Every Spartan hoplite knew his place in the phalanx. But one unit stood apart, operating where rigid formations failed: the Skirites. The Skirites came from Skiritis, a harsh mountain region in southern Arcadia, guarding the narrow passes leading into Laconia. Their very name likely derived from skirós—“hard” or “unyielding.” They were not Spartans by birth, yet they earned a position few Spartans ever held. Ancient sources, including Diodorus Siculus, describe the Skirites as permanently statio

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