C-RAM Sent to Iraq

[MKSheppard]

Linka


Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System

Air Defense Artillery Takes On New Counter-Rockets, Artillery and Mortars Intercept Mission
by CPT Scott L. Mace

With hostile rocket and mortar attacks inflicting significant casualties in Iraq, the Army is moving

forward with testing to support the counter-rockets, artillery and mortars (C-RAM) mission. The C-RAM mission represents a revolutionary approach to countering insurgent activities by intercepting rockets, artillery and mortar rounds in the air prior to impact; thereby, reducing or eliminating any damage they might cause. The Army is integrating existing sensors, systems and command and control capabilities to provide a C-RAM capability that units can easily incorporated into forward operating base and logistics supply area defenses. The C-RAM systems, once deployed, have the potential to save lives and reduce injuries from rocket, artillery and mortar attacks

The weapon system selected as the near-term C-RAM interceptor is the Army’s Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System, a reconfigured version of the U.S. Navy’s Phalanx Close-In Weapon System. The Navy uses its sea-based system as a point-defense weapon to protect the fleet from low-flying cruise missiles and other air threats. The Phalanx was first tested for C-RAM missions in November 2004 and did so well that C-RAM production was moved forward. The first test of the Army-configured C-RAM system took place in April 2005 at Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz.

The Army made slight reconfigurations to the Navy system to integrate it into the Army’s ground defense mission and command and control structure. The 20mm, six-barrel Phalanx gun system and its search and track radars are trailer-mounted to allow movement to key military sites. Figure 1 shows the basic layout. The Phalanx is familiar to some air defenders because it is similar to the Vulcan air defense gun system, which was the mainstay of divisional air defense battalions in the 1970s through the early 1990s.

The Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) system is one of the technologies used to integrate the C-RAM intercept system with other presently fielded Army and joint service systems. The FAAD C2 software and hardware solution allows the C-RAM system to communicate freely with existing air defense sensors and other Army battle command systems. The C-RAM unit uses the Air and Missile Defense Work Station (AMDWS) to pass information to other Army battle command systems. Put together, these tools will allow soldiers working in engagement operations cells to easily integrate a C-RAM battery into the defense of a forward operating base.

Colonel Paul McGuire, the C-RAM Intercept Task Force leader, said “The deployment of this weapon system and its integration into a holistic approach to defeat rocket, artillery and mortar threats will change the face of operations on the battlefield and will force the insurgents, currently operating in Iraq, to seriously consider their activities when attacking deployed forces. The enemy will be forced to change his tactics and potentially make mistakes that will allow coalition forces to react quickly and defeat his threats.”

The first battery to perform the C-RAM mission is C Battery, 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery, a separate Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle force that has been testing the C-RAM system and perfecting C-RAM battle drills for several months. Charlie Battery Soldiers are now the tip of the spear in C-RAM development and fielding.

Charlie Battery will be augmented with Navy personnel who have many years of experience on the basic system to make up the first C-RAM Intercept Battery. Navy personnel are already an integral part of the battery’s daily operation. Sailors quickly pass their expertise from years of maintaining and operating this system to Soldiers. The Soldiers received training from the Navy in several locations across the United States to facilitate the operational timeline. Soldiers have been firing the weapon system and intercepting mortars and rockets regularly. Their training culminated in a mission rehearsal exercise in Yuma. With help from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery, during the evaluation, the mission rehearsal exercise was successfully completed, and Charlie Battery is considered trained for any potential C-RAM mission.

Collateral damage has always been a major concern whenever combat developers considered high-speed gun systems as a solution to the rocket, artillery and mortar threat. In urban terrain or heavily populated areas, outgoing rounds might prove as dangerous—if not more dangerous—than incoming rounds. To minimize collateral damage, the C-RAM interceptor will fire rounds that self-destruct (High-Explosive Incendiary Tracer Rounds-Self Destruct) when they miss their targets. These rounds have a very low dud rate, and studies show that residue from self-destructed rounds cause minimal damage.

Chief Petty Officer Jonny S. Schurch, the Navy’s lead chief assigned to Charlie Battery said the system would be even more effective except for safety measures imposed to prevent friendly casualties and collateral damage.

As First Sergeant Stephen D. Kinzer observed, the Phalanx system will have to prove itself in new combat environments, where it has never been deployed. Time will tell how environmental factors may affect the intercept system once it arrives in a theater of operations.

Charlie Battery continues to operate on an aggressive schedule, racing an accelerated timeline, to bring the intercept capabilities online and prepare for a potential deployment. Every day that goes by before we deploy the system is another day service members have to survive rocket or mortar attacks without C-RAM protection. The sooner the C-RAM system is deployed, the sooner Soldiers, Sailors, airmen and Marines on forward operating bases will sleep safer and wake more rested for the next day’s missions. The overall goal is to save lives and make the cost of firing mortars at U.S. soldiers in Iraq too high for the insurgency to pay. Soldiers of Charlie Battery have accepted the mission of saving Soldiers’ lives and are prepared to execute their new mission.

[Thirdfain]

This is obscenely cool. It's kind of neat to see some of the concepts I've found in STGOD ground combat actually appear in real life.

[Alan Bolte]

Self-destruting explosive rounds. I woudn't have thought of that one. Way cool, espescially for all the lives it will save. Deployment of this technology in sufficient quantity should make rocket and mortar attacks on bases and such largely pointless.

[Kazuaki Shimazaki]

Sounds cute. In principle, we have radar that can detect mortars, so in theory something can be brought to intercept. Can the Phalanx system pick up mortars?

I'd say ... that looks like the most awkward SPAAG mount I've ever seen...

Even if it can, how well will it hold up to mass arty attack?

... At least that means the US has improved battlefield air defense.

[Kazuaki Shimazaki]

Self-destruting explosive rounds. I woudn't have thought of that one. Way cool, espescially for all the lives it will save. Deployment of this technology in sufficient quantity should make rocket and mortar attacks on bases and such largely pointless.

Weren't "self destructing explosive rounds" once called "flak"?

[phongn]

Sounds cute. In principle, we have radar that can detect mortars, so in theory something can be brought to intercept. Can the Phalanx system pick up mortars?

They probably had to do some software modifications but the system was tested, so I'm assuming yes.

Even if it can, how well will it hold up to mass arty attack?

Probably not all that well.

... At least that means the US has improved battlefield air defense.

Eh, this is designed more or less to take down a few mortar or rocket rounds fired by insurgents or whatnot.

[Kazuaki Shimazaki]

Eh, this is designed more or less to take down a few mortar or rocket rounds fired by insurgents or whatnot.

I know. But they can also use that system to shoot down planes, filling a role similar to the 2S6 and ZSU-23-4 in Russia as well. It is about time - AFAIK the Vulcan wasn't that good a ground air-defense weapon.

[Sea Skimmer]

The M163 shot down several Syrian MiGs in 1983, when they attempted to bomb Israeli armored columns. It was pretty good in clear weather, but its effectiveness was limited by the fact that it had a range only radar. Mortar bombs it should be amply effective, against a barrage of high speed artillery shells, not so effective. But the vast majority of insurgent mortar attacks involve no more then 1-3 rounds.

[Mr Bean]

The M163 shot down several Syrian MiGs in 1983, when they attempted to bomb Israeli armored columns. It was pretty good in clear weather, but its effectiveness was limited by the fact that it had a range only radar. Mortar bombs it should be amply effective, against a barrage of high speed artillery shells, not so effective. But the vast majority of insurgent mortar attacks involve no more then 1-3 rounds.

Any more than that and local air defense is going to have Cobras and F-14's vectored onto their position and they can kiss their asses goodbye.

[Edward Yee]

Speaking of mortars... can anyone confirm whether the fall into the tube from ice melting off of a mortar round's exterior is enough to cause it to fire? (A rumor about one of the most unconventional methods of firing, as opposed to most of the crew leaving before the actual firing.)

[Stuart Mackey]

Interesting concept so long as the thing dosent have to go of a nice smooth road, by the looks of it.

[FISCHMANTX]

Speaking of mortars... can anyone confirm whether the fall into the tube from ice melting off of a mortar round's exterior is enough to cause it to fire? (A rumor about one of the most unconventional methods of firing, as opposed to most of the crew leaving before the actual firing.)

Yes it is true, the 'enemy' should not be taken for granted, we are not the only folks who use ingenuity.

[Edward Yee]

Agreed, and hell, that's part of the "mystique" of the "romantic freedom fighter," so I like stories where we prove that wrong and/or show more ingenuity than them.

Though, I did mean whether this method actually WORKS, or is the fall too slow and too short.

[Stormin]

Speaking of mortars... can anyone confirm whether the fall into the tube from ice melting off of a mortar round's exterior is enough to cause it to fire? (A rumor about one of the most unconventional methods of firing, as opposed to most of the crew leaving before the actual firing.)

From what I have seen, the bombs look like they are simply dropped into the tube when fired. So encrusting them with enough ice to prevent them from sliding them in and placing them so they will fall in when the ice melts should work. Unfortunatly this only gives one shot and you will lose the launcher, which I assume isn't free.
Unless aimed at a fixed target, chances are also very good that whatever you were planning on blowing up will simply move in that time too.

It would probably work, but I doubt it would become standard by any means.

[CmdrWilkens]

Speaking of mortars... can anyone confirm whether the fall into the tube from ice melting off of a mortar round's exterior is enough to cause it to fire? (A rumor about one of the most unconventional methods of firing, as opposed to most of the crew leaving before the actual firing.)

Yes they do this to harass a lot of bases where they aren't neccessarilly looking to cause any more than a few accidental casualties. It happened a couple times while I was there and I have no reason to believe they've stopped using this tactic.

[Sea Skimmer]

Speaking of mortars... can anyone confirm whether the fall into the tube from ice melting off of a mortar round's exterior is enough to cause it to fire? (A rumor about one of the most unconventional methods of firing, as opposed to most of the crew leaving before the actual firing.)

A mortar bomb should need no more then the velocity it gains from falling down the tube to be fired, assuming it’s a drop firing mortar, some mortars do have triggers. So if you had the bomb held by ice at the muzzle, and the ice melted and it fell in, it would fire. However I really doubt anyone is using that tactic, because it means your pissing away your mortar in ordered to fire 1 round.

That’s why the guerillas in both Iraq and Afghanistan use rockets for many hit and run attacks. You can simply lay a rocket on the ground or on a ramp made of earth, and then all you need to fire it is a battery and two wires. Add a simple timer, and you can set it up to fire and have ample time to clear the area so as to avoid counter attacks.

The 122mm rockets they use also tend to have larger warheads then 60 or 82mm mortar bombs, though they are less accurate. This tactic has been a stable of guerrilla warfare ever since the Soviets started exporting 122mm rockets basically. US troops first encountered it in Vietnam, the VC fired thousands of the things at bases like Khe Sanh.

[brianeyci]

To the uninitiated, these sound like extreme measures. Why not have the mortar fire, then quickly dump the mortar into a pickup truck and drive away before counter-battery fire arrives? Why not have the mortar mounted on the back of a pickup truck and drive off having a moving target for counter-battery fire? A wire can extend hundreds of meters, but surely the wire can be traced and the hideout discovered. The only advantage I see is having the wire go to somewhere enclosed like a house, and then ditching the house. Soldiers will be knocking at the house's door soon too, and I always thought that's the reason why Israel demolished houses.

Is counter-battery fire so accurate, so devestating that a terrorist mortar team cannot fire a mortar, jump in a car and evacuate with their equipment before the Paladins start demolishing the landscape? Why not fire the mortar from inside city limits, where counter-battery fire would supposedly be detrimental because of civilian casualties?

Brian

[Vendetta]

To the uninitiated, these sound like extreme measures. Why not have the mortar fire, then quickly dump the mortar into a pickup truck and drive away before counter-battery fire arrives? Why not have the mortar mounted on the back of a pickup truck and drive off having a moving target for counter-battery fire?

I believe the IRA used to fire mortars from the back of a van and drive off, dumping the van and changing vehicles when they were away.

[Sea Skimmer]

Is counter-battery fire so accurate, so devestating that a terrorist mortar team cannot fire a mortar, jump in a car and evacuate with their equipment before the Paladins start demolishing the landscape? Why not fire the mortar from inside city limits, where counter-battery fire would supposedly be detrimental because of civilian casualties?

That's exactly what they do most of the time, which is why I very much doubt the whole ice thing. Perhapes it was done once, and the story spread from there, its certainly not a common tactic if it happens at all.

Even the most rapidly reacting counter battery, using M270 MLRS still needs about 1 minute to get weapons in the air, and a mortar team can fire its 1-3 rounds and begin to displace in that tiny amount of time. MLRS isn’t used for that job in Iraq anyway; its rockets cover way too big an area with death, and even field artillery and our own mortars don't get used all that heavily because the insurgents indeed generally fire from within urban areas.

Apparently the mortar locating radars being used by US forces also often have trouble picking up and tracing attacks that involve just a few mortar bombs. Radar unfortunately isn’t a perfect sensor, which can instantly detect anything which enters its field of view; though often the impression is given that it can do just that.

The best counter to mortars seems to be Predators with Hellfire’s on constant patrol, since they can strike with precision and fly high enough that insurgents don’t know they are present. Also, more important then killing the mortar teams, because there are plenty of people willing to die around; is to locate and kill or capture the people who train and supply them.

[brianeyci]

Ah. Terrorists that are so stupid they couldn't think of what I was thinking of is beyond belief anyway, I just needed confirmation.

Anyway this brings up another terrorist related concept. I hope this isn't thread hijacking, but it relates to terrorism. Don't the terrorists realize, that what they're doing is extremely stupid? Me and my friend did a little mind game, and if we wanted to incite terror in the US of A, this is what we would do.

Recruit a modest number of highly trusted Lieutenants (maybe 50 or so) with European or trusted passports. Trust is the keyword, because this operation will bring America to its knees. Send them to fifty different cities in the United States, get them to buy firearms. Walk into random locations like libraries, malls, soft targets with no or little armed security, then randomly start killing people and shouting Islamic slogans. Declare in a publication that nobody is safe, that nobody can get away, that we can target your children, wives, and anybody anywhere anytime. People will be afraid to go out. Freedom to travel will be severely curbed, perhaps escalating to abuses of Muslum people's rights, which will bring more recruits and sympathy to your cause. Have another second, 50 man sleeper cell ready to hit as soon as the newspapers or the President declares it "safe". Then do this again. If people are so eager to get "martyred", this is the way to do it.

Not only is random violence that can hit anywhere, anytime, anybody the definition of terror, but I don't see any way to stop this tactic short of draconian measures curbing fundamental freedoms.

Are terrorists really so stupid that they can't think of this?

Note for those with no brain, this is a hypothetical scenario and I don't plan on going out and killing anybody anytime soon (read : ever).

Brian

[Edward Yee]

Beats me, I thought it was a question of success -- prolly a helluva lot easier to pull off a suicide bombing on home ground than to gather up 50 guys able to get in without detection, acquire firearms without detection and pull off an "attack on the Great Satan" that's either so simultaneously all at once or staggered a period of time yet with each each day to be noticed. Heck, the "shouting Islamic slogans" won't work because the mainstream media'll try to pretend it wasn't a terror attack.

For that matter, apparently the Palestinians got reduced to trying to knife the "Little Satans" (Israel) because the infrastructure for suicide bombings and leadership for big-name organizations has been toppled. Then again, America can't do a "Gaza pullout" with nearly the success that Israel has had "vs. the Palestinians" (infighting, anyone?).

Sea Skimmer makes a good point. Timing the ice is usually inexact at best, but yes counterbattery fire from what I know has little use -- and the solution that does work requires you to have so many Predators in the air. Taking out arms caches isn't as helpful as best, although I had a classmate who'd do cache raids, because there's just so friggin' much around that it kinda explains the IED "phenomenon" in and of itself. The key is humans -- human intelligence, human raids (albeit preferably using the Stryker for speed and stealth) and human targets. Nice take, Sea Skimmer.

[Sea Skimmer]

Are terrorists really so stupid that they can't think of this?

What your missing is the fact that attacking the US within its own boarders would be a dramatic escalation of the war, and would make a US pullout less likely, not more likely. Widening a war is generally not in an insurgencies interest, because it increases the occupiers stake in maintaining his occupation.

That’s why the NVA and VC didn’t even attack the US military in Thailand or the Philippines (let alone anything within the 50 states) even though those countries had huge airbases from which planes constantly bombed North Vietnam. So long as the war is confined to Iraq, the US can walk away whenever it wants to. If Iraqi terrorist strike within the US, then suddenly the US is directly threatened (now remember how all that stuff about Iraq being a terrorist base camp was just to justify the war in the fist place) and very directly affected by the war, and it cannot simply get up and leave.

Sure there would be political hell for Bush if the war came to America, but then that hell would be turned around and directed right back into Iraq.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Bush had very tenous reasons for going to war in that country in the first place. Attacking CONUS or allies on their own turf would be tantamount to starting a modern dau Crusade.

[Edward Yee]

The way I'm thinking about things now -- A'stan was a tad bit political but also with less disputed practical reason. We had to get al-Qaida, but that meant going through the Taliban. The reasons for war in Iraq are less practical, but I'd rather just take warfighting lessons (i.e. IED countermeasures) out of it. That, and it's their turf instead of ours.

[FSTargetDrone]

This is obscenely cool. It's kind of neat to see some of the concepts I've found in STGOD ground combat actually appear in real life.

Forget this thing shooting down mortars and the like. Stick a few of these rigs in a convoy.