Lockheed AC-130H Spectre--40mm Bofors and 105mm Howitzer
The success of the AC-47 Spooky COIN aircraft in Vietnam led to consideration given to an upgraded version in a larger, newer aircraft—the AC-47s already approaching 30 years old during the war. The C-130 was the natural choice, and in 1967 a JC-130A testbed was modified as a gunship. It was initially given the callsign Super Spooky, but later changed to Spectre.
After successful operational trials over both South Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, several more C-130As and C-130Es were modified to Project Spectre standard, mounting four GAU-2/A 7.62mm Minigun gatling cannons and four M61A1 Vulcan 20mm gatling cannons. A few were in turn modified by removing two of the Vulcans in favor of two Bofors 40mm cannon for use against armored targets under Project Surprise Package. Besides their heavy weaponry, the AC-130s also had a comprehensive electronics suite, consisting of night vision equipment, FLIR, improved avionics and navigation equipment, and a digital fire-control system. In addition, AC-130s also carried a modified MAD sensor called Black Crow, which allowed the gunships to detect spark plugs used by North Vietnamese trucks. Following the end of the Vietnam War, the USAF retired all other gunship designs but kept the AC-130 in service, standardizing them as the AC-130H with two Vulcans, a single Bofors, and a M102 105mm howitzer, as the 20mms and the 40mm cannon had proven inadequate against hardened targets (such as tanks) or area attacks.
This proved to be a presicent choice, as AC-130s have seen service in every war fought by the United States since Vietnam: Grenada, Panama, both Gulf Wars, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Libya. During the Panama operation, Spectre crews successfully decapitated Panamanian Defense Force leadership by destroying the PDF’s headquarters, while they were instrumental in stopping an Iraqi armored column during the Battle of Khafji. In Afghanistan in 2001, AC-130s were the first USAF aircraft to see action, and proved so devastating in their first combat, the Battle of Konduz, that the city fell the next day to Northern Alliance forces without a shot.
The Spectre has been continually improved, and current USAF units use AC-130H/U variants. The AC-130U deletes the two Vulcans in favor of a single trainable GAU-12/A Equalizer 25mm gatling cannon, and has a much more advanced sensor suite over the H model. The “U-Boats” use an APQ-180 synthetic aperature radar and GPS-guided fire control, and can attack two targets simutaneously with twice the ammunition storage of the AC-130H. Increasing scarcity of Bofors parts has led to studies for a replacement weapon. It is also planned in the near future to retire the AC-130H for a new version, the AC-130J, based on the MC-130J Combat Shadow II.
The effect of the AC-130 in any form is devastating; no camp or unit defended by Spectres has ever been overrun by an enemy force. The guns of a Spectre can place a bullet on every square foot of a football field every second until the ammunition runs out. The only real weakness of the AC-130 is its vulnerability to ground fire, though most threats to the Spectre from light antiaircraft fire are usually eliminated quickly, while heavier flak can be defeated by escorts. Spectres carry a range of powerful ECM and countermeasures against SAMs, but aside from shoulder-fired SAMs, AC-130s rarely operate in such a high-threat environment and never in areas where enemy fighters could intercept them.
Currently, the USAF has a single wing of AC-130s, with AC-130Hs being slated for retirement soon, while the AC-130U will serve for some years to come; plans are underway to replace them with more advanced AC-130Js, based on the C-130J. The armament package that the AC-130J has not yet been determined, but is known to include precision-guided weapons.
As Dad planned to convert a C-130H model to an AC-130, he needed to get closeups of the gun system. This shot shows the 40mm Bofors cannon (on the left) and the M102 105mm howitzer (on the right). The dome between the two is the fire control radar. These two weapons systems are still used on the current AC-130U, and will be familiar to players of the "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" series of games. This aircraft belonged to the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
For a picture of the model that resulted from these shots, go here: www.flickr.com/photos/31469080@N07/15856555273/in/photoli...
For a picture of the AC-130 as a whole: www.flickr.com/photos/31469080@N07/15889989329/
Lockheed AC-130H Spectre--40mm Bofors and 105mm Howitzer
The success of the AC-47 Spooky COIN aircraft in Vietnam led to consideration given to an upgraded version in a larger, newer aircraft—the AC-47s already approaching 30 years old during the war. The C-130 was the natural choice, and in 1967 a JC-130A testbed was modified as a gunship. It was initially given the callsign Super Spooky, but later changed to Spectre.
After successful operational trials over both South Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, several more C-130As and C-130Es were modified to Project Spectre standard, mounting four GAU-2/A 7.62mm Minigun gatling cannons and four M61A1 Vulcan 20mm gatling cannons. A few were in turn modified by removing two of the Vulcans in favor of two Bofors 40mm cannon for use against armored targets under Project Surprise Package. Besides their heavy weaponry, the AC-130s also had a comprehensive electronics suite, consisting of night vision equipment, FLIR, improved avionics and navigation equipment, and a digital fire-control system. In addition, AC-130s also carried a modified MAD sensor called Black Crow, which allowed the gunships to detect spark plugs used by North Vietnamese trucks. Following the end of the Vietnam War, the USAF retired all other gunship designs but kept the AC-130 in service, standardizing them as the AC-130H with two Vulcans, a single Bofors, and a M102 105mm howitzer, as the 20mms and the 40mm cannon had proven inadequate against hardened targets (such as tanks) or area attacks.
This proved to be a presicent choice, as AC-130s have seen service in every war fought by the United States since Vietnam: Grenada, Panama, both Gulf Wars, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Libya. During the Panama operation, Spectre crews successfully decapitated Panamanian Defense Force leadership by destroying the PDF’s headquarters, while they were instrumental in stopping an Iraqi armored column during the Battle of Khafji. In Afghanistan in 2001, AC-130s were the first USAF aircraft to see action, and proved so devastating in their first combat, the Battle of Konduz, that the city fell the next day to Northern Alliance forces without a shot.
The Spectre has been continually improved, and current USAF units use AC-130H/U variants. The AC-130U deletes the two Vulcans in favor of a single trainable GAU-12/A Equalizer 25mm gatling cannon, and has a much more advanced sensor suite over the H model. The “U-Boats” use an APQ-180 synthetic aperature radar and GPS-guided fire control, and can attack two targets simutaneously with twice the ammunition storage of the AC-130H. Increasing scarcity of Bofors parts has led to studies for a replacement weapon. It is also planned in the near future to retire the AC-130H for a new version, the AC-130J, based on the MC-130J Combat Shadow II.
The effect of the AC-130 in any form is devastating; no camp or unit defended by Spectres has ever been overrun by an enemy force. The guns of a Spectre can place a bullet on every square foot of a football field every second until the ammunition runs out. The only real weakness of the AC-130 is its vulnerability to ground fire, though most threats to the Spectre from light antiaircraft fire are usually eliminated quickly, while heavier flak can be defeated by escorts. Spectres carry a range of powerful ECM and countermeasures against SAMs, but aside from shoulder-fired SAMs, AC-130s rarely operate in such a high-threat environment and never in areas where enemy fighters could intercept them.
Currently, the USAF has a single wing of AC-130s, with AC-130Hs being slated for retirement soon, while the AC-130U will serve for some years to come; plans are underway to replace them with more advanced AC-130Js, based on the C-130J. The armament package that the AC-130J has not yet been determined, but is known to include precision-guided weapons.
As Dad planned to convert a C-130H model to an AC-130, he needed to get closeups of the gun system. This shot shows the 40mm Bofors cannon (on the left) and the M102 105mm howitzer (on the right). The dome between the two is the fire control radar. These two weapons systems are still used on the current AC-130U, and will be familiar to players of the "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" series of games. This aircraft belonged to the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
For a picture of the model that resulted from these shots, go here: www.flickr.com/photos/31469080@N07/15856555273/in/photoli...
For a picture of the AC-130 as a whole: www.flickr.com/photos/31469080@N07/15889989329/