USS Boxer LPH-4 ca 1990- Input requested.... PICS UP!!!!

[Weaver]

Sorry Kit, that's out of date. When Phalanx was first fitted, they were just in front of the Sea Dart launcher to starboard as you suggest, but they were subsequently moved to a better position on the bow. I suspect the initial position was the "quick and dirty" solution that was easiest to wire up in a hurry (the first 5 phalanx were bought during the Falklands War), whereas the "filled-in bow" is the optimum solution.


Initial position (Phalanx):




Final position (Goalkeeper):


(Note that this move considerably pre-dated the landing of Sea dart and the extension of the deck to accomodate RAF Harriers.)




Regarding telling the difference: Phalanx has the white "dalek" dome on top with the radars inside. Goalkeeper is much more messy, with a conical tracking radar set on top of the gun itself, and a madly spinning bar aerial for the search radar on a crooked arm behind it.

Phalanx:


(The length of the barrels, their supports (if any) and muzzle fitting varies with version)


Goalkeeper:

[PR19_Kit]

It looks as if they raised the level of the focs'l deck when they moved the CIWS, the bow bulwarks are much lower in your second piccie.

One of my Field Engineers was a CPO on the Phalanx, he had a RAFT tales about them, including some hilarious ones about trying to find bits of the target after a 'quick burst'. A TOTAL waste of time apparently. 

[Cliffy B]

Ocean can carry her CIWS on the bow because her's is much higher than the Essex's.  That's the whole reason they pulled the guns and plated in the bows after the war.  That whole area was too prone to wave damage for any effective weapons to be located there.

[Captain Canada]

Awesome ! I love anything with a/c on the deck. The two of them together looks wicked. Love the Osprey as well.

[Army of One]

I thought goalkeeper had an 'arm' protruding out of one part of the roof with a rotating radar as opposed to the dome covering.....anyhoo....maybe I missed it but,the radar mast/tower between the superstructure an gun turret....is it photo etch or scratch built or kit part....looking on my phone at the moment....

[Mike Wren]

I know very little about boats, sorry ships, but these look great 

[sequoiaranger]

sigfan--loved the pic/model of the "Iowa" hybrid.

You might enjoy my doctored pic of something similar at: (second pic down)

http://www.combinedfleet.com/furashita/midway_f.htm