Bad time to be an Afghan terrorist:)
Posted on 10/18/2001 9:47:20 AM PDT by The Vast Right Wing
Low, Slow & Deadly
Behold the AC-130 gunship.
By Charles E. Miller, retired Air Force colonel.
October 18, 2001 10:10 a.m.
The A (for Attack) C-130 gunship is low, slow, and ever so deadly. You use them when you own the sky. They carry a 25-mm Gatling Gun capable of firing 1,800 rounds per minute, as well as 40-mm and 105-mm cannons — all side-firing. Out of a crew of 13, there are five gunners on board. The aircraft carry sensors (infrared, low-light TV, and radar) that allow them to find, fix, track, target, and kill at night — and in "all weather." No building, garrison, armored vehicle, or artillery site can survive an attack from one of these aircraft. Two AC-130s are now flying missions, reportedly out of Oman, on a daily (nightly) basis over Afghanistan. They only go about 300 miles per hour, but they have an un-refueled range of 1,300 miles.
AC-130s are routinely used to support special forces on the ground, but the Defense Department reports that has not yet been the case. The aircraft have been used "on their own," attacking a variety of Taliban targets — the so-called fielded forces. It should not be long before we see some video of their work — there is a spectacular stream of fire when they open up, always followed by explosions.
The AC-130s soon may be supporting special-operations forces reported to be aboard the Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier (that's the one we saw on TV leaving Japanese waters with no aircraft on board). Today, the Kitty Hawk is likely carrying a large contingent of special-forces soldiers, Navy SEALs, attack and transport helicopters, and supporting gear.
It has also been reported that the U.S. has established two "engagement" zones in Afghanistan — one near Kabul and one near Kandahar (headquarters of the Taliban). In these kill zones, pilots can fire at emerging military targets under fairly flexible rules of engagement, but they likely are not free-fire zones. There are procedures for confirming targets ("Yes, that's a tank, not a bus."), for controlling the strikes ("Come from the north, turn to west, watch out for other aircraft to the east."), and for allocating resources, as when you have three aircraft and five targets. The establishment of kill boxes is another bad sign for the Taliban and the al Qaeda. It means that the U.S. will routinely sweep the landscape for targets, day and night.
The U.S. is preparing to build a sophisticated reconnaissance-strike complex in the skies of Afghanistan that will allow it near-real-time strikes of targets within five minutes of identification. The system will include E-8 JSTARS aircraft with airborne radars for ground surveillance, RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic surveillance aircraft, U-2 manned reconnaissance, and other unmanned reconnaissance aircraft — all contributing to finding and identifying targets.
Next, the targets will be turned over to F-15Es, F-117s, and attack helicopters for quick-strikes from established orbits. Press reports say that an Air Force general will be airborne in a command aircraft so as to command and control (direct and enable) these operations. This system, or one similar to it, can be set up and the kinks worked out, and the pilots can gain situational familiarity and confidence flying over Afghanistan, all the while attacking Taliban forces. Once the system is in place, it will be a pretty-well-oiled machine when fast reactions are needed against al Qaeda targets.
All of this firepower for what? For destroying the Taliban military and isolating the al Qaeda from the Afghan peoples. Once that's achived, it will be time to dig them out. Recall the formula General Colin Powell used for the defeat of the Iraqis: first cut them off, then kill them.
Bad time to be an Afghan terrorist:)
These planes have a E-3/E-4 on board whose entire MOS and duty is to carry a shovel and shovel the excess brass out the door. Hopefully this falling brass hits a couple of Taliban on their head as they look up at the nice fireworks display.
Sounds like my wifes cooking...
nope-
Late in the 1980's, however, the Air Force decided that it needed to upgrade the capacities of the AC-130, and the AC-130U project was begun. The weapons were changed somewhat, with the twin 20mm vulcan cannons being dropped in favor of a GAU-12 25mm rotating cannon.
see: http://www.specwarnet.com/vehicles/spectre.htm
It's 20mm on the AC-130H Spectre, but it is 25mm on the AC130U Spooky. From above, the 25mm round is efective against all armour.
So9
That one way to get a leaner meaner miltary....LOL
My husband has seen the AC-130 and his comments were that he would definitely NOT want to be on the ground when that plane came at you.
Yeah, no sh*t. That thing could put 200 rounds dead-center in your chest before you hit the ground.
They did.
The weapons depicted are offensive. We hear all kinds of stories and tales about Stinger missles left over from the Afgan war with the Soviets.
Could you please give a sentence or two on defensive capabilities? Why is low and slow not vulnerable to a raghead with a Stinger? I worry.
An AC-119 Gunship, Mini's Flares, spot lights, Infared.
Had the pleasure one night watching it work out with 4 Cobra Gunships.
Awesome sight.
The Shadow up high firing the Mini's and then the Little Cobra's darting in and firing rockets.
A sight to warm the heart of any grunt in need.
Ahem, aircraft carriers always leave port without the aircraft. They fly them aboard once the carrier gets out to sea, but what can you expect from a retired AF officer. DUH!
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