During the USS Missouri’s modernization in the mid-1980s, more than 100 WWII-era 20mm and 40mm anti-aircraft guns – and crew - were replaced by four automated Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) (pronounced “see-whiz”) rapid-fire Gatling guns. This new weapons system protected the ship using sophisticated radar to automatically detect, track and destroy incoming missiles and other aerial threats.

CWIS Mount Characteristics:
Primary Function: Anti-ship missile defense
Weight: 12,500lbs. (5,625kg)
Type of Fire: 3,000 or 4,500 rounds-per-minute with a burst length of 60 to 100 rounds
Magazine Capacity: 989 rounds
Ammunition: 20mm sub-caliber armor-piercing projectiles using a heavy-metal penetrator surrounded by a plastic positioning sabot and a light-weight metal pusher.
Sensors: Self-contained search and track radar

DID YOU MO?: The Phalanx guns are affectionately nicknamed “R2-D2” due to their similarity in appearance to the beloved Star Wars droid.

The Flying Bridge is an open deck above the pilot house allowing officers to direct the ship from a higher vantage point during fair weather conditions. An even higher bridge is located on the 08 Level above you, used when maximum visibility was required. The Flying Bridge is the highest level that guests can go on board. If you look towards the bow of the ship, you can get the best photo of Pearl Harbor with the Arizona Memorial just beyond the raised guns of the Mighty Mo.