 20-millimeter gun
system.
Features: Phalanx provides US Navy ships with a terminal defense against
anti-ship missiles that have penetrated other fleet defenses. Designed to engage anti-ship
cruise missiles and fixed-wing aircraft at short range, Phalanx automatically engages
functions usually performed by separate, independent systems such as search, detection,
threat evaluation, acquisition, track, firing, target destruction, kill assessment and
cease fire.
Background: The Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) underwent
operational tests and evaluation onboard USS Bigelow in 1977, and exceeded maintenance and
reliability specifications. Phalanx production started in 1978 with orders for 23 USN and
14 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) systems.
Primary Function: Anti-ship missile defense
Contractor: Hughes Missile Systems Company (formerly General Dynamics'
Pomona Division, sold to Hughes in 1992)
Weight: 12,500 pounds (5,625 kg) - Later models: 13,600 pounds (6,120 kg)
Range: Classified
Gun Type: M-61A1 Gatling
Type of Fire: 3,000 rounds per minute - Later models: 4,500 rounds/min
(starting 1988 production, Pneumatic Gun Drive)
Magazine Capacity: 989 rounds - Later models: 1,550 rounds
Caliber: 20mm
Ammunition: Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS), Depleted Uranium
sub-caliber penetrator. Penetrator changed to
Tungsten 1988.
Sensors: Self-contained search and track radar
Date Deployed: 1980 (aboard USS Coral Sea) Later models: 1988 (aboard USS
Wisconsin)
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