Posted on 07/02/2002 12:48:14 PM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON, Jul 02, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- The U.S. military's AC-130 gunship is designed to unleash a deluge of ordnance onto its targets.
Pentagon officials say an AC-130 plane fired on six suspected sources of anti-aircraft fire in the area of Afghanistan where local residents say 40 people were killed Monday.
The propeller-driven plane was overhead as hundreds of U.S. and Afghan forces moved into a zone of Uruzgan province known to be a stronghold of Afghanistan's former Taliban rulers. Deposed Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar was born in the area.
The plane was there to protect the coalition forces from hostile fire and attack any Taliban or al-Qaida targets that soldiers found during the reconnaissance mission.
The AC-130 is armed with a 40mm cannon that fires rounds slightly smaller than a soda can. It also has a 105mm howitzer that fires artillery shells which explode on impact. And the newest versions have a 25mm machine gun that can fire more than 2,000 rounds per minute.
The planes usually fly only at night - both to increase their intimidation of the enemy and because the low and slow-flying aircraft are more vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire. Crew members use night-vision goggles and infrared cameras to maneuver and find their targets.
Each plane has four gunners, and the newest versions can attack two targets at once.
Military officials say its low altitude, slow speed and high-tech equipment make the AC-130 one of the most accurate warplanes in the U.S. arsenal.
Its primary missions include close air support: Shooting at enemy forces close to friendly forces on the ground. The planes can also be used against lightly-armored enemy ground forces.
By MATT KELLEY Associated Press Writer
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved
No apologies needed here I think.
AC 130's are loud too. Armegedon loud! Sounds like 50 helicopters all circling overhead. Fire at one at night and you are dead. These people need to learn to douse all the lights and keep their heads down when one of these arrives in the neighborhood.
I love the pictures of these dorks firing their guns in the air to try to give themselves some kind of macho image. Just proves their too dumb to be allowed to have weapons more lethal than a spoon.
Not for long!! :-P
MOVIE -- C-130 Gunship capabilities
ac130_fly.avi2.8mb AC-130 'Spectre' gunship and its capabilities.
MOVIE -- C-130 Gunship dropping flares
c130_flares.mpeg
Dousing their lights won't matter, but keeping their weapons pointed to the ground might.
I dunno, but the guys in the video on this thread got to find out:
Hopefully the video is still there. Well worth the 35M download.
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