C-RAM in Iraq - Michael Yon Online Magazine

"The U.S. Army's version of the Navy's CIWS Phalanx anti-missile system is called the "Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System" (LPWS). It is a type of "C-RAM" (counter-rockets, artillery and mortars) defensive weapon.

Whereas naval Phalanx systems fire depleted uranium or (more recently) tungsten armor-piercing rounds, the LPWS uses the HEIT-SD (High-Explosive Incendiary Tracer, Self-Destruct) ammunition originally developed for the M163 Vulcan air-defense system. These rounds explode on impact with the target, or upon tracer burnout. With a reliability of between 95 and 99 percent the odds of live rounds falling on "friendlies" is minimal."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS#Land_based_version

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• C-RAM
• Phalanx
• CIWS
• 20mm
• Michael
• Yon

[UtahMike41]

Just throw a shit storm of projectiles into the air and you are bound to hit SOMETHING.

[cas343]

LOL WUT

[brucebu]

they should have a class to educate future engineers about this system. BUT they would be given a choice: Would you rather hear and see it in action and THEN learn the physics behind it OR would you rather learn first and then let the real thing blow you away?

tough choice for sure.

[usmc7242]

the mach 6 anti-ship missiles are going to be tough to hit, even with this, unless they have a SUPER long range system using something the size of a 105MM round!

[barton301]

i was in the first all navy unit to go over there and operate these weapon systems. we installed them as well

[Yakko77]

CIWS/CRAM is awesome. Back in my Navy days on a carrier you cold be on the other end of the ship and hear and even feel that thing firing.

[TheGundow]

sounds like a fart



[JonathonReinhart]

@staplerjm No - thats what the flashes are, they self-destruct after a certain distance if they don't hit something first

[Noubers]

The rounds self-destruct at a range of 2.5Km I believe.

[staplerjm]

when the bullets come down they could srsly hurn someone :P

[1776iscoming]

You don't think the locals working on the FOBs see this stuff or have taken pictures of it? I remember escorting some terps to the dfac and one of these went off and they didn't even jump. Everybody knows we have this stuff.