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"I read another account of this story somewhere that stated that a Spectre gunship did show up later that night to punish that neighborhood."

"Just before dawn Wednesday, however, AC-130 Spectre gunships launched a devastating punitive raid over a six-block area around the spot where the convoy was attacked, firing dozens of artillery shells that shook the city and lit up the sky. Marine officials said the area was virtually destroyed and that no further insurgent activity had been seen there."

From the Washington Post article on the same incident (by Pamela Constable, who is also embedded with the Marines).

Spectre is great, but you need a Little Bird (OH-6 or OH-58) with an M-60. Gets there in less than 4 minutes when fight is still going good.

Pilot in right seat fwd, gunner in right rear seat. Both are looking out right side of A/C. Only two guys on board, the M-60 and a spare barrel. Plenty of room/weight for plenty of 7.62 for the M-60.

Pilot and gunner both talking to guys on ground, to the leader of the ENGAGED ELEMENT level, even if it's a 4-man fire team with a SP4 in charge. Forget the highers. They aren't on the ground with 20/20 battle vision.

Woggies trying to hide, the old raghead in the window trick, isn't too hard, but when you get two observers, it's much harder for them. It becomes very hard when the observers are separated in the vertical. Get three points of observation, (two guys on ground, one airborne) it's almost impossible for Iraqi Irv.

Ground elements should always carry one mag of 5.56 pure tracer per man to point out targets.

(door gunner) "Ok, this is Chicken Man 44, where is the bad guy?"

(reply from ground) "He's the top floor, 3d window from the corner.... watch my 3 shot tracer burst!"

BangBangBang. Instant target ident!

It's even more fun with two Little Birds, because they can both fly 360s around target, 180 out from each other and target is always under fire and observation. If bad guy tries to bug out the back door.... bad move... Chicken Man is Everywhere!!!!

The secret is getting this done at the lowest levels possible. Co Cmdr, or at max, the Bn S-3/FSO should be able to call for the Little Bird on target ASAP... with no need for clearance from highers.
Tell higher Hq what you did... after you did it, when the fight is over. If you can't trust an 0-3 to launch a bird, get a new 0-3, or a wiser 0-5.

Bottom line... it's very hard to shoot at the ground guys while 7.62 is coming through the window from above.... especially if the pilot is talking to his friendly neighborhood Cobra/Apache pilot about putting a few rockets or 30mm HE through the same window...

Secret. Give the guys on the ground the ability to get supporting fire of some kind.... right now!