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Reply With QuoteDo you have a picture of that gun? The only thing that I'm aware of is the Mk 13 launchers being removed.Originally Posted by webeaulieu
I've noticed recently the MK13 missile launchers on the FFG-7 class have been replaced with a small gun. Looks to be in the 20-30mm range and has a very odd looking square gunhouse shield. Does anyone have information on these guns?
Do you have a picture of that gun? The only thing that I'm aware of is the Mk 13 launchers being removed.
U.S. Navy Completes Initial Testing Of Lockheed Martin Naval Gun - gizmag Image Gallery
Does it look like this?
If so I hadnt heard of any aboard the FFGs.
Could be you have seen a photoshopped pic?
This is kinda like my very first post on this board.
I was surprised the Mk. 13 launchers were removed from the Perrys.
"Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.
If it was that, it's photoshopped. Rheinmetall hasn't touted any sales of the GDM-008 Millenium Gun to the USN recently. The only one installed in the US was on the LM-run trials boat Sea SLICE, and the only commercial sales so far was to Denmark (for the naval CIWS system) and Germany (for the land CIWS system).
No, that's not it. It's very crude looking actually, just a perfectly rectangular box with a gun sticking out of it. There were even tie-down straps on the corners.
It definately wasn't photoshopped, I saw it firsthand on the Norfolk based ships.
Did you catch the hull number?
It could be a ship relegated for testing purposes.
"Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.
USS Elrod FFG-55
Almost looks like bushmaster or something of similar caliber.
Wow, look at that rust and the sparse crew. She's probably a test vehicle now.
That box over the gun is probably to hide the gun mount itself. No one can fit something that ugly onto a ship. Plus it's tied down with rope.
Frigate Photo Index FFG-55 USS ELROD
According to Navsource, she's still active.
"Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.
According to the caption on a photo of USS Elrod that appeared in the Defence Talk Forum the gun is a fake, installed by the crew for some fun.
FFG-55 with a "scarecrow" gun where the SM-1 launcher was. - Military Pictures - Air Force Army Navy Missiles
The person who posted this is a very knowledgeable member of DT re matters relating to the USN.
Cheers
Learn from the past. Prepare for the future.
Thanks Tasman that makes more sense.
But the Elrod sure looks in pretty sad shape.
Maybe she just came off a 6-month deployment.
Ill try and look up some recent info on her.
Elrod returned from deployment last November.
I quess it shows how much money the USN is saving by keeping this class in a marginal state of repair.
Dunno if the fake gun was really a joke.
Officially maybe.
Unofficially Ill bet there is more to this story.
Maybe a little smack towards the bean counters,Rick?
"Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories." Thomas Jefferson
They should have put a RAM missile system there. That at least gave the ship a small limited air-defence system.
"Peace through Power" Late Ronald Reagan
The USN FFG-07 class certainly look to be poorly armed these days compared with their Australian sisters. The RAN upgrade includes improved fire control, SM-2 in place of SM-1 (still fired using the Mk13 launcher) and an 8 cell Mk41 VLS for 32 ESSMs. They are also fitted with 4 quad launchers for the Nulka active missile decoys and Mini Typhoon for dealing with close in surface threats.Maybe a little smack towards the bean counters,Rick?
However, the upgrade program has proven expensive at around $US850m for four ships which are due to be replaced within ten years.
Cheers
Learn from the past. Prepare for the future.
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