According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on November 16, 2021, the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) fired its Phalanx Close-In Weapons System in the Philippine Sea.
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Phalanx CIWS of amphibious assault ship USS America (Picture source: U.S. Department of Defense)
The USS America (LHA-6), is an America-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy and the lead ship of her class. USS America was awarded to Ingalls on June 1st, 2007, and saw her keel laid down on July 17th, 2009. She was launched on June 4th, 2012, and officially commissioned on October 11th, 2014.
The LHA 6 is equipped with the AN/SPQ-9B surface-search and Fire Control radar, AN/SPS-48E(V)10 3D air-search radar, the AN/SPS-49(V)1 2D air-search radar, and the AN/SPM-43C air traffic control radar.
Electronic Warfare (EW) is handled by the AN/SLQ-32B(V)2 fit (Block 1) and the vessel carries 2 x Mk 53 NULKA decoy launchers.
Armament of the LHA 6 includes 2 x Evolved Sea Sparrow medium-range surface-to-air missile launchers, 2 x RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) short-range launchers, 2 x 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs), 2 x 25mm M242 "Bushmaster" chain guns, and up to 7 x 0.50 heavy machine guns in twin-gunned mountings.
The Phalanx CIWS is a close-in weapon system for defense against incoming threats such as small boats, surface torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and helicopters. It was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division, later a part of Raytheon.
