Does anyone have a clue what this naval defense system might be?

Looks pretty small, too small for a missile (unless something like a stinger)

I’m guessing it’s electronic warfare and just a component if that.

Otherwise I’m gonna say he was pulling your leg and it’s just a well placed locker for people to ask questions about.

I’m thinking it could be. It’s certainly curiously placed. And those handrails…?

Here’s a picture from more of a distance: http://goo.gl/W8PGX

The distance picture was a good addition, see that stand in the foreground? That’s for mounting a variety of weapons/other projectile launchers such as flares. however, due to the large variety of things it could be, and that whatever it maybe is locked up on deck. I can’t give a definite answer. But maybe some Navy shitman (I’m Army, can’t resist capping on my… cousins (2nd cousins thrice removed that is) in arms) can give you a more definite answer.

Ask @Blackberry. He’s Navy.

Actually, I think I may of found it… railing look familiar?

http://cdn.wn.com/pd/be/de/d92a1a3f67a8fd1ae207bb80b0c0_grande.jpg

Sorry, I’ve been on ships, but I don’t know what that is. It could be a number of things.

In @King_Pariah‘s picture, past the gun mount there is a collection of small tubes pointing outward. That is a chaff release system that diverts things like missiles. That other box could be something similar, of course, because there are different defense systems.

http://www.terma.com/index.dsp?page=174#

Now we’re making progress. Now I wonder if that stuff is somehow hidden in the box or if it’s something different.

By the way do you happen to know what ship that is?

@intro24 Yeah, it could just be one big one, but I don’t know. I can’t tell what kind of ship it is from the picture, but it looks like a smaller ship, like a Frigate (that’s what I was on). Could be a Destroyer as well.

And we’ll leave it at that. Thanks guys. While we’re at it, mind me asking what Frigate?

@intro24 Now I’m just getting suspicious…lol. But it was the USS Boone.

Since it’s a non-articulating mount, closed and locked cabinet and surrounded by handrail, I’m going to assume that it’s not a manually fired weapon. In other words, it’s not a machine gun or manually operated launcher. (It wouldn’t be surrounded by handrail if it was meant to be “operated” on the deck.)

So I’m guessing that the crewman who told you it was part of the missile defense system was telling you true. The Whidbey Island class of LCAC ships (of which Ashland is a member) has been targeted by the Navy for some of its more advanced missile defense systems. If this isn’t a decoy or chaff launcher, as @Blackberry suggested earlier, then I suspect that it’s part of the electronics / radar / fire control system.

Just curious. I was on the Nicholas as well as the Norfolk (submarine) while I was down in, you guessed it, Norfolk. Ships interest me for one reason or another that I can’t quite pinpoint.

Holy crap, I just found a video someone made with my ship in it. I remember that day like it was yesterday lol. Good times…..

And the Ashland obviously. Anyway thanks for the input, WasCy. That’s as good a guess as mine. That part about these ships being given more advanced missile defense systems makes sense too.

Nice video, @Blackberry. Why do I think that you all don’t listen to so much Kenny G on board ship, though?

@WasCy Lol! We don’t. We played some classic rock when we stopped in the middle of the Atlantic to swim, though.