Weapons 101 - Part I

I have mentioned a couple of the weapons (on submarines in particular) available to the US Navy in previous posts. I decided I would post a few of the other weapons systems out there that are pretty amazing. I am starting with the Phalanx - Close-in Weapons System (referred to in the fleet as CIWS, pronounced C-Wiz). These are used on surface ships as a last chance weapon against anti-ship missiles and small targets that have gotten a little too close (including small boats, helicopters and mines).

They detect and track their targets and can spew out 4,500 rounds (20mm) per minute (that's 75 rounds per second for you mathematically challenged out there)! That can definitely tear something to pieces in a matter of seconds. Here are the General Characteristics from the official Navy Fact File:

Primary Function: Anti-ship missile defense.
Contractor: Raytheon Systems Company (formerly Hughes Missile Systems Company and purchased from General Dynamics Pomona Division in 1992)
Date Deployed: 1980 (aboard USS Coral Sea)Block 1: 1988 (aboard USS Wisconsin)Block 1B: 1999 (aboard USS Underwood)
Weight: 12,500 pounds (5,625 kg) - Later models: 13,600 pounds (6,120 kg).
Range: Classified.
Type 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, depleted uranium sub-caliber penetrator. Penetrator changed to tungsten 1988. Block 1B will incorporate the new Enhanced Lethality Cartridge with heavier penetrator.
Type: M-61A1 Gatling Gun.

Now, see it in action: