Editing Phalanx CIWS (section)

==Incidents==

===Drone exercise accidents===
On 10 February 1983, {{USS|Antrim|FFG-20|6}} was conducting a live-fire exercise off the East Coast of the United States using the Phalanx against a target drone. Although the drone was successfully engaged at close range, the debris of the destroyed target bounced off the sea surface and struck the ship, causing significant damage and fire from the drone's residual fuel and killing a civilian instructor aboard the ship.

On 13 October 1989, {{USS|El Paso|LKA-117|6}} was conducting a live-fire exercise off the East Coast of the United States using the Phalanx against a target drone. The drone was successfully engaged, but as the drone fell to the sea, the CIWS re-engaged it as a continued threat to ''El Paso''. Rounds from the Phalanx struck the [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]] of {{USS|Iwo Jima|LPH-2|6}}, killing one officer and injuring a petty officer.<ref>{{cite web |last=Plunkett |first=A.J. |url=https://www.dailypress.com/1989/10/12/iwo-jima-officer-killed-in-firing-exercise/ |title=Iwo Jima Officer Killed In Firing Exercise |publisher=Daily Press |date=October 12, 1989 |access-date=2013-08-16 |archive-date=2013-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021113525/http://articles.dailypress.com/1989-10-12/news/8910120238_1_iwo-jima-ship-close-in-weapons-system |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Iran–Iraq War===
[[File:USS Stark.jpg|thumb|right|''Stark'' listing after being hit.]]
{{see also|USS Stark (FFG-31)#Missile attack}}
On 17 May 1987, during the [[Iran–Iraq War]], which the US was observing as a non-combatant, an Iraqi [[Dassault Mirage F1]] fighter<ref name="DoD_report">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120323222902/http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/operation_and_plans/USS_Liberty_Pueblo_Stark/65rev.pdf Formal Investigation into the Circumstances Surrounding the Attack of the USS Stark in 1987]</ref> fired two [[Exocet|Exocet missiles]] at what was deemed to be a suitable target, but was the American [[frigate]] {{USS|Stark|FFG-31|6}}.

The Phalanx CIWS remained in standby mode and the [[Mark 36 SRBOC]] countermeasures were not armed, as no attack had been expected. Both missiles struck the [[port side]] of the ship near the bridge. 37 United States Navy personnel were killed and 21 wounded. [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]] apologized and paid compensation for this unintentional attack.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.jag.navy.mil/library/investigations/USS%20STARK%20BASIC.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.jag.navy.mil/library/investigations/USS%20STARK%20BASIC.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=dead |title= DOD Letter, Subject: Formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on the USS Stark (FFG-31) on 17 May 1987 |date= 3 September 1987 |access-date= 28 July 2020}}</ref>

=== Iraqi missile attack in 1991 Gulf War ===
On 25 February 1991, during the first [[Gulf War]], the Phalanx-equipped [[frigate]] {{USS|Jarrett|FFG-33|6}} was a few miles from the U.S. Navy [[battleship]] {{USS|Missouri|BB-63|6}} and the [[Royal Navy]] destroyer {{HMS|Gloucester|D96|6}}. An Iraqi missile battery fired two [[Silkworm missiles|Silkworm anti-ship missiles]] (often referred to as the ''Seersucker''); ''Missouri'' responded by firing its [[Mark 36 SRBOC|SRBOC]] [[chaff (radar countermeasure)|chaff countermeasures]]. The Phalanx system on ''Jarrett'', operating in automatic target-acquisition mode, fixed on ''Missouri''{{'}}s chaff and fired a burst of rounds, of which four hit ''Missouri'',  {{convert|2|to|3|nmi|km|0}} from ''Jarrett'' at the time. There were no injuries on ''Missouri'', and the Iraqi missiles were destroyed by [[Sea Dart missile]]s fired by ''Gloucester''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/du_ii/du_ii_tabh.htm |title=Tab-H Friendly-fire Incidents |publisher=Gulflink.osd.mil |access-date=2010-04-13 |archive-date=2013-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601053948/http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/du_ii/du_ii_tabh.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Pearl Harbor accidental discharge===
On May 5, 1994, the port side Phalanx on board the [[USS Lake Erie (CG-70)|USS ''Lake Erie'']] accidentally fired two depleted uranium rounds while the ship was at its berth at [[Pearl Harbor]], Hawaii. Sailors were conducting a firing circuit test as part of routine maintenance on the CIWS system at the time. A [[United States Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps|Judge Advocate General]] investigation concluded that required CIWS pre and post-firing inspections had not been properly conducted and the rounds had gone undetected in the ammunition drive. It is believed by the Navy that the rounds fell in an undeveloped mountainous area near [[Aiea, Hawaii|Aiea, HI]]. There were no reports of any injuries or property damage as a result of the accidental discharge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0311/ML031120295.pdf |title=Nuclear Regulatory Commission Preliminary Notification of Event or Unusual Occurrence |access-date=2024-01-22 |archive-date=2021-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909014401/https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0311/ML031120295.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/l/lake-erie-cg-70/1994.pdf |title=Department of the Navy USS Lake Erie (CG 70) Command History 1994 |access-date=2024-01-22 |archive-date=2023-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516143856/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/l/lake-erie-cg-70/1994.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dmzhawaii.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/navy-foia-response.pdf |title=Naval Message Date/Time/Group 132025Z Jul 94 |access-date=2024-01-22 |archive-date=2020-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020155949/https://www.dmzhawaii.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/navy-foia-response.pdf }}</ref>

[[File:JS Makinami (DD-112) Phalanx CIWS.jpg|thumb|JMSDF mounted Phalanx CIWS]]

===Accidental shoot-down of US aircraft by Japanese ship===
On 4 June 1996, a Phalanx operated by the JMSDF accidentally shot down a US [[A-6 Intruder]] from the aircraft carrier {{USS|Independence|CV-62|6}} that was towing a radar target during gunnery exercises about {{cvt|1500|mi}} west of the main Hawaiian island of [[Oahu]]. The {{sclass|Asagiri|destroyer|1}} {{ship|JDS|Yūgiri|DD-153|6}} locked onto the Intruder instead of the target, or tracked up the tow cable after acquiring the towed target. The aircraft's two-man crew ejected safely.<ref>[[Cable News Network]]. [http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9606/04/japan.vessel/ Japan apologizes for gunning down U.S. plane] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208160400/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9606/04/japan.vessel/ |date=2008-02-08 }}. June 4, 1996.</ref> A post-accident investigation concluded that ''Yūgiri''{{'}}s gunnery officer gave the order to fire before the A-6 was out of the CIWS engagement envelope.<ref>The Virginian-Pilot. [http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp961024/10240334.htm Human Error Cited In Downing Of Navy Plane By Japanese] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015120203/http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp961024/10240334.htm |date=2007-10-15 }}. October 24, 1996.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=527|title=Transcript of the DoD investigation of the incident}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

=== Red Sea crisis ===
{{Main articles|Red Sea crisis}}
On 30 January 2024, [[Houthi movement|Houthis]] fired an anti-ship cruise missile toward the [[Red Sea]]. The missile came within a mile of the {{Sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer|1}} [[USS Gravely|USS ''Gravely'']]. The Phalanx CIWS aboard ''Gravely'' was used to shoot down the missile. This was the first time the Phalanx CIWS was used to down a Houthi-fired missile.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Altman |first=Howard |date=31 January 2024 |title=Phalanx CIWS Downs Houthi Missile Dangerously Close To Destroyer: Report |url=https://www.twz.com/news-features/phalanx-ciws-downs-houthi-missile-dangerously-close-to-destroyer-report |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=The War Zone}}</ref> No damage or injuries were reported.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Liebermann |first1=Oren |last2=Bertrand |first2=Natasha |date=31 January 2024 |title=US warship had close call with Houthi missile in Red Sea |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/31/politics/us-warship-close-call-houthi-missile/index.html |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sherman |first1=Ella |last2=Epstein |first2=Jake |date=31 January 2024 |title=A Houthi missile got so close to a US destroyer the warship turned to a last resort gun system to shoot it down: report |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/houthi-missile-close-us-warship-close-in-weapon-system-2024-1 |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Business Insider}}</ref>