MK 46 - 30mm Gun Weapon System |
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Description
The MK 46 is a Naval derivative of the 30mm gun turret originally designed for the USMC Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle. The MK 46 GWS is a remotely operated naval gun system that uses a 30mm high velocity cannon, a forward looking infrared sensor, a low light television camera, and a laser rangefinder for shipboard self defense against small, high speed surface targets. The gun can be operated locally at the gun turret or remotely at the Remote Operating Console in the Combat Information Center (LPD 17 class)/Mission Control Center (LCS class).
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Background
The requirements documents for the LPD 17 and LCS ship programs included the need for weapons systems capable of defeating small, fast, highly maneuverable surface craft. The MK 46 GWS was selected to provide these ships a capability against small surface craft. The MK 46 GWS is permanently installed aboard LPD 17 class ships. It is part of the Surface Warfare (SuW) mission module for LCS class ships.
The MK 46 Mod 2 GWS incorporates new open architecture, fault isolation software and an embedded trainer. The Navy is installing the MK 46 Mod 2 GWS aboard LPD 17 class ships during construction. The Navy designed and developed the SuW mission module for LCS class ships. Two SuW mission modules (each including one MK 46 Mod 2 GWS) will be installed on each LCS class ship.
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Point Of Contact
Office of Corporate
Naval Sea Systems Command
Communication
Washington Navy Yard, D.C. 20376
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General Characteristics
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| Primary Function: Shipboard self defense against small, high-speed surface craft. |
| Date Deployed: 2005 (Mark 46 Mod 1) |
| Range: 2,200 yards - max effective range for full caliber ammunition. Effective range can be extended with sub-caliber munitions. Rate of Fire: 200 rounds/minute. Modes of fire: single round, five-round burst, or fully automatic. Gun may be fired locally at the gun mount or remotely from the Combat Information Center. |
| Magazine Capacity: 400 rounds (dual feed, 200 per side). |
| Caliber: The MK 46 Mod 2 GWS includes the Mk 44 Mod 2 30mm cannon, a single barrel, open bolt, dual feed, electrically powered, chain driven automatic cannon. |
| Guidance System: A forward-looking infrared sensor, a low-light television camera, and a laster range finder provdes inputs to a closed loop tracking system. |
| Platforms: MK 46 Mod 2 - LPD 17 class (2 mounts per ship) adn LCS class (2 mounts per ship). |
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| Last Update: 2 November 2011 |
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