Naval: weaponsThe Oto Melara 76/62 Super Rapid is capable of 120 rds/min sustained fire The rise of the ship-based anti-aircraft, anti-surface and land-attack missile followed the initial development of missile technology by Germany during World War Two. It was said that the birth of the missile heralded the death of the naval gun. Gone were the days of warships smashing each other to pieces with their shells; the post-war years’ developments allowed naval combatants to prosecute their aircraft, land and enemy shipping targets from stand-off ranges with high-speed missiles. Thomas Withington N aval guns remained on ships, but their calibres steadily reduced from the Mk VII 16-inch guns used by the US Navy’s Iowa class battleships (although these vessels remained in service until after the end of the Cold War and did use their guns in anger during the Cold War period). Naval guns still had a place in post-war naval tactics, but were primarily intended for shore bombardment, anti-aircraft fire and close-in defence against aircraft and missiles. However, eighteen years after the last gun onboard the USS Missouri fell silent after bombarding Iraqi coastal positions in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm, the naval gun is enjoying a renaissance. While no-one would seriously suggest that the anti-ship missile is about to be replaced by the heavy gun in this role, the need to attack coastal targets in support of amphibious operations, to engage small vessels like pirate boats or drug smugglers and the requirement to defend a vessel against ever more sophisticated missiles, aircraft and waterborne terrorist 8 threats mean that the naval gun is still an indispensable weapon on warship decks. Customers have a range of small(7.62 mm to 40 mm), medium- (40 to 76 mm) and heavy- (above 76 mm) calibre weapons to choose from to engage small boats, missiles and low-flying aircraft, in the case of the small-calibre weapons, plus land-based hard targets and enemy land forces with the medium and heavy-calibre weapons. Moreover, future innovations could see the development of electro-mag- netic rail guns which could significantly improve range and striking power. BAE Systems provides an impressive spread of naval barrelled weapons across a range of calibres, including the Mk 38 Mod 2 Minor Calibre 25 mm. The type can engage small boats and fast surface targets and uses the Rafael Mk 25 Typhoon weapon system (see below) and the Alliant Techsystems M242 Bushmaster gun. The Bushmaster’s rate-of-fire is 180 rounds per minute (rds/min) and it has a range of 1.3 nautical miles (nm). Also in the BAE Systems stable are the Bofors 40 Mk 3 and Bofors 57 Mk 3. Reaching out to seven nm in the case of the Bofors 40 with 40 mm rounds, this weapon has a rate of fire of 220 rds/min, with the Bofors 57 57-mm firing 200 rds/min at a range of eight nm. The Bofors 57 has been selected for the Bertholf class National Security Cutters operated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG). BAE Systems has delivered over 90 Mk 38 Mod 2 Stabilized Minor Calibre Guns worldwide. Integral to the weapon is the Rafael Mk 25 Typhoon weapon system. The gun can also be remotely commanded from a ship’s Combat Information Center. (BAE Systems) armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2009 20 mm Mk 20 DM5. Single. Tests of the Narwhal have been completed on the Subahi class patrol vessels operated by the Kuwaiti Coast Guard. with the Mod 2 version being deployed on the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruisers operated by the US Navy (although these vessels are being retrofitted with the Mod 4 version. As regards small calibre weapons. Nexter Systems builds the Naval Remote Weapon Highly Accurate Lightweight-20A gun mounting. which was installed as part of the coast guard’s purchase of VT Halter Marine’s Mk V-C fast interception boats. 25 mm MLG 25. Rheinmetall’s MLG 27 relies on existing airborne gun applications. 30 mm armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2009 the company’s MLG 30 uses air-burst ammunition and can reach similar ranges to the MLG 27. the first international sale for the weapon which had. Finally. the company has sold the Mk 45 Mod 4 to the US Navy and nine other forces. which has been ordered by Kuwait. One of Nexter’s most recent naval weapon systems is the Narwhal.a Narwhal20A. specifically developed frangible rounds. namely the Mauser 27 mm. (Rheinmetall) 9 Naval: weapons The Advanced Gun System produced by BAE Systems is designed as a next generation heavycalibre weapon for US Navy and US Marine Corps operations in littoral and coastal regions. Mk 30-1/2. BAE Systems also offers the Advanced Gun System (AGS) which is scheduled to equip the Zumwalt class guided missile destroyers to provide a 155 mm weapon capable of firing ten rds/min with a range of 64 nm. The MLG 27 Mauser is designed to bridge the gap between 20 mm and larger 40 mm systems. which has a longer barrel). which has a 1. it can hit surface targets at 2. Rheinmetall’s MLG 27 weapon can engage shore.Although in nowhere near the usage of small.and medium-calibre weapons. Like BAE Systems.k. The Like Nexter’s Narwhal. It fires. the company’s Millennium 35 mm naval gun has a range of up to 2. The day-and-night gyro-stabilised remotely controlled system is based on the company’s well-proven 20 mm gun technology. BAE Systems’ Mk 45 Mod 4 127 mm outfits the Flight-8A Arleigh Burke class destroyers. (BAE Systems) . At the heavier end of the spectrum is Rheinmetall’s 155 mm Monarc system. up until then. the DCNS/Nexter M693 20 mm. This represented Claimed by BAE Systems to be the most compact naval gun of its kind in the world. which was co-developed with KraussMaffei Wegmann. In terms of the weapon’s range. (BAE Systems) tion. The gun has an automatic munitions handling system. Rheinmetall produces a range of naval barrelled weapons including the S20 Pintle Mount. with a 1000 rds/min rate-of-fire. a. Thales Nederland and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. meanwhile.1 nm and aerial targets at 1. The DS25/30 has a reduced radar and infrared signature and gyro-stabilisa- Kuwait has also become a customer for the Rheinmetall 27 mm MLG 27 Mauser Light Gun system. land and air targets and be used as secondary armament on large vessels or as the primary on smaller craft. These include Nexter’s M621 20 mm. inter alia.and twin-mount weapons produced by Rheinmetall include the Mk 30-1. MS11 25 mm or the Nexter M781 30 mm weapons.7 nm. (Nexter) Europe Britain’s MSI Defence Systems builds small-calibre systems such as the DS25/30 30-mm weapon. has a non-deck penetrating design that frees up the number of locations where this weapon can be mounted and is ideal for all sizes of surface combatant. The MLG 25. 30 mm MLG 30. only been used by the Deutsche Marine (German Navy). This is being installed on the Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke class frigates. which can carry an array of guns.3 nm. Millenium 35 mm and the 155 mm Monarc concept demonstrator (a naval adaptation of the PzH 2000 howitzer turret). heavy-calibre guns are used by several navies.6 nm range while the twin-barrelled Mk 30-2 has what the company claims is the highest rate of fire for a 30 x 173 mm calibre weapon. The company’s Mk 20 DM5 Automatic Cannon is the armament for the S20 Pintle Mount which is ideal for small vessels given that the weapon has low recoil. The Block 1B upgrade for the weapon was initiated in 2005 and adds the ATK 20 mm Mk 244 Enhanced Lethality Cartridge to the gun. Oto Melara’s Single Fast Forty Multi-purpose Naval Gun Mount is designed to engage surface vessels and aircraft. which was selected for the Holland class support ships of the Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy) with installation earmarked for completion by 2011. the Mk 25 Typhoon has been sold to Australia. The small-calibre weapons include the 12. the remainder being completed at five-month intervals. (Armada/TW) gun for Germany’s F-125 frigates. This takes the form of the 127-mm 127/64 Light Weight Naval Gun Mount.4 nm. The 76/62 Super Rapid version has been selected to equip the Aquitaine class Fremm multi-purpose frigates of the Marine Nationale (French Navy). This version will feature a lowobservable gun cupola. Singapore and Sri Lanka. Greece. or the Mauser Mk 30-2 or ATK Mk 44 Bushmaster 2 as 30 mm armament. Belching out over 4000 rds/min. Nexter and MSI Defence. which has a range of 2. which have an extended depression capability enabling the guns to hit targets at very close range. The Phalanx can deliver a devastating 4500 rds/min which can turn an anti-ship missile sized target into little more than dead metal. Raytheon has nevertheless carved out an impressive niche supplying its famous Phalanx Close-In Weapon System.Naval: weapons Rheinmetall’s Millennium 35 mm Naval Gun System is the only mediumcalibre naval gun which is capable of attacking fast moving air threats at ranges of up to 2.2 nm against air and sea threats respectively. The Mk 25 Typhoon is in turn based on the OWS-25 Overhead Weapons Station that Rafael developed for the Achzarit. the gun gives excellent protection against incoming threats such as anti-ship missiles. along with a new search-and-track radar. the company says. can be installed on any type of surface vessel and can fire 100 rds/min. but which could be mounted on a ship and would have a range of 21.5 nm. which includes a 12. Puma and M113A2 Ultra armoured vehicles used by the Tzva HaHagana LeYisra'el (Israel Defense Force). (Oto Melara) will be installed in 2009 with the second following in 2011. The weapon was originally to have outfitted the F-125 class frigates. Self Defence rationale behind the Monarc was to develop a system that could use the gun turret from a PzH2000 self-propelled howitzer. Oto Melara Along with Rheinmetall. India. As a naval system. with the option to increase the rate of fire to 900 rds/min with the installation of a pair of Single Fast Forty guns. while the Single-30 30 mm weapon offers a rate of fire of 700 rds/min and a choice of a 25 mm gun if desired by the customer. The Twin 40L70 has proven very popular and has been sold to 20 navies. over 850 examples have sold across the world to 21 countries. Oto Melara secured the contract to produce the main Although producing a small-calibre product. It has also been purchased by the Heil HaYam HaYisraeli (Israeli Sea Corps).7-mm Browning M2 One of the most famous naval barrelled selfprotection weapons is the Raytheon Phalanx. The modular construction gives customers a flexible design and the weapon can also be linked to a customer-specified electro-optical system. With a 450 rds/min rate-of-fire.15 nm and 3. BAE Systems selected Rafael Advanced Defence Systems’ Mk 25 Typhoon Naval Stabilised Weapons Station for its Mk 38 Mod 2 gun. Since the type’s debut in 1980. At the heavier end. Oto Melara’s Twin 40L70 Compact Naval Gun Mount can dispense up to 600 rds/min.7 mm Mod 517 gun and the M584 Modular Gun System which offers a choice of Oerlikon Contraves or ATK M242 Bushmaster 1 for the 25 mm fit. The weapon has a range of up to 54 nm and complements the company’s 127/54 Compact Gun Mount designed for destroyers and frigates. Denel produces the 35DPG 35-mm gun. although the integration of the weapon reportedly proved difficult and instead the Oto Melara 127/64 Light Weight Gun Mount (see below) was selected. (Raytheon) armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2009 .7-mm remote-controlled gun turrets. Kongsberg of Norway also produces a small-calibre system in the shape of the Sea Protector. the first of which 10 Oto Melara’s Marlin-WS has the option for either 25 or 30 mm ammunition. A similar modular approach has been employed for the company’s Marlin-WS 30 mm gun. The weapon outfits the South African Navy’s Valour class frigates. BAE Systems. It is worth noting that the F-125 vessels are also outfitted with Oto Melara’s Hitrole 12. Europe’s other major naval gun producer is Italy’s Oto Melara. according to the company. Also able to hit surface and air threats is the 76-mm 76/62 Compact Naval Gun Mount which. a flir system and improvements to the weapon’s barrel life. As mentioned above. for its part. To this end. The US Navy is looking for the electromagnetic gun to have a hitting power of around 64 megajoules of energy. the US Navy still uses smaller-calibre weapons for general short range defence. The Navy envisages that the ERMG could then be retroa fitted onto older vessels. Moreover. the gun would have to develop 120 megajoules. one of the major advantages could be the elimination of chemical propellants and explosives that need to be stored onboard warships. The energy consumption of the EMRG is still quite large. Kongsberg’s Sea Protector system can host a number of different guns and has been designed as a remote-controlled weapon station. a heat wave in Chicago in 1995 required the generation of 19 gigawatts of electricity to keep the city’s air conditioning systems working. which can constitute a major safety hazard. This includes equipment like the Gatling GAU-17A Minigun. is also looking towards acquiring new munition to equip its guns and BAE Systems has partnered with Lockheed Martin to develop the 127-mm Long Range Land Attack Projectile for the Advanced Gun System (see above). These are serious challenges to overcome and yet the Navy wants to be in a position to test a 110-nmrange gun in 2016. Yet to reach such levels. the efforts of both companies have thus far yielded a test flight of the projectile over a 59 nautical mile range. As a comparison. However. Such levels of power could task a ship’s electrical system to the limit. which would require around 40 gigawatts of electricity. moving shells at such high speeds through the barrel could trigger its rapid degradation. (Armada/TW) 12 The US Navy may choose to abandon traditional gun designs altogether in favour of an electro-magnetic weapon that could accelerate a shell to speeds of up to Mach seven. Aside from the reach and strength of the weapon. but also to slim down the navy’s logistical burden by allowing a common munition to be used by the heavy armament of both services. Virginia. However. The weapon would also eliminate the need to store the explosive propellants on a ship. The US Navy. Test-firings are expected this year. . Electromagnetic Guns armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2009 based weapon at the US Naval Surface Warfare Center at Dahlgren. accelerated the projectile to Mach Seven which enabled the 90 mm shell to embed itself up to 20 metres into shipping containers filled with sand. the Goalkeeper is primarily designed for larger ships. An integrated Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System ensures the accuracy of the round. which can fire up to 4200 rds/min against anti-ship missiles out to just beyond one nautical mile. there is much work to do before such weapons are ready for installation on tomorrow’s US Navy surface combatants. with a weapon ready to be fielded by 2025.62-mm machine gun. which is roughly the equivalent to a freight train travelling at 96 km/h. The aim is to integrate the 155-mm shell with the Mk 8 Mod 1 gun mount currently used by the Royal Navy on its destroyers and frigates. (US Navy) and M240 7. The destruction of the target would be realised with the sheer kinetic energy of the projectile. both of which are positioned on a stabilised mount that absorbs the weapon’s recoil. which is reported to have a circular error probable in the region of around 50 metres. The rationale behind the employment of 155-mm ammunition is not only to provide the Royal Navy with more striking power. meanwhile.5 metres of deck penetration.and mediumcalibre naval guns. (US Navy) Rationalising Rounds The Royal Navy is currently in the market for a 155 mm heavy weapon and has commissioned the Centre for Operational Research and Defence Analysis (Corda) at BAE Systems to study the options. The centre is examining the feasibility of using the 155 mm shells of the British Army’s AS90 self-propelled howitzer as part of the Future Coastal Suppression Concept Study. Thales Nederland.Naval: weapons As well as the large. a test firing of a prototype landThe future face of destruction: the US Navy’s ElectroMagnetic Rail Gun could deliver highly destructive effects over a very long range. supplying the projectile with both its hitting power and range. As a comparison. produces the Goalkeeper system. The gun will use electro-magnets to give the shell an extremely high muzzle velocity. The Electro-Magnetic Rail Gun (EMRG) initiative calls for the development of a gun that could fire a shell to a range of around 188 nm using an electrically powered weapon. with a weight of 9902 kg and 2. The design is based on Kongsberg’s M151 Protector product used on General Dynamics Land Systems M1126 Stryker vehicles.