209K views · 7.3K reactions | The rotating-barreled, hand-cranked Gatling gun was invented in 1861, and it immediately rewrote the rules of warfare. Now, Weapon Hunter host Paul Shull puts one to the test and demonstrates its impressive firepower. The Weapon Hunter | Smithsonian Channel Aviation Nation | Facebook

The Phalanx CIWS is a U.S. Navy radar-guided 20mm Gatling gun system designed as a ship's last line of defense against incoming missiles, aircraft, drones, and small boats. Development began in the 1970s by General Dynamics (later Raytheon) to counter sea-skimming anti-ship missiles; the Block 0 entered service in 1980 on USS Coral Sea, firing 3,000-4,500 rounds per minute with full radar search, track, and auto-engage capability. Upgraded versions like Block 1B added FLIR sensors for surface th