See this thing …
Yes, it’s a Naval helicopter.
Ardleigh Burke’s and Ticonderoga’s carry two each.
When they are not being used for ASW operations they roles include using their ECM suite to pretend to be the carrier itself.
I understand that 40 years ago, during the Falkland’s War, one of Prince Andrews’ jobs was to use his chopper’s ECM suite to mimic either HMS Hermes or HMS Invincible, or possibly both, in order to confuse any incoming radar guided Exocet missiles of what target the missiles were actually locked onto.
I imagine modern US Naval doctrine continues the use of helicopters in this role.
If the carrier’s destroyer / cruiser screen is laying smoke then the incoming missile will need to rely on radar guidance to hit the carrier. A helicopter can make a pretty convincing imitation of a carrier shielded by a smoke screen.
Then you have the CIWS of the carrier itself.
As well as placing themselves in harm’s way to intercept inbound anti-ship missiles, the escorts of a US carrier strike group are also required to position their vessel in the way of any wake homing torpedos fired towards the carrier. Not a pleasant job, but far better to loose an escort vessel and it’s crew than to have the carrier rendered combat ineffective.
As a missile was detected, the Electronic Warfare (EW) operators would activate their tools to appear attractive to the missiles. Meanwhile, the Gunners Mate Missiles (GMM) would begin tracking and engage with Standard Missile type I (SM1) missles, from the missile launcher on the forecastle.
If the GMMs fail, the Gunners Mate Guns (GMG) would then engage with the 76mm gun mounted amidships on the top deck.
If the gun fails to blow up the incoming missile, the GMGs would engage the Close In Weapons System (CIWS), otherwise known as R2D2 with a hard on.
If all the above fails, blow chaff and pray the missile misses the ship and falls into the ocean somewhere nearby.
Two Perry Class Frigates have taken modern combat damage and survived.
The Stark
Took two Iraqi Exocet anti-ship missiles under the bridge in May of 1987. A total of thirty-seven United States Navy personnel were killed or later died as a result of the attack, and twenty-one were injured. Decommissioned on 7 May 1999, Stark was scrapped in 2006
And the Samuel B. Roberts
It was severely damaged by an Iranian mine in 1988, leading U.S. forces to respond with Operation Praying Mantis. Repaired and returned to duty, the ship served until decommissioned in 2015.
