The Phalanx CIWS is many things - a gatling-gun-based close-in weapon system, a defensive weapon, an offensive weapon, and most importantly, it’s a lifesaver - one that the crew of USS Gravely will not forget in a long, long time. This is a story of how the Phalanx CIWS stepped up when its operators needed it the most in an almost-catastrophic event that took place on the Red Sea.