Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

GAU-8 Avenger: The Super Cannon That Powers The A-10 Warthog
19FortyFive ^ | 1/18/2021 | Peter Suicu

Posted on 01/19/2021 7:05:59 AM PST by Onthebrink

The GAU-8 Avenger is one impressive weapon system and the foundation of the A-10 Warthog, despite its age, won’t go away anytime soon.

Used for combat during the time of the Gulf War in 1991, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt – also known commonly as the “Warthog” – destroyed more than 900 Iraqi tanks, some 2,000 other military vehicles, and approximately 1,200 artillery pieces. The aircraft also reportedly shot down two Iraqi helicopters.

(Excerpt) Read more at 19fortyfive.com ...


TOPICS: Government; History; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: a10; a10warthog; banglist; blogpimp; clickbait; crapblog; gatling; gau8avenger; history; military; noob; onthebrink; petersuicu; usmilitary
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-50 next last

1 posted on 01/19/2021 7:05:59 AM PST by Onthebrink
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Onthebrink

2 posted on 01/19/2021 7:08:04 AM PST by Red Badger (TREASON is the REASON for the SLEAZIN'.................................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

No wonder Obama tried to get rid of it.


3 posted on 01/19/2021 7:09:31 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Got to get up and personal with one in 2018 at the Minot AFB air show. They had one parked on base with a couple airmen to answer questions. You could walk up and touch the gun. LOL, way bigger than my daughters hand. Impressive piece of engineering.


4 posted on 01/19/2021 7:14:29 AM PST by BBQToadRibs2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Onthebrink

Wish they’d make a home version.


5 posted on 01/19/2021 7:14:47 AM PST by bigbob (Trust Trump. Trust the Plan. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bigbob

I was told by an airman a single round of ammo costs about $135. Emptying the entire magazine is about $160,000 worth of BRRRRRRRRRRRRTTT.


6 posted on 01/19/2021 7:19:49 AM PST by BBQToadRibs2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Thanks. Needed something to make me smile today.


7 posted on 01/19/2021 7:21:31 AM PST by rktman (Destroy America from the inside? Check! WTH? Screwed, blued and tatooed. Enlisted USN 1967.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: rktman

My pleasure. :^)


8 posted on 01/19/2021 7:22:19 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: bigbob
"Wish they’d make a home version."

Pretty big gun:

Don't think it'd fit in the back of a Toyota pickup:


9 posted on 01/19/2021 7:22:53 AM PST by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too." - Robert Conquest )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
...there was even a long-standing urban legend that when fired, the aircraft would slow down. That wasn’t the case..

Of course it is true. They didn't repeal F=MA. It's just that the rearward force against the fuselage from the cannon firing is proportionally small enough that the velocity reduction isn't noticed. It is equivalent to the drag force operating on the aircraft.

It would make a good physics problem for high school students to solve. "How much does the A-10 slow down when the GAU-8 Avenger is firing at a rate of 1,800 rounds per minute?"

Instead they get asked to solve "If Heather has two mommies, and each of them has two brothers, and one of those brothers has another man for a 'roommate,' how many uncles does Heather have?"

10 posted on 01/19/2021 7:24:03 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom ("Inside Every Progressive Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out" -- David Horowitz)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BBQToadRibs2

Years ago I was doing a survey on a runway that the A-10’s would use to sight in their guns before heading out for training. The first morning I was too near the runway and a crew came over.

“You need to get off at least 50 feet. They use this for sighting in their guns. They are live.”

One afternoon I was in the grass between runways. One A-10 landed. The other one came over my head at what seemed to be 50 feet. I laughed and said to myself “I’m dead!” He circled around and landed.

Awesome machines.


11 posted on 01/19/2021 7:26:16 AM PST by 21twelve (Ever Vigilant. Never Fearful!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

No wonder Obama tried to get rid of it.

It was the USAF that wanted (and still does) want it gone. Its just not sexy, flies too slow, and is old. They want new toys like the floppadouza F-35 to replace it for ground missions with a mere 215 rounds firing from 10,000 ft and no armor.

They’ve sort of relented and re-winged several hundred A-10s, upgraded the cockpit, rearmed with new bombs and new missiles.


12 posted on 01/19/2021 7:28:28 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Onthebrink; meyer; SERKIT; Ymani Cricket

BRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTT ping!


13 posted on 01/19/2021 7:29:42 AM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (If there be WAR in the offing, let it begin HERE. With ME.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Onthebrink

Here in S.E. Michigan, the Selfridge Air National Guard base houses the 107th Fighter Squadron which has a fleet of 20 A-10s which I frequently see flying over my house or along the I-94 expressway.........Pretty darn cool looking


14 posted on 01/19/2021 7:30:41 AM PST by Hot Tabasco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
“No wonder Obama tried to get rid of it.”

Zero was one of the most worthless Presidents we've ever been infested with, but I can't blame him for that.

The “Perfumed Princes” of the Air Force have tried since the very beginning to get rid of the ‘Warthog.’ It's not pretty enough to suit them. Fortunately the Army has fought that battle numerous times and won. They know what the troops need.

15 posted on 01/19/2021 7:33:29 AM PST by I cannot think of a name
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: bigbob
Wish they’d make a home version.
They do! Its the GAU-19/B

Mounts anywhere

16 posted on 01/19/2021 7:36:33 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

“... how many uncles does Heather have?” - do we have to specify ‘uncles’ as separate from ‘uncles-in-law?’

Bonus points question: how many of the people mentioned in the problem are kwheer?


17 posted on 01/19/2021 7:40:52 AM PST by ByteMercenary (Healthcare Insurance is *NOT* a Constitutional right.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: BBQToadRibs2

BRRRPPPPP. . .BBBRRRRAAAAPPPP. . .

First sound are the bullets breaking the sound barrier, the second sound (lower sound) is the sound the gun makes when it is fired.

When you pull the trigger, the recoil is so sharp and abrupt, imagine your HUD shaking into a momentary blur and the shoulder straps lock like when you abruptly stomp on the brakes in your car.

The heat build-up of the barrels is so intense you only hold the trigger for no more than a second. The old WWII videos showing an aircraft “walking” its rounds into a target is no more.

112,600 RPM, 3,400-3,600 FPS, training round can penetrate up to an inch and a half of armor from 4,000ft. . .heck of a killer round that is far superior to a 20mm pop-gun or that 30mm short round the Apache fires.

Truly the “Fist of Gawd” when Attacking a target.

the A-10 30,, round remain the most accurate and deadly round ever fired by an airborne


18 posted on 01/19/2021 7:46:54 AM PST by Hulka ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Cletus.D.Yokel
Awesome A-10 Thunderbolt II Brrrt Compilation - Happy Brrrt Day Special

There's a cautionary warning at the start of the video:

"This video, although not intended to be violent, may have sensitive content for some viewers. This video is being shown strictly for news reporting/educational purposes."
Ha, ha, ha, ROFLOL. I guess you need pansy-assed, pearl-clutching, panties in a twist warnings now so YT won't take your video down.

That warning reminds me of early porn producers arguing in court cases that their videos were "instructional."

19 posted on 01/19/2021 7:53:06 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom ("Inside Every Progressive Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out" -- David Horowitz)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: PIF

It was explained to me that the A-10 is a single mission jet, and the USAF feels the future is a multi-mission jet. More bank for the various missions.

Balderdash. There is no replacement that can do the job.

Back in the early 80’s the USAF, being run by sexy-jet fighter pilots that mocked the low and slow non-after-burning A-10s, they started a campaign to kill the A-10 to buy more F-16s. Then Gulf War came along and proved their worth big time.

The A-10 proved itself over and over so today with upgrades and such, planned to serve past 2030.


20 posted on 01/19/2021 7:53:58 AM PST by Hulka ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-50 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson