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Author Topic: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun  (Read 2202 times)

Offline TwinEng

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Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« on: March 25, 2010, 03:10:00 AM »
Man, bad guys in Afghanistan sure must hate it when an AC-130U is overhead.   Here is a close-up photo of its main gun:

The General Dynamics GAU-12/U Equalizer.





This is a five barrel rotary canon, which fires 65 25mm High Explosive Incendiary Rounds per Second!!

I wonder what folks on the ground do when this gun opens up on them???

It must suck to be an enemy of the USA.

.

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Offline -tronski-

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2010, 06:03:28 AM »
I would've thought the 105mm howitzer would make a louder bang?

 Tronsky
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Offline allaire

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2010, 07:46:11 AM »
Yep I thought the 105 was the main gun and the rotaries were secondary along with the 40mm.
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Offline TwinEng

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #3 on: March 25, 2010, 11:55:36 AM »
Quote from: -tronski- on March 25, 2010, 06:03:28 AM
I would've thought the 105mm howitzer would make a louder bang?

 Tronsky

Quote from: allaire on March 25, 2010, 07:46:11 AM
Yep I thought the 105 was the main gun and the rotaries were secondary along with the 40mm.


No, I have to disagree with both of you.  I would argue that the Equalizer is the most important of the 3 guns mounted on the AC-130U.

Just compare the rate of fire of these weapons.   That is the most crucial issue in my opinion.

25mm GAU-12/U Equalizer:   65 High Explosive Incendiary Rounds per Second

40 mm L/60 Bofors gun:  2 High Explosive Fragmentation Rounds per Second

105mm M102 Howitzer:   10 High Explosive Fragmentation Rounds per MINUTE.


Of course, the gunship can fire all three together at the same time, giving sort of a cumulative effect by combing the firepower of all 3 guns.

Tell me, if you were a Taliban running around on the ground, and an AC-130U was overhead, and it could only fire ONE of its guns at you, would you want it to be the 25mm GAU-12/U Equalizer ???

Here is another photo from another AC-130U Gunship, showing the 105m Howitzer in the foreground, and the 40mm L/60 Bofors in the background behind it.


« Last Edit: March 25, 2010, 12:01:25 PM by TwinEng »
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Offline 321BAR

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2010, 12:06:16 PM »
I'm sorry to say this but there isn't a main gun on an AC130U. The 105, 40, and 25mm are all equal in role...
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Offline oakranger

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2010, 12:14:56 PM »
Go on YouTube and see that gun in action in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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Offline TwinEng

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2010, 12:56:30 PM »
Quote from: 321BAR on March 25, 2010, 12:06:16 PM
I'm sorry to say this but there isn't a main gun on an AC130U. The 105, 40, and 25mm are all equal in role...

You may have a point here, I must concede.

.
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Offline Buzzard7

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2010, 02:07:37 PM »
I don't care which gun is MAIN. I don't want to be on the receiving end of any of them.
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Offline mbailey

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2010, 02:32:39 PM »
Quote from: Buzzard7 on March 25, 2010, 02:07:37 PM
I don't care which gun is MAIN. I don't want to be on the receiving end of any of them.


 :rofl   QFT
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Offline TwinEng

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #9 on: March 25, 2010, 02:52:42 PM »
My goodness, I did not realize what an absolute killing machine this plane is.

Checkout this amazing combat video footage from the war:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-gMMQTt5-c


I guess that I must stand corrected about the 105mm   I did not realize how huge its fragmentation explosions were.


.
« Last Edit: March 25, 2010, 03:01:12 PM by TwinEng »
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Offline Maverick

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2010, 03:10:39 PM »
The 105 is a howitzer and the shell contains an entire case of whoop and hollar. Lots of bang on the receiving end. I wonder if they have rounds with proximity fuses for the AC130 version. That would be nasty to have the thing go off at 50' altitude over troops even in foxholes.

Fricking word filter.... :huh
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Offline gyrene81

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #11 on: March 25, 2010, 03:12:29 PM »
Quote from: TwinEng on March 25, 2010, 02:52:42 PM
I guess that I must stand corrected about the 105mm   I did not realize how huge its fragmentation explosions were.
Didn't want to point that out to you when you started this thread...that 105 fires fast for an artillery piece and it is devastating when it hits...I've seen target vehicles go poof when hit with one...not saying the 25mm gatling gun isn't a seriously awe inspiring thing to witness...but the 105 can be a monster.
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Offline TwinEng

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2010, 03:34:52 PM »
Quote from: gyrene81 on March 25, 2010, 03:12:29 PM
Didn't want to point that out to you when you started this thread...that 105 fires fast for an artillery piece and it is devastating when it hits...I've seen target vehicles go poof when hit with one...not saying the 25mm gatling gun isn't a seriously awe inspiring thing to witness...but the 105 can be a monster.


I now realize that, after watching that video.  Those 105mm explosions look absolutely devastating. 

.
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Offline Captain Virgil Hilts

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2010, 06:15:33 PM »
There's a guy in AH, in the 327th Steel Talons, who has a couple of decades of AC130 service, his call sign is Piles.
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Offline phatzo

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Re: Photo: Close-Up of the AC-130U's Main Gun
« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2010, 07:59:15 PM »
Quote from: TwinEng on March 25, 2010, 03:10:00 AM

I wonder what folks on the ground do when this gun opens up on them???



.


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