A Question For Air Force Types

[Subdeacon Joe]

Is the AC-130 Spectre an example of a "ghost gun?"

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I'd bet that some of the recipients of the Spectre's "gifts" would believe so...if they survived.

[Alpo]

An old cowhand went riding out one dark and windy day.

[Wallaby Damned]

From another lifetime 

[watab kid]

my guess is YES , its a very ghostly gun , i like it 

[Wallaby Damned]

I can still hear a 130 distinctly from any other airframe. A very comforting  sound should you ever be in need of their services of which I would not want to be on the receiving end. 

[Chantry]

IIRC, the original AC-130A had four 7.62 miniguns and four 20mm Vulcans , potentially putting down 48,000 rounds per minute, although I doubt all 8 guns were used as once.

[Wallaby Damned]

The ones I served with had a pair of 7.62 minions, twin 20mm gatlings, and a pair of bofors 40mm’s out the side. Later on they got a 105mm howitzer as well. During training missions they’d use one set of weapons at a time. 

[Sedalia Dave]

8 hours ago, Chantry said:

IIRC, the original AC-130A had four 7.62 miniguns and four 20mm Vulcans , potentially putting down 48,000 rounds per minute, although I doubt all 8 guns were used as once.

 

The AC-130A on display at the USAF Museum is equipped with two 7.62 miniguns, two 20 mm Vulcan Gatling guns, and two 40 mm Bofors cannons. They also have the 105 mm palletized gun on display.

 

Edited January 15 by Sedalia Dave

[DeaconKC]

3 hours ago, Wallaby Damned said:

The ones I served with had a pair of 7.62 minions, twin 20mm gatlings, and a pair of bofors 40mm’s out the side. Later on they got a 105mm howitzer as well. During training missions they’d use one set of weapons at a time. 

Holy cats, that had to be LOUD!

[Wallaby Damned]

4 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said:

 

The AC-130A on display at the USAF Museum is equipped with two 7.62 miniguns, two 20 mm Vulcan Gatling guns, and two 44 Bofors cannons. They also have the 105 mm palletized gun on display.

I was in service when she was operational and at her retirement in 95’. 

Edited January 15 by Wallaby Damned

[Rip Snorter]

What about Spooky?

[Chantry]

11 hours ago, Rip Snorter said:

What about Spooky?

 

The North Vietnamese hated and feared Spooky.  Some of the less educated soldiers viewed it as some sort of mythical dragon.  Apparent'y the 7.62 miniguns, when firing, echoed through the fuselage and created some weird sound, combine that with what appeared to be a solid stream of fire that they equated with dragon fire.

 

What made even worse is that the North Vietnamese could see and hear Spooky, but rarely could do anything to stop it.  No village, hamlet or fire base protected by Spooky ever fell to the North Vietnamese.  Not bad for aircraft designed  in 1935 and armed with guns who's basic concept was developed during the Civil War.

Edited January 15 by Chantry