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rmacqueen said:Can't really see this happening. The mechanics of having to remove it from a ship and then modify it for land use would make it very impractical. You can't just get out your wrenches and lift it off the ship and plop it on the ground. It would require a specialized platform, electronics and a power source. As well, once removed, the ships would have to be modified to fix the area where it had been to make them sea worthy. We are now talking a lot of $ for something that is really not much more than a nuisance.
If the CF were really considering this idea it would be more cost effective(and probably faster) to order them from the manufacturer where they would already be fitted out for for this type of role.
I know, maybe we could get some and mount them in place of the turret on some of the old Cougars ;D
Sorry Mac,
The CIWS was specifially chosen because it doesn't have any through-deck penetrations. Removal of the CIWS and associated electronics cabinets from the uppers takes a couple of hours of un-bolting, plus a crane.
There's no holes left in the deck, just some cables to seal up.
The operator consoles are a bit heavier, but not hard to move, as compared to say a Hull and fire-pump.
Removing a CIWS is conceivable, and if you were to visit the Halifax Harbour today, you'd see more than 1 ship there with no CIWS on top....going into or in the midst of refits....the CIWS is removed and sent ashore for re-furbishment.
As for the stand-alone use of it? Well, the US runs everything they need on a single flatbed trailer...take the electronics cabinets, the mount, the operator console, load it up and off you go....add a generator with the right output, and you're fine.
*shrug* I mean, to fit them to the ships heading to the gulf in 92 only took them 10 days....
NS