CIWS

CIWS is an Acronym for Close In Weapons System, pronounced "See-Wiz". The CIWS Concept dates back to Earth's 20th Century Navies, which developed short-range, radar guided gun or missile systems to defend warships and supply vessels against incoming aircraft, missiles, or surface threats.

CIWS IN THE 24TH CENTURY
In late 2385, Advanced Starship Design Bureau issued a requirement for a flexible, quick response weapons' system to defeat attacking small craft (>50m Overall Length) and torpedoes. The resulting weapon featured a low-visibility turret mounting four 40mm Pulse Phaser Cannons, similar to those mounted on the Tomcat Starfighter.

Each of the four cannons has a rate of fire of 70 pulses per minute, and the mount can be set to three different firing settings:


 * Singe Fire: Each cannon fires in sequence at extremely short intervals, resulting in a nearly constant stream of fire. Used primarily against torpedoes and missiles.


 * Offset Pairs: Upper Port/Lower Starboard and Upper Starboard/Lower Port fire at staggered close intervals. Each pair of pulses is more powerful, but has a slower firing rate than single fire. Effective against smaller fighters and shuttles.


 * Linked Fire: All four guns fire at once. This setting is used against more heavily protected attackers.

Currently, only USS Fearless and USS Shiloh have recieved CIWS mountings.

Fearless mounts 9 CIWS, 4 on the dorsal saucer, 3 on the Ventral Saucer, one on the aft keel, and one above the aft shuttlebays. Shiloh has 8 in a similar dispersal.