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