Phalanx CIWS in the Falklands

[Scott Kenny]

Osa-M and AK-630 combo) Was optimized against low-altitude attack planes & could work against sea-skimming missiles (at least AK-630 component)

Too bad the Soviet Union wasn't willing to sell it to the UK!

 

[1635yankee]

The Royal Navy started receiving Phalanx CIWS too late for the 1982 Falklands War.

It would be interesting to know what the impact of the following would have been:

Phalanx fitted on T42 and Fearless/Intrepid as it was later in the 80s.

Replacement of Seacat by Phalanx on a one for one basis on all or some destroyers (County) and frigates (Amazon, Leander and Rothesay).

It would have to be turned off when there were nearby helicopter operations. Phalanx couldn't tell a missile from a helicopter's rotor tips, and shooting the tips off tends to upset the flight crew and increase their laundry needs.

In my opinion, it likely would have helped, but it may have been less effective against aircraft dropping dumb bombs than against Exocet. So would more Sea Wolf missiles and more EMI compatibility testing -- reportedly, the HMS Sheffield was lost because radars were turned off as they interfered with satellite communications systems.