The Lockheed AC-130 is a heavily armed, long-endurance ground-attack aircraft converted from the airframe of the C-130 Hercules military transport, its cargo hold replaced with a formidable array of cannons and other weapons fired sideways out of the aircraft's left side while it flies in a continuous banked turn around a fixed point on the ground. Its onboard weapons are linked to sophisticated sensor, navigation and fire-control systems that let the crew identify and engage ground targets with high precision even at night, and because the large, relatively slow-moving aircraft typically operates at altitudes around seven thousand feet to keep its targets within effective weapons range, it presents an inviting target to enemy air defenses and consequently flies most of its close air support missions after dark to reduce that vulnerability. The gunship concept, first developed from transport aircraft during the Vietnam War, has continued through successive AC-130 variants as a specialized, heavily armed platform for sustained close air support and force protection missions that prioritize firepower and loiter time over speed.
Facts
Classification
Service Status Weapon Class Introduced Year Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category)Military Transport Aircraft 1 FAQs
What guns did the AC-130H Spectre carry?
Two 20 mm cannons, one 40 mm cannon and one 105 mm cannon.
The AC-130H Spectre was armed with two 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannons, one L/60 Bofors 40 mm cannon, and a 105 mm M137 cannon with an M37 recoil mechanism taken from the M102 howitzer. The United States Air Force has been the sole operator of the AC-130, and it currently uses the AC-130J Ghostrider.
Connections
Operated By
Source Wikipedia: Lockheed AC-130
Used In
Source Wikipedia: Lockheed AC-130
Source Wikipedia: Lockheed AC-130
In the Other Atlases
Manufactured By
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source Wikipedia: Lockheed AC-130tier 4
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Lockheed AC-130
WikipediaLockheed AC-130, lead section
The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport, fixed-wing aircraft.
Infobox: first_flight
AC-130A: 1967
caliber
The AC-130H Spectre was armed with two 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannons, one L/60 Bofors 40 mm cannon, and an M137 105 mm cannon and M37 recoil mechanism from the M102 howitzer
Lead section
Its sole operator has been the United States Air Force, which currently uses the AC-130J Ghostrider.
- Weapon class classified from the entity's own sourced description text.
Lead and body text
The AC-130H Spectre was armed with two 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannons, one L/60 Bofors 40 mm cannon, and an M137 105 mm cannon and M37 recoil mechanism from the M102 howitzer.
Infobox: status
In service (AC-130J)
Operated By: United States Air Force, Article text
Its sole operator has been the United States Air Force, which currently uses the AC-130J Ghostrider.
In Group: Ground-Attack Aircraft and Gunships, Lead sentence
The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport, fixed-wing aircraft.
Used In: Vietnam War, Article text
The AC-130 gunship first arrived in South Vietnam on 21 September 1967 under the Gunship II program and began combat operations over Laos and South Vietnam that same year.
Used In: War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), Article text
The US has used gunships with deployments to the War in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, 2001-21), and Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003-11).
Used In: Iraq War, Article text
The US has used gunships with deployments to the War in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, 2001-21), and Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003-11).
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