NATO point defence ship systems

[uk 75]

As the Soviet Union developed its wide range of air and ship launched anti-ship missiles NATO surface vessels needed weapons to counter them.
Approaches adopted by individual NATO navies varied widely. Italy deployed 76mm guns and the Aspide system (based on US Sea Sparrow). Netherlands developed its own Goalkeeper gun system and also used Sea Sparrow. Britain initially developed the Seawolf system hoping it could be fitted instead of existing Seacat launchers. Unable to do this it then added Phalanx systems as well as buying a few Goalkeeper systems. The US had Sea Sparrow on Knox class frigates and carriers but relied on Phalanx.
The US and W German RAM missile did not reach service until after the Cold War.
NATO Sea Sparrow was selected by some countries notably Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands and Norway as well as in a modified form by Canada.
Whether any of the systems would have been very effective against Soviet missiles is open to question as they were never put to the test Seawolf was the only system used in action but against aircraft not missiles. Seadart killed a smaller slower Silkworm missile in 1991.
What seems to have been needed was a Phalanx/Seacat sized system that could be fitted cheaply and in quantity to all NATO ships. Seacat 2 always seems to me to be a missed chance.
A Type 22 with NATO Sea Sparrow launchers would have had 16 ready to fire missiles instead of 12.

 

[Dilandu]

Whether any of the systems would have been very effective against Soviet missiles is open to question as they were never put to the test Seawolf was the only system used in action but against aircraft not missiles. Seadart killed a smaller slower Silkworm missile in 1991.

They most likely would be quite effective against subsonic "Termit" family missiles, and reasonably effective against low-supersonic P-6/P-35 missiles. They most likely would NOT be effective against high-supersonic missiles, like X-22 "Burya", KRS-5, P-500 "Bazalt" or P-700 "Granit" (the last two also have advanced ECM to confuse short-range defenses).