Oldhat,
I was a MK15 Phalanx Sailor for 22 years and then did 14 more years working on it as a contractor.
CIWS is pretty damn effective, which is why the land based variant CRAM ( counter rocket, artillery, mortar) was used in the green zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Shot down lots of RPG's and mortars. Maybe as importantly when it detected an incoming it blared a base wide alarm to give you a few seconds to find cover.
Any weapon system can be overwhelmed given circumstances.
FCC(SW) Ret.
That's interesting. Thanks.
I have no doubt the phalanx is highly effective given the right circumstances.
