Shipbucket

Probably just a crazy idea by me, but the Sidewinder is a short-range AAM. This makes me think it'd be cheaper to use it instead of RAM as a point-defense anti-missile-missile, because it's dirt cheap and the stocks of it run deep. For example, the AIM-9L could likely intercept another missile with a few minor modifications.

I know Wiki isn't best for this, but I'm posting this quickly. From Wiki;
Sidewinder Range: 1.0 to 18.2 km
RAM Range: 9 km
The Sidewinder is effective out to twice the RAM's range, giving more reaction time.

Again from Wiki:
Unit cost US$85,000 (Sidewinder)
Unit cost $440,000 (RAM)
Bit of a steep price gap.

With a well developed, tried and true IR seeking short range missile, why have RAM at all? Do what they did with Sparrow / Sea Sparrow. Except Sea Winder sounds dumb and Sea Sidewinder has too many syllables.

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Probably posting from and iPhone and naval terms befuddle it. If I say a ships' hill, you know what I meant.

The range for a ground launched Sidewinder is 9000m (See MIM-72 Chaparral) and it takes up muck more space because of its fins.
It also has both a passive/active seeker head and the Radio Guidance options.
Also, the RAM is already using quite a few Sidewinder parts.

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“Close” only counts with horseshoes, hand grenades, and tactical nuclear weapons.
That which does not kill me has made a grave tactical error

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That makes more sense, but it doesn't seem to account for the much steeper unit price for the RAM.

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Probably posting from and iPhone and naval terms befuddle it. If I say a ships' hill, you know what I meant.

More capable and thus more expensive seeker, a booster stage, smaller production, fewer users and god knows what other bits of "navalization" should explain it.

_________________
“Close” only counts with horseshoes, hand grenades, and tactical nuclear weapons.
That which does not kill me has made a grave tactical error

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Source Materiel is always welcome.

There was a trial for putting the Sidewinder to sea, in fact the Chaparral system, was tryed out on USS Lawrence (DDG-4) in 1972 or 1973. It was then installed, again for trials on several Gearing (FRAM) destroyers, and was planned for insallation on the last 14 Knox class frigates. In the end the USN did not accept the system, which was removed from those destroyers that had it, and the system was exported to Taiwan, which installed it on several of ex-US destroyers.

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Thank you Kim for the crest

"Never fear to try on something new. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals, and the Ark by an amateur"

RAM is Sidewinder, or a derivative thereof:

http://articles.janes.com/articles/Jane ... ional.html

Well, more of a kitbash of SIdewinder and stinger. The control package is entirely new, and unique in the USN, however.

_________________
“Close” only counts with horseshoes, hand grenades, and tactical nuclear weapons.
That which does not kill me has made a grave tactical error

Worklist

Source Materiel is always welcome.

It was also a tail chaser and that it why it was rejected for Sea Sparrow...I have a book somewhere....will try to dig it out at Free Weekend (When I get back from boarding school) regarding this.....

Nick

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Nick

@ashwellkennedy

Later versions are all-aspect though.

_________________
“Close” only counts with horseshoes, hand grenades, and tactical nuclear weapons.
That which does not kill me has made a grave tactical error

Worklist

Source Materiel is always welcome.