Another example of a modern helicopter gunship is the Russian Mi-24 Hind. Mounting anything from extra machineguns and rocket pods, to fully automatic grenade launchers. The ubiquitous UH-1 Huey had numerous gunship variants. The “gunship” moniker also applied to heavily armed ground attack helicopters. Gunship II would later become the Lockheed AC-130, a modified version of the C-130 military cargo aircraft. This showed the US the importance of gunships, prompting the development of the Gunship II and Gunship III program. During the Vietnam war, AC-47 provided effective suppressing fire to ground troops. Combine this with a 24,000 round capacity, the gunship was a force multiplier. The Spooky was capable of covering an entire football field with bullets in less than 10 seconds. Cruising at an altitude of 900m and a speed of 120 knots. Armed with three General Electric 7.62mm miniguns, each capable of firing at 100 rounds per minute. Equipped with the now conventional laterally mounted weapon systems. The Douglas AC-47 Spooky was the first notable modern gunship. Caused the US Armed forces to invest heavily in fixed-wing aircraft that could deliver a substantial amount of firepower. Experiences in the Korean War, and the Russian 7 days to the Rhine doctrine. Eventually, the planes in these roles were replaced by purpose-built and dedicated attack aircraft.Īfter World War II, the importance of a fixed-wing gunship was clear. In one version of the Mitchell, there were 14 Browning machine guns fitted to the nose. These planes could deliver a staggering amount of firepower on to a single target. There were even tests to mount a shortened 75mm tank cannon in the nose of the Mitchell. Aircraft such as the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber and the de Havilland Mosquito were modified to serve a variety of ground attack roles. Meanwhile, on the ground, there was a growing call for a heavily armed ground-attack aircraft. Eventually, the combination of the P-51 Mustang fighter and forward air superiority operations reduced the demand for such a plane. These “gunships” will shoot down incoming enemy fighters and can protect the bomber formations.
One of the proposed solutions was to modify some of the B-17s heavy bombers with extra machineguns. The USAF lacked an effective escort fighter, and the P-51 Mustang was not yet developed. The United States Air Force was in charge of conducting strategic bombing operations over the European theatre. So, what made the AC-130 such a great asset? Why does the United States Air Force insist on using slow, large, and vulnerable planes for fire support? And how did this doctrine come to be? The AC-130 was first used during the Vietnam war and is still in use to this day. The AC-130 can loiter over a combat zone for extended periods of time, delivering accurate and devastating firepower. Armed to teeth with rotary cannons, precision munitions, 105mm howitzer, and sensors.
The American AC-130 is a force to be reckoned with.
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