Bravehardt
0100 Lockheed AC-130A Hercules M-102 105mm Cannon
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules was originally desinged as an assault transport capable of operating from unpaved,hastily prepared airstrips.On August 23,1953,the Lockheed C-130 Hercules made its first flight.By 1976 more than 1,200 Lockheed C-130 Hercules had been ordered,including aircraft equipped for radar weather mapping and reconnasissance,mid-air space capsule recovery,search and rescue,ambulance service,drone launching,and mid-air refuling of helicopters.The Lockheed C-130 Hercules could transport up to 92 combat troops and their gerar or 45,000 pounds of cargo.Where facilities were inadequte,the Lockheed C-130 Hercules could deliver its cargo by parachute or by low altitude ground-cable extraction without landing.
Twenty-eight Lockheed C-130 Hercules were converted to side-firing gunships,primarily for night attacks against ground targets.This Lockheed AC-130A Hercules was modified at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,Ohio,as the prototype for the gunship version and was initially equipped with 20 milimeter cannons and 7.62 milimeter miniguns milti barrel guns,a searchlight and target sensors.After testing in Southeast Asia in 1967,it was used as a test bed for additional armament,sensor and fire control development.Later AC-130 Hercules gunships mounted improved sensors,a digital fire control computer and heavier armament.
Lockheed AC-130
--------------------------
With the success of the Douglas AC-47D Skytrain "Spooky" or "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "Puff" gunships in Southeast Asia,the U.S.Air Force created two modification programs for improved and larger gunships.The Fairchild AC-119G Flying Boxcar "Shadows" and Fairchild AC-119K Flying Boxcar "Stingers"were developed under the Gunship III program and the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules was developed under the Gunship II program.
Compared to the Douglas AC-47D Skytrain "Spooky" or "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "Puff",the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules "spectre" gunship were equipped with more bigger guns--four MXU-470 7.62 milimeter miniguns and four M-61A1 20 milimeter cannons.Gunship II program was also equipped with a more sophisticated avions suite including the Night Observition Divice,Forward Looking InfraRed,side looking radar,beacon tracking radar and a fire control computer system.The Locckheed AC-130A Hercules was also equipped with a 20 kilowatt (1.5 million candlepower) illumnution and a flare launcher.
On Febuary 26,1967,the first aircraft (Lockheed JC-130A Hercules S/N 54-1626) was selected for conversion into the prototype Lockheed AC-130 Hercules gunship.The modification were done in April 1967 and May 1967 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,Ohio,by the Aeronaultical Systems Division.Flight testing of the prototype was done primarly at Eglin Air Force Base ,Florida,and began on June 6,1967.Testing and addition modifications were done throughout the sumer of 1967.By early September,the aircraft Lockheed AC-130A Hercules was certifed ready for combat testing.The Lockheed AC-130A Hercules prototype was flown to Nha Trang Air Base,South Vietnam arriving on September 21,1967,for a 90-day test program.
Combat test and Evaluation
-------------------------------------
The prototype Lockheed AC-130A Hercules Gunship II program (initial designated Gunboat) was modified at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,Ohio,in the spring of 1967.Initial flight was done during the summer of 1967,primarly at Eglin Air Force Base,Florida.The aircraft Lockheed AC-130A Hercules was flown to South Vietnam for follow-on-flight tsting under combat conditions.
The Lockheed AC-130A Hercules arrived at Nha Trang Air Base,South Vietnam on September 21,1967.The initial test of the Gunship II program involved Close Aip Support in the southern region of South Vietnam in the Mekong River Delta area.Close Air Support was a critical mission since suppot of Troops in Contact always took precedence over gunship missions.The next of test evaluated the aircrat's Lockheed AC-130A Hercules interdiction capabilities primarily against enemy trucks operating on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the Tiger Hound (southeast quadrant of the panhandle) area of Laos.The final phase of test program involved flying armed reconnasissance missions in central highlands of South Vietnam (2nd Army Corps area).Actual combat sorties were flown between September 24,1967 and December 1,1967.
The result of combat test program were very encourging.The Gunship II program was particularly good at interdiction of enemy supply vehicles.Of the 94 vehicles sighted,38 vehicles were destroyed (verified direct hits and secondary explosions or sustained fire).During the combat evaluation,the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules fired more than 85,000 rounds of 20 milimeter cannon ammunition and more than 220,000 rounds of 7.62 milimeter miniguns ammunition While the combat test program was successful,there were some serios promblems indentified which would require fixing before the "production" Lockheed AC-130A Hercules modification program could begin.
After the prototype Lockheed AC-130A Hercules completed its initial combat evalution in early December 1967,problems inentifed during the test program were evaluated and integrated into an upgrade and overhaul plane expected to take until midsumer 1968.However,because of the success of first combat test,General William C.Westmoreland,Commander of the United States Military Assistance Command,Vietnam,requested the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules be returned to Vietnam as soon as possible,so it could be used before the start of the "wet "season Monsoon in late spring 1968.General William W.Momyer,Commander of the 7th Air Force,dircted the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules overhaul include only essential fixes and the gunship be returned to Vietnam by the begining of spring 1968.The overhaul was completed in early Febyary 1968 and the aircraft Lockheed AC-130A Hercules arrived back in Southeast Asia on Febuary 12,1968.During the second combat test,the Gunship II program was based at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base,Thailand,a forward operating location of the 14th Air Commando Wing based at Nha Trang Air Base,South Vietnam (location of the first combat test).
The Lockheed AC-130A Hercules prototype conducted the second combat evaluation between Febuary 27,1968 and May 14,1968.Fourty-three combat missions were flown over Laos,primarily in the "Steel Tiger" area of the panhandle.Eight hundred 74 enemy vehicles were sighted--212 vehicles were destroyed and 107 damaged.The Lockheed AC-130A Hercules also destroyed 37 milimeter antiaircraft artillery (AAA) site and damaged four more 37 milimeter antiaircraft artillery (AAA) sites.
Because of some early problems with the gunship's fire control system and often heavy antiaricraft artillery (AAA),the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules teamed up with Cessna O-2 Skymaster "Covey" forward air controllers and Lockheed C-130 Hercules "Blindbat" flare ships.The Lockheed C-130 Hercules "Blindbat" was very effective detecting targets using its star light scope;however,it flew a preditable search pattern altiudes (right hand circular or race track at 8,000 feet - 11,000 feet altitude).Enemy gunners were quickly to realize if they heard or saw the unarmed Lockheed C-130 Hercules "Blindbat" orbiting their position,an attack styrike imminet and to hold fire waiting on the strike aircraft.The Lockheed AC-130A Hercules was highly vulnerable in this situation,so if a Lockheed C-130 Hercules "Blindbat" spotted a target,it would relay the information to the Lockheed AC-130 Hercules gunship to achieve some amount of surprise when attacking defended ground targets,although most cases,the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules simply avoided areas known to contain heavy enemy antiaircaft artillery (AAA).
The Lockheed AC-130A Hercules worked well using the Cessna O-2 Skymaster "Covey" as a seeker aircraft.In general,the Cessna O-2 Skymaster "Covey" would fly slightly higher and inside the gunship's orbit.When an enemy antiaircraft artillery (AAA) position was spotted,the Cessna O-2 Skymaster "Covey" marked the gun and called for a "fast mover' to attack it while the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules moved off to search for truck traffic in areas within little or no antiaircraft artillery (AAA) gun positions.
The overhaul conclusion of the second test program was the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules would be extremely effective in intericting supply lines if the antiaircraft artillery (AAA) defense were neutralized.Note: Because of the bombing halt in place during the spring of 1968,three Cessna O-2 Skymaster "Coveys",one Lockheed C-130 Hercules "Blindbat",and three McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs based at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base,Thailand were shot down over Laos (May 1968)--the enemy used the time to set-up many antiaircraft artillery (AAA) sites along the Ho Chi Minh Trail routes through southern Laos.
Following the second combat evaluation,all major aircraft systems and components were critiqued based on combat performance,ease of maintenance and reliablity.The illuminator system was broken throughout the test period and was eventually romoved from the aircraft Lockheed AC-130A Hercules.Problems with the sysem included lack of spar parts,poor repair manuals and contamination of the water cooling system.The LAU-74 semiautomatic flare launcher installed beside the illuminator on the aft ramp worked well througghout the tests.When the fire control computer was 'down',the pilot sometimes resorted to Douglas AC-47d Skytrain "Spooky' or "Puff the Magic Dragon"and "Puff" style tactics --drop flares to light the target and manually site the gun and "walk" the tracer path to the target.The fire control radar (DPN-34) was broken much of the time and required extensive maintenance between flights.The evaluation team recommanded an entire new system be used on all further Lockheed AC-130 Hercules gunship conversions.The infrared tracking system was unable,but required a very exerienced operator to continuously track a ground target with the aircraft Lockheed AC-130A Hercules in attack mode (30 degree left bank.The guns all performed well and only minor jamming problems (fixable inflight by the gunners) were reported.The fire control system performed well in direct fire operation (no offset computations)but was drone to problems otherwise.The fire control computer was subject to in-flight failure but working well when it was functional.The Night Observation Device worked well and was among the most reliable pieces of equipment on the Gunship II program Lockheed AC-130A Hercules prototype.The navigation equipment worked well and most problems were associated with the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules attack tactics.For Example,the search radar had a limited range of 30 miles and tended to have roll stabilzation problems druning sustained bank flight.
The typical Lockheed AC-130a Hercules attack profile was flown at 5,000 feet above ground level (AGL) for armer reconnaissance missions and interdirction missions.If moderate or heavy antiaircraft artillery (AAA) fire encountered the aircraft would attack from 6,500 feet or 8,000 feet above ground level (AGL)(in most cases,the Gunship II program would depart areas with hevey antiaircraft artillery (AAA) without attacking).For close air support of Troop In Contact (TIC) the aircraft Lockheed AC-130A hercules would fly as low as 3,500 feet above ground level (AGL) to improve gun accuracy.The standard speed was 145 knots.The aircraft Lockheed AC-130A Hercules while in a 30 degree left bank and guns were depressed 20 degrees (down).This combined with an approximate 10 degrees ballistic arc caused the round to impact the target area at approximatley 60 degrees (from horizontal).This high angle of incidence produced good results even when penetrating the jungle canopy.The 20 milimeter "Vulcan" cannon were primary weapons used and a 2-second burst (75-100 rounds) from a single 20 milimeter cannon was usually sufficient to destroy an enemy truck.When firing on a group of vehicles located close to one another,two 20 milimeter cannons were fired simultaneously.The only time all eight guns (four 20 milimeter cannons and 7.62 milimeter miniguns)were fired together when attacking an enemy antiaircraft artillery (AAA) site.When the Gunship II program encounted an antiaircraft artillery (AAA) site didn't attack it (this was usually the case),a flare,timed to ignite when it hit the ground,was sometimes dropped on the site to mark it (and be avoided by the Gunship and any forward air controller (FAC) aircraft in the area).
The final recommendation of evaluation team included the need for an upgrade fire control system which could minmize the time over target,reliable maintain lock,and store multiple target locations.The need for larger caliber guns to deal; with antiaircraft artillery (AAA0 sites and armored vehicles was also included in the report.The evaluation team suggested a 25 milimeter cannon;however,follow-on gunships included 40 milimeter cannons and some were equipped with a 105 milimeter howitzer!
M-102 105 MM Canon
------------------------------
Designed for easy transport by helicopter or light vehicles,the M-102 105 milimeter cannon first saw service in Southeast Asia with the U.S.Army in 1966.The M-102's light weight made it well-suited for use on Lockheed AC-130A Hercules gunships.One of the side-firing 40 milimeter guns on the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules was replaced with the modifed M-102 105 milimeter cannon to increase the firepower.
Other Lockheed AC-130A Hercules gunships,however,used the powerful M-102 105 milimeter cannon effectively against enemy targets.
0100 Lockheed AC-130A Hercules M-102 105mm Cannon
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules was originally desinged as an assault transport capable of operating from unpaved,hastily prepared airstrips.On August 23,1953,the Lockheed C-130 Hercules made its first flight.By 1976 more than 1,200 Lockheed C-130 Hercules had been ordered,including aircraft equipped for radar weather mapping and reconnasissance,mid-air space capsule recovery,search and rescue,ambulance service,drone launching,and mid-air refuling of helicopters.The Lockheed C-130 Hercules could transport up to 92 combat troops and their gerar or 45,000 pounds of cargo.Where facilities were inadequte,the Lockheed C-130 Hercules could deliver its cargo by parachute or by low altitude ground-cable extraction without landing.
Twenty-eight Lockheed C-130 Hercules were converted to side-firing gunships,primarily for night attacks against ground targets.This Lockheed AC-130A Hercules was modified at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,Ohio,as the prototype for the gunship version and was initially equipped with 20 milimeter cannons and 7.62 milimeter miniguns milti barrel guns,a searchlight and target sensors.After testing in Southeast Asia in 1967,it was used as a test bed for additional armament,sensor and fire control development.Later AC-130 Hercules gunships mounted improved sensors,a digital fire control computer and heavier armament.
Lockheed AC-130
--------------------------
With the success of the Douglas AC-47D Skytrain "Spooky" or "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "Puff" gunships in Southeast Asia,the U.S.Air Force created two modification programs for improved and larger gunships.The Fairchild AC-119G Flying Boxcar "Shadows" and Fairchild AC-119K Flying Boxcar "Stingers"were developed under the Gunship III program and the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules was developed under the Gunship II program.
Compared to the Douglas AC-47D Skytrain "Spooky" or "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "Puff",the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules "spectre" gunship were equipped with more bigger guns--four MXU-470 7.62 milimeter miniguns and four M-61A1 20 milimeter cannons.Gunship II program was also equipped with a more sophisticated avions suite including the Night Observition Divice,Forward Looking InfraRed,side looking radar,beacon tracking radar and a fire control computer system.The Locckheed AC-130A Hercules was also equipped with a 20 kilowatt (1.5 million candlepower) illumnution and a flare launcher.
On Febuary 26,1967,the first aircraft (Lockheed JC-130A Hercules S/N 54-1626) was selected for conversion into the prototype Lockheed AC-130 Hercules gunship.The modification were done in April 1967 and May 1967 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,Ohio,by the Aeronaultical Systems Division.Flight testing of the prototype was done primarly at Eglin Air Force Base ,Florida,and began on June 6,1967.Testing and addition modifications were done throughout the sumer of 1967.By early September,the aircraft Lockheed AC-130A Hercules was certifed ready for combat testing.The Lockheed AC-130A Hercules prototype was flown to Nha Trang Air Base,South Vietnam arriving on September 21,1967,for a 90-day test program.
Combat test and Evaluation
-------------------------------------
The prototype Lockheed AC-130A Hercules Gunship II program (initial designated Gunboat) was modified at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,Ohio,in the spring of 1967.Initial flight was done during the summer of 1967,primarly at Eglin Air Force Base,Florida.The aircraft Lockheed AC-130A Hercules was flown to South Vietnam for follow-on-flight tsting under combat conditions.
The Lockheed AC-130A Hercules arrived at Nha Trang Air Base,South Vietnam on September 21,1967.The initial test of the Gunship II program involved Close Aip Support in the southern region of South Vietnam in the Mekong River Delta area.Close Air Support was a critical mission since suppot of Troops in Contact always took precedence over gunship missions.The next of test evaluated the aircrat's Lockheed AC-130A Hercules interdiction capabilities primarily against enemy trucks operating on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the Tiger Hound (southeast quadrant of the panhandle) area of Laos.The final phase of test program involved flying armed reconnasissance missions in central highlands of South Vietnam (2nd Army Corps area).Actual combat sorties were flown between September 24,1967 and December 1,1967.
The result of combat test program were very encourging.The Gunship II program was particularly good at interdiction of enemy supply vehicles.Of the 94 vehicles sighted,38 vehicles were destroyed (verified direct hits and secondary explosions or sustained fire).During the combat evaluation,the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules fired more than 85,000 rounds of 20 milimeter cannon ammunition and more than 220,000 rounds of 7.62 milimeter miniguns ammunition While the combat test program was successful,there were some serios promblems indentified which would require fixing before the "production" Lockheed AC-130A Hercules modification program could begin.
After the prototype Lockheed AC-130A Hercules completed its initial combat evalution in early December 1967,problems inentifed during the test program were evaluated and integrated into an upgrade and overhaul plane expected to take until midsumer 1968.However,because of the success of first combat test,General William C.Westmoreland,Commander of the United States Military Assistance Command,Vietnam,requested the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules be returned to Vietnam as soon as possible,so it could be used before the start of the "wet "season Monsoon in late spring 1968.General William W.Momyer,Commander of the 7th Air Force,dircted the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules overhaul include only essential fixes and the gunship be returned to Vietnam by the begining of spring 1968.The overhaul was completed in early Febyary 1968 and the aircraft Lockheed AC-130A Hercules arrived back in Southeast Asia on Febuary 12,1968.During the second combat test,the Gunship II program was based at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base,Thailand,a forward operating location of the 14th Air Commando Wing based at Nha Trang Air Base,South Vietnam (location of the first combat test).
The Lockheed AC-130A Hercules prototype conducted the second combat evaluation between Febuary 27,1968 and May 14,1968.Fourty-three combat missions were flown over Laos,primarily in the "Steel Tiger" area of the panhandle.Eight hundred 74 enemy vehicles were sighted--212 vehicles were destroyed and 107 damaged.The Lockheed AC-130A Hercules also destroyed 37 milimeter antiaircraft artillery (AAA) site and damaged four more 37 milimeter antiaircraft artillery (AAA) sites.
Because of some early problems with the gunship's fire control system and often heavy antiaricraft artillery (AAA),the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules teamed up with Cessna O-2 Skymaster "Covey" forward air controllers and Lockheed C-130 Hercules "Blindbat" flare ships.The Lockheed C-130 Hercules "Blindbat" was very effective detecting targets using its star light scope;however,it flew a preditable search pattern altiudes (right hand circular or race track at 8,000 feet - 11,000 feet altitude).Enemy gunners were quickly to realize if they heard or saw the unarmed Lockheed C-130 Hercules "Blindbat" orbiting their position,an attack styrike imminet and to hold fire waiting on the strike aircraft.The Lockheed AC-130A Hercules was highly vulnerable in this situation,so if a Lockheed C-130 Hercules "Blindbat" spotted a target,it would relay the information to the Lockheed AC-130 Hercules gunship to achieve some amount of surprise when attacking defended ground targets,although most cases,the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules simply avoided areas known to contain heavy enemy antiaircaft artillery (AAA).
The Lockheed AC-130A Hercules worked well using the Cessna O-2 Skymaster "Covey" as a seeker aircraft.In general,the Cessna O-2 Skymaster "Covey" would fly slightly higher and inside the gunship's orbit.When an enemy antiaircraft artillery (AAA) position was spotted,the Cessna O-2 Skymaster "Covey" marked the gun and called for a "fast mover' to attack it while the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules moved off to search for truck traffic in areas within little or no antiaircraft artillery (AAA) gun positions.
The overhaul conclusion of the second test program was the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules would be extremely effective in intericting supply lines if the antiaircraft artillery (AAA) defense were neutralized.Note: Because of the bombing halt in place during the spring of 1968,three Cessna O-2 Skymaster "Coveys",one Lockheed C-130 Hercules "Blindbat",and three McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs based at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base,Thailand were shot down over Laos (May 1968)--the enemy used the time to set-up many antiaircraft artillery (AAA) sites along the Ho Chi Minh Trail routes through southern Laos.
Following the second combat evaluation,all major aircraft systems and components were critiqued based on combat performance,ease of maintenance and reliablity.The illuminator system was broken throughout the test period and was eventually romoved from the aircraft Lockheed AC-130A Hercules.Problems with the sysem included lack of spar parts,poor repair manuals and contamination of the water cooling system.The LAU-74 semiautomatic flare launcher installed beside the illuminator on the aft ramp worked well througghout the tests.When the fire control computer was 'down',the pilot sometimes resorted to Douglas AC-47d Skytrain "Spooky' or "Puff the Magic Dragon"and "Puff" style tactics --drop flares to light the target and manually site the gun and "walk" the tracer path to the target.The fire control radar (DPN-34) was broken much of the time and required extensive maintenance between flights.The evaluation team recommanded an entire new system be used on all further Lockheed AC-130 Hercules gunship conversions.The infrared tracking system was unable,but required a very exerienced operator to continuously track a ground target with the aircraft Lockheed AC-130A Hercules in attack mode (30 degree left bank.The guns all performed well and only minor jamming problems (fixable inflight by the gunners) were reported.The fire control system performed well in direct fire operation (no offset computations)but was drone to problems otherwise.The fire control computer was subject to in-flight failure but working well when it was functional.The Night Observation Device worked well and was among the most reliable pieces of equipment on the Gunship II program Lockheed AC-130A Hercules prototype.The navigation equipment worked well and most problems were associated with the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules attack tactics.For Example,the search radar had a limited range of 30 miles and tended to have roll stabilzation problems druning sustained bank flight.
The typical Lockheed AC-130a Hercules attack profile was flown at 5,000 feet above ground level (AGL) for armer reconnaissance missions and interdirction missions.If moderate or heavy antiaircraft artillery (AAA) fire encountered the aircraft would attack from 6,500 feet or 8,000 feet above ground level (AGL)(in most cases,the Gunship II program would depart areas with hevey antiaircraft artillery (AAA) without attacking).For close air support of Troop In Contact (TIC) the aircraft Lockheed AC-130A hercules would fly as low as 3,500 feet above ground level (AGL) to improve gun accuracy.The standard speed was 145 knots.The aircraft Lockheed AC-130A Hercules while in a 30 degree left bank and guns were depressed 20 degrees (down).This combined with an approximate 10 degrees ballistic arc caused the round to impact the target area at approximatley 60 degrees (from horizontal).This high angle of incidence produced good results even when penetrating the jungle canopy.The 20 milimeter "Vulcan" cannon were primary weapons used and a 2-second burst (75-100 rounds) from a single 20 milimeter cannon was usually sufficient to destroy an enemy truck.When firing on a group of vehicles located close to one another,two 20 milimeter cannons were fired simultaneously.The only time all eight guns (four 20 milimeter cannons and 7.62 milimeter miniguns)were fired together when attacking an enemy antiaircraft artillery (AAA) site.When the Gunship II program encounted an antiaircraft artillery (AAA) site didn't attack it (this was usually the case),a flare,timed to ignite when it hit the ground,was sometimes dropped on the site to mark it (and be avoided by the Gunship and any forward air controller (FAC) aircraft in the area).
The final recommendation of evaluation team included the need for an upgrade fire control system which could minmize the time over target,reliable maintain lock,and store multiple target locations.The need for larger caliber guns to deal; with antiaircraft artillery (AAA0 sites and armored vehicles was also included in the report.The evaluation team suggested a 25 milimeter cannon;however,follow-on gunships included 40 milimeter cannons and some were equipped with a 105 milimeter howitzer!
M-102 105 MM Canon
------------------------------
Designed for easy transport by helicopter or light vehicles,the M-102 105 milimeter cannon first saw service in Southeast Asia with the U.S.Army in 1966.The M-102's light weight made it well-suited for use on Lockheed AC-130A Hercules gunships.One of the side-firing 40 milimeter guns on the Lockheed AC-130A Hercules was replaced with the modifed M-102 105 milimeter cannon to increase the firepower.
Other Lockheed AC-130A Hercules gunships,however,used the powerful M-102 105 milimeter cannon effectively against enemy targets.