HMS Sheffield -Declassified Report
I am puzzled as to what capabilities you are referring to. If it is Soviet vessels then I can assure you that from the late '70s their surface vessels had become exceptionally prickly when it came to surface to air capability.
If you are pointing at the US Navy - well they had their 'gulp' moment regarding the threat posed by the Soviet aircraft at the turn of the '70s. Phalanx CIWS prototypes were being evaluated on land by 1972 and afloat by '73. By the Falklands the system had been in full production for a number of years. Their leap forward in integrated combat systems and associated radars & missiles was arguably even more significant.
Meanwhile we were producing Type 42s.
If you are pointing at the US Navy - well they had their 'gulp' moment regarding the threat posed by the Soviet aircraft at the turn of the '70s. Phalanx CIWS prototypes were being evaluated on land by 1972 and afloat by '73. By the Falklands the system had been in full production for a number of years. Their leap forward in integrated combat systems and associated radars & missiles was arguably even more significant.
Meanwhile we were producing Type 42s.
Regarding Phalanx, I think you have your dates mixed up.
The prototype Phalanx was installed aboard USS KING (DLG-10/DDG-41) in 1973 for evaluation. Another prototype CIWS was used in tests conducted aboard ex-USS ALFRED A. CUNNINGHAM (DD-752). Several different kinds of missiles were fired at CUNNINGHAM; all were shot down. Full operational and evaluation trials were performed aboard USS BIGELOW (DD-942) in 1977. The evaluations included tests with high levels of jamming noise during which the unit succeeded in distinguishing small missile-like targets against nearby islands.Phalanx met and exceeded all maintenance and reliability requirements. The first production units of Phalanx were installed aboard USS CORAL SEA (CV-43) in 1980. Installation aboard noncombatant ships began in 1984.
The story of Phalanx CIWS
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Phalanx, with the barrel stabilisation mods, the ballisticallly improved round and ir tracker combine to give giving superb moa accuracy and kill potential....
