EVALUATE THE CIWS FOR GROUND FORCES MISSILE AND ARTILLERY DEFENSE

Carlton Meyer
21st Century Weapons
e-mail May 1998

From Vietnam to the Gulf, the cry; "Incoming!!!" has meant to run to the nearest shelter and hope you are not hit. Until we were able to intercept some SCUD Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missiles (SSBMs) using older model Patriot SAMs in the Gulf War, there was no stopping enemy artillery and rockets from landing. Iowa class battleships could be modified inexpensively to fire 9 huge 16" guns at a time with air-bursting fragmention warheads to destroy incoming missiles at medium altitudes while offshore of deployed U.S. troops. Instead, the United States is spending billions of dollars on just missiles for high-altitude missile defense to protect our troops from theater-level SSB missiles (TBMs) but nothing to destroy artillery shells, multiple launch rockets (MLRs) and tactical missiles that will kill far more troops in future conflicts, which can also carry chemical, biological and nuclear warheads as well. Dozens of countries today are buying or making their own MLR systems in light of the success our own tracked M270 MLRS system had in the Gulf where it was called "steel rain". Many are mounted on trucks like our own air-deliverable HIMARS MLR is.

Shooting down an artillery shell a thousand meters overhead is much easier than shooting down a MACH 3+ missile in outer space, but you need a high rate of fire cannon to do it--the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery (ADA) branch has retired its M163 Vulcan tracked and towed 20mm Gatling gun systems, replacing them with Avenger HMMWVs with Stinger SAMs and a short range .50 cal HMG unable to do more than defeat aircraft. Other Armies like Canada, Russia and Germany have retained gun ADA systems. Artillery has been decisive at the battles of Dien Bien Phu, the fall of South Vietnam in 1975 and Angola in 1976. Shells landing killed GEN Buckner on Okinawa and Legendary modern U.S. Army Ranger founder, BG William O. Darby in Italy. Unfortunately, no one is developing a defense. Artillery that is not stopped is still the "King of Battle".

Fortunately the U.S. Navy's (Close-In Weapons System) CIWS system, called "Phalanx" on everyone of their capital ships is designed to shoot down low-flying supersonic missiles with a---radar-guided----20mm Gatling gun. The 20mm Gatlings from the Vulcan ADA systems are still usable as the RAH-66 Comanche "stealth" helicopter will be armed with this gun system. So the logistics system that supplies the Comanches can supply the ground ADA 20mm gun system. If this system can shoot down a supersonic missile flying head on, it can easily shoot down slower artillery rounds, mortar shells, guided missiles, and rockets falling from the sky. Since modern counter-battery radar can track shells as soon as they are fired, there is no reason they cannot be destroyed by the Phalanx before impact. The Dutch have developed a larger 30mm cannon system called "Goalkeeper" which has a proven ability to shoot down high diving missiles and rockets.

While the CIWS ("Sea-Wiz") is only effective out to its 20mm cannon's 1600 meters, this is adequate to protect landing/drop zones, air/beachheads, ports, base camps, airfields and artillery batteries from enemy fire. In addition, CIWS is a deadly anti-aircraft weapon. Range could be increased by substituting a 25mm or 30mm Gatling high-rate-of-fire cannon. A mobile system mounted in place of the turret of an M1A1 tank, M113A3 AFV or on a 22,000 pound FMTV truck could follow a few hundred meters behind advancing forces and gun down incoming shells or missiles. This is especially important if an enemy employs long-range "top attack" guided munitions. The ADA gun system must be mounted on a mobile platform that both light and heavy forces can deploy with.

The CIWS has already been developed and fielded by the Navy for shipboard use. The Navy should try operating CIWS from landing craft anchored just offshore to protect ships from shore-based missiles and artillery systems. Simple experiments can be conducted by firing artillery shells in front a frigate to see how the CIWS reacts. The system may need counter-battery radar software. Fortunately, there are billions of dollars in anti-missile funds which can bankroll this program.

Like the ancient Phalanx which this gun system is named a true defense needs to have all parts or "shields" linked together so there are no openings to exploit: for low-level missile defense this is what we need.

RETURN TO 21st CENTURY WARFARE

---