Gun Systems? For Air Defense?

No input data. – 13 p.Most people are now ready to concede that the naval gun serves a useful purpose in shore bombardment. Many will even credit the gun with a significant, if limited, role in dealing with opposing surface ships. But few can imagine the gun challenging the missile’s suzerainty in naval air defense. A conclusion reached from the U. S. Navy’s experience during World War II was that AA guns were a vital part of air defense. If the combat air patrol could break up and thin out any massed, coordinated thrusts, the shipboard AA guns generally could be counted upon to deal with the remaining attackers. The kamikazes changed the picture somewhat. Damage which would cause a bomber pilot to break off his attack would not likely deter a man bent on suicide. The Navy’s answer to the kamikaze was the 3-inch/50-caliber rapid fire gun, which threw a heavier shell to longer ranges than the 20-mm. and 40-mm. guns which had been the AA mainstays, together with radardirected fire control systems. These new systems did not see service during World War II.