Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!military From: bucsb!brianb@cs.purdue.edu (Brian Bresnahan) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: maximum number of a/c against missile ships Message-ID: <6709@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 19 May 89 01:41:28 GMT References: <6568@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: Boston Univ Comp. Sci. Lines: 62 Approved: military@att.att.com From: bucsb!brianb@cs.purdue.edu (Brian Bresnahan) In article <6568@cbnews.ATT.COM> jharper%euroies.ucd.ie%CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (Jerry Harper) writes: > >I found the short piece about Sgt. York very interesting and it called to >mind a question which someone may care to answer concerning the maximum >number of attack aircraft "manageable" in a battle situation by a >missile carrier, e.g. Vincennes class. Also, is more than one missile >launched for each incoming aircraft. Furthermore, since a successful >hit by a missile is unlikely to cause the complete disintegration of >an aircraft (the radar doesn't know if a plane is crippled or not) isn't >there the possibility that rundant salvos will be directed at aircraft which >are crippled and toppling into the ocean or wherever? The Vincennes is a member of the Tinconderoga Class of AEGIS CG, the class is currently divided into 2 main groups. The first group (which inlcludes the Vincennes) have the Mk26 dual launchers, that have been used on several classes of CG & CGN. The second group, which includes CG Bunker Hill and on have the Mk41 Vertical launch system. The key elements of the AEGIS system are the Radar/Targeting Computer and the missiles themselves. The Standard Missile 2(SM2) has guidance system that has many modes. It can be constantly directed by the ship as the SM1 and previous missiles were. It can also go on intertial guidance, with course corrections from the ship. It also has its own active Radar, which can be turned on by the ship, or can be programmed to come on after a specific amount of time. Since the missiles do not need a radar unit on the ship constantly directing it, more missile can be in the air. The Radar/Computer has several modes including a full automatic, in which the computer evaluates the threaty and launches at it sees fit. >From what I have seen the only limitations on the number of missiles the system is capable of managing is based of mechanical limitations. There are only 2 directors on the ship, and there were a large number of targets coming from many different direction, the system could not cover the sky with directing beams. The system is primary designed to protect from large numbers of missiles, the threa from aircraft is well covered by the older systems. From what I understand, the system tries to make best use of its resources, that is targeting the fastest and closest targets first. I am not sure if the system will double or triple target, it may if impact is immenent, but in other situations, I would suspect it wouldnt't launch a second missile at a target until the first has made its attack. The worst situation for the system is when there are more targets than missiles, in this case it just fires at what are perceived as the most threatening, until it runs out of missiles. It can then help control the SM2 missile carried by other ships. As for it going for cripples, if the the plane were leaving or crashing, the system would probably consider it less of a threat, since it is no longer moving at the ship at the same speed. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Brian Bresnahan brianb@bucsb.bu.edu engf0ic@BUACCA.bitnet