# Does the CWIS gatling gun have a manual targeting mode or not?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-cwis-gatling-gun-have-a-manual-targeting-mode-or-not/789889>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 26, 2017, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-cwis-gatling-gun-have-a-manual-targeting-mode-or-not/789889 "2017-06-26T06:06:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-cwis-gatling-gun-have-a-manual-targeting-mode-or-not/789889/1 "2017-06-26T06:06:07Z")

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Pretty much what the title says. I’ve heard various things about it, including people saying you could use it to stop terrorist boats approaching, etc. But if you can’t get a target lock on a fiberglass boat, how do you mow down the approaching terrorists? I would assume that if the target acquisition system is primarily a radar, it would have a tough time with a target at the water surface (since the ocean waves also reflect radar), traveling slowly, among a literal sea of noise. I mean, it might be able to lock on, but it might not, and I would not expect it to be reliable.

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-cwis-gatling-gun-have-a-manual-targeting-mode-or-not/789889/2 "2017-06-26T21:39:46Z")

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The block 1b revision that started in 1998ish added a forward-looking infrared sensor to allow targeting of surface vessels. This can be done either automatically or with operator intervention.

From Wikipedia:

> **[Phalanx CIWS | Upgrades](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS#Upgrades)**
>
> Due to the evolution of threats and computer technology, the Phalanx system has been developed through several configurations. The basic (original) style is the Block 0, equipped with first-generation, solid-state electronics and with marginal capability against surface targets. The Block 1 (1988) upgrade offered various improvements in radar, ammunition, computing power, rate of fire, and an increase in maximum engagement elevation to +70 degrees. These improvements were intended to increase the...

Original cite:

> **[404 Error Page](http://www.raytheon.com/404)**

News story on the upgrade:  
[http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/3558.html](http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/3558.html)

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-cwis-gatling-gun-have-a-manual-targeting-mode-or-not/789889/3 "2017-06-26T21:49:30Z")

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On a side note, it’s kinda nuts that our opponents use AK-47s and suicide bombers in boats, and we have automatic heat-tracking gatling-gun killing machines you can read about on Wikipedia. Yet still they can send ten people or so and change a superpower’s trajectory for the next 30+ years. Seems like surface vessel target acquisition is the least of our defense problems.

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-cwis-gatling-gun-have-a-manual-targeting-mode-or-not/789889/4 "2017-06-27T02:04:45Z")

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[pedantic nitpick]  
It’s CIWS, not CWIS. Close-In Weapon System.

Despite the fact they pronounce it see-whiz which might lead you to spell it c-wiz or c-wis.  
[/pedantic nitpick]