OUCH.
The newest version of the AC-130, the AC-130-U, has revived the old AC-119 designation of Spooky to differentiate it from the earlier and so far more common H-model C-130 gunships, known as Spectre
In addition to the 40mm cannon and 105mm cannon of the earlier -H models, Spooky also brings a 25mm gun to work, very useful for such targets as light vehicles less deserving of 40mm or a 105mm round, or for troops in the open. And so we are back again to the Chain Guns and Gatlings.
At around 200 million per copy, I don't expect we'll be seeing enourmous flocks of the AC-130 warbirds; there are around two dozen or so on duty last I looked. But they've preoved their worth time and time again, and you'll get reasoned arguments from a lot of groundpounders as to whether they're the most beautiful aircraft in the inventory, and the most helpful.
