Special Forces Gunship Enters Fighting

AP via Yahoo! News ^ | Tuesday October 16 7:40 AM ET | KATHY GANNON

[blam]

"re. your post no. 14, pls what is this image??"

See post #39.

[Blueflag]

This is a time lapse photo of a gunship hosing down a target. The aircraft flies in a precise arc and the gunner(s) can then obliterate whatever is within the arc. In this picture, the gunship is not hitting a single spot, but rather an area. The white stripe in the upper right shows you the track of the aircraft. The red curtain is the every-fifth-round tracer fire.

[ScreamingFist]

To those that don't know, your post #28 is a picture of the IR flare system in operation, it fires dozens of flares, burning at predetermined tempertures, as decoys to IR heat seeking missiles, like the Stinger.

[The Last Straw]

"You can run, but you'll only die tired"

[wjcsux]

Puff was an AC-47. There was another one called Spooky that was an AC-119. Both of these were used in Nam as were the AC-130 A models. Spectre is the latest and greatest gunship. The AC-130A model had 7.62mm mini-guns. The new AC-130 (H model, I believe) has 20mm Vulcan guns in place of the 7.62mm guns. Lots of awesome firepower. Hope someone posts a pic.

[ScreamingFist]

"I don't think the A-10's would be very useful unless the Taliban has a number of tanks deployed, which I don't think is the case"

The General Electric GAU-8, 30MM Gatlin cannon, which fires 4800 rounds a minute, is ALWAYS useful. Some may remember in Granada, when a A-10 fored into a building, it REMOVED the entire second floor in one burst. Aerial artillary, it ain't just for tanks.

[OrioleFan]

Taliban flunky to his buddy: "Hey, where's the yellow food packets! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Run away! Run away!"

[ScreamingFist]

fored=fired

[WRhine]

I love that Fat Lady!

[Cobra64]

An FAE, or Fuel Air Explosive in action: http://www.nawcwpns.navy.mil/clmf/faeseq.html

[Cobra64]

Go to US Air Force site on this URL: http://www.af.mil/photos/aircraft.html

[mikhailovich]

So it shoots a lot of ammo. The more impressive feature is that it can fly into Afghanistan. This tells me they have virtually no capabilities left to shoot down any aircraft whatsoever. Hell, why don't we fly the Hughes Spruce Goose in there and throw out dynamite by hand!

[thucydides]

It is kind of comical to listen to the ignorant media folks try to describe this weapon. Just now on Fox News, we were told the gunship "can fire 1800 rounds per minute." This is actually the rate of fire of one of the two 20mm Gatling gun cannons. It does not mention the 40mm Bofors, nor the 105mm cannon that can fire 6 - 10 high explosive shells per minute. Note that the explosive force of artillery is as much due to projectile velocity as it is to explosive charge. Now realize that the 105mm is firing downward at about a 45 degree angle, in effect, point blank straight line fire at the target. All fire is separately targeted by computers based on radar and infrared, with first round accuracy. This is an unbelievably destructive weapon, far beyond the realization of the media folks, and probably far beyond the realization of the people on the ground.

[Jefferson Adams]

"The AC-130U gunship airframe is integrated with an armor protection system (APS), high resolution sensors (All Light Level Television (ALLTV), infrared detection set (IDS) and strike radar), avionics and EW systems, a sophisticated software controlled fire control system, and an armament suite consisting of side-firing, trainable 25mm, 40mm, and 105mm guns. The strike radar provides the first gunship capability for all weather/night target acquisition and strike."

I love phrases like "armament suite." :)

[MrB]

Aerial artillary, it ain't just for tanks

Point taken. Geez, just think what that would do to a mud hut.

[MaeWest]

Here's a ping for Woodstock. More of the pics your hubby was glad you saw last hight, : ))

[lavaroise]

Those are Vietnam era footage. I tell, you, we militarily won that war, but then gave it all up.

[airborne]

WOW! Awesome!

[Conservababe]

I love that Fat Lady!

Ah ha...now you have pin pointed my feelings reading these threads of Puff, Spooky and Spectre...and seeing the pics.

Yall's excitement seems to be the same as if for a dangerous and volumptous woman...pin ups and all.

LOL...I love you guys and appreciate those that have been THERE then or are HERE now defending me and our country.