Apache gunship goes to work in Iraq. Warning: Graphic Video

Me

[Double Tap]

Apparently this is a clip of a longer video of an Apache gunship engaging Iraqis.

Warning: This video is graphic!!!

http://www.lunitixx.com/sharefoo/224Helicopter_Kills.mpeg

I forget how to post a link, so if someone can do the honors, I would appreciate it.

[e_engineer]

What leads you to believe that it is nighttime when this video was taken? IR looks like IR, day or nighttime.

That's not exactly true. It depends on the wavelength of IR light that is employed by the FLIR, and how the surfaces are heated by direct sunlight.

On a sunny day, you would expect to see shadows because they are colder, and objects like the truck would be much warmer on the sunlit side. In this video, the trucks don't have shadows, and the heat signature of the pickup truck engine predominates over the solar heating (if any).

The lack of shadows and differential solar heating, indicate that this video was either shot at night, or on a cloudy day with no direct sunlight.

[Paradox]

But, please... PLEASE... remember that it IS a grim duty. Respect these men for having the intestinal fortitude to carry it out. But don't wallow in the moment.

Yes, that was somewhat my point. I dont have military experience, but those videos have left me disturbed. Killing human beings is a grim thing to have to do. Its a good thing that we hate war, and only engage as a last resort. I feel bad for the soldiers who have to do this sort of thing, and I wish the best for their psychological health. I think I would be pretty disturbed for quite some time..

[KillTime]

Thanks for the longer clip of the afgan mission. Does anyone know why one guy s "30!" and another echos him? Giving notice they are firing or reloading or something?

[KillTime]

(opps, cleaned up my question) Thanks for the longer clip of the afgan mission. Does anyone know why one guy yells "30!" and another echos him? Giving notice they are firing or reloading or something?

[alnitak]

Thanks for posting these. I have made them available on Kazaa (as far as anything is available on Kazaa :-) as

"Iraq - Apache Kills.mpg" and "Afghanistan - AC130 Gunship.avi".

What is the AC130 firing? It looks like artillery! "You are clear to level the building, over".

[Monty22]

That AC130 in that movie, if it is one at all, isn't firing anything. It's pointing a laser (or someone else is, and this is just videoing it). Those are incoming laser guided artilery shells.

[Double Tap]

It was my impression that the AC130 video was of an AC130 "Spooky" or "Spectre" gunship. This aircraft will have a number of serious weapons on board. I've read that they carry several Mini-guns, 30mm gatlin gun and the auto loading 105mm howitzer.

So the artillery hits you were seeing could have been from the AC130, if so equipped.

[Double Tap]

Go here for more details:

AC130 Gunship

[Monty22]

No, those are actual artillery shots coming in. You can hear the gunner at the station yelling out at each shot and then there's a long delay until they hit.

[Double Tap]

Well, you may be right about some of it, but the main fire is definitely coming from the aircraft. There is a lot machine gun/automatic cannon fire coming from the aircraft at the men on the ground.

[LibKill]

I was spying on the idiots at DU. They were whining real loud about this video. That alone makes the video a good one. :)

The firepower of modern weapons is truly amazing. If our enemies get on the wrong end of that firepower, too bad for them.

[Rokke]

That's not true. The yelling is the loader for the artillary on board the AC-130. All the rounds are from the AC-130.

[Rome2000]

BEEOOOTIFULLL!!!!!!!!

[alnitak]

Thanks!

[Monty22]

Well, to me it looks like longrange laser guided artillery. I don't even see anything showing the AC-130 having large artillery weaponry on board like that.

I really would like to see some definitive proof either way though.

[Rummyfan]

Awesome!

[Double Tap]

See post #248

[Monty22]

Missed the artillery shot in there, if that's the case, very nice. I always thought it was incoming artillery from a ground station on laser guide.

[wtc911]

Thanks for keeping.

[alnitak]

I've just watched the video again, and referring to the web page referenced above for info on the armaments, I would say most of the hits are coming from the 40mm, with the occasional big ones from the howitzer. Towards the end there is a bit where they hit the tunnel entrance, you can see the 40mm hit the entrance and there is a larger explosion to the right. One of the guys says " the howitzer" - I think it's "offset to the howitzer". While the amount of fire being put down is impressive, compared to the Apache video it is notable how inaccurate much of it is. There are a couple of scenes where they are "chasing" guys down with the 40mm as they run down the road. I get the impression that the aircraft is a long way out from the targer, and the resultant lag is making aiming more difficult. Maybe they could replace the dumb cannon with a missile system which can be guided in by fibre optic throughout its flight.