Sea Sparrow Anti-Aircraft Missile System.

It's funny because these missiles were the only defense our ship had. At that time there were no anti-aircraft guns, no cannons, and no phalynx system.  If these missiles didn't work, we were sitting ducks

A Letter from Mike, one of our readers

You might be correct in saying that the missile system was our only ship defense. But with a screen of destroyers, frigates, subs, fighter screen, the E-2 Hawkeye, as well as the Aegis guided missile cruiser  that was part of the task force, we were very well protected. 

A great Link provided by Dr. Kenneth Johnson