Today I continue to write about the "gunboat machine" - the third generation of the American "gunboat machine" AC-130. The AC-119G and AC-119K, which entered service at about the same time as it, did not have a long service time and were not numerous, but played a great role in the Vietnam War and also gave way to the use of gunboat aircraft. The AC-130 was quickly commissioned in large numbers.
This article mainly introduces the American third-generation gunboat aircraft AC-130. The full text is about 2300 words, and a brief panoramic description of the AC-130 is made from the aspects of development overview, main features, model categories, service status, actual combat applications and basic performance. Much of the content is excerpted from various public information both abroad and at home.
AC-130 "Air Gunboat" Air Gunship
Overview of development
The AC-130 Air Gunship is a tactical attack aircraft dedicated to special operations developed by Lockheed Martin on the basis of the C-130 transport aircraft of the United States, which can provide fire support for special forces or operate independently to attack enemy ground targets.
In the early 1960s, in response to the needs of the Vietnamese battlefield, the U.S. Air Force modified a number of C-47 transport aircraft, equipped with machine guns and flares, becoming the first generation of "gunboat aircraft" for ground attack.
△ AC-47 gunboat aircraft
By 1967, the AC-47 exposed problems such as aging airframe and lack of space, and the U.S. Air Force began to choose to modify new "gunboat aircraft", and the C-130 transport aircraft, which entered service in 1956, became the first choice for carrier aircraft. Because the C-130 was performing a large number of tactical transport missions, both in number and capacity, the U.S. Air Force decided to modify a batch of C-119s as a transition.
In June 1967, the U.S. Air Force began a "gunboat aircraft" modification program, which was implemented by Fairchild. In February 1968, according to the plan, 26 C-119G transport aircraft were first modified to become AC-119G. Subsequently, 26 more C-119Gs were converted to AC-119Ks.
In July 1968, the AC-119G began to be delivered and delivered in October. In November of the same year, the AC-119K began to be delivered.
△ AC-119G "gunboat machine"
△AC-119K "Gunboat Machine"
On the Vietnamese battlefield, the AC-119 played an important role in ground support and ground attack operations. Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force was always thinking about modifying the C-130. After all, the C-130 is comprehensively surpassed compared to the C-119 in terms of age, reliability and load capacity.
In 1965, the U.S. Department of Aeronautical Systems modified the 13th mass-produced C-130A to gunboat standards. In May 1967, the first AC-130A was modified, and in September of the same year, the prototype went to Vietnam for a 90-day combat test. Subsequently, the AC-130 was modified in batches and put into the Vietnamese battlefield. By 1970, the AC-130 had fully replaced the AC-119 as the third generation of "gunboat aircraft" on the Vietnamese battlefield.
△ The AC-130 firing at the ground
Main features
The AC-130 is modified on the basis of the C-130 transport aircraft, the appearance and basic structure are basically the same as the C-130 transport aircraft, mainly equipped with several different caliber cannons and radar and reconnaissance, night vision equipment, with strong ground reconnaissance and attack capabilities. The main armament was concentrated on the starboard side of the fuselage. Therefore, when the AC-130 is attacking, it usually orbits the target in a counterclockwise direction in order to concentrate fire on the target.
△ The large-caliber gun protruding from the starboard side is clearly visible
△ Close-up of a large-caliber artillery protruding from the starboard side
Model category
AC-130A: Modified from the C-130A, a total of 19 aircraft were modified, nicknamed "Spectre". Telescope-style night vision equipment was installed at the front door of the engine room, the first generation of forward-looking infrared equipment was installed at the front of the landing gear module, using a simulated fire control system, and several "Gatling" cannons were installed on the fuselage and could carry bombs.
AC-130E: Modified from the C-130E, a total of 11 modified aircraft, nicknamed "Spectre". Better electronic equipment was installed, with the addition of a 40 mm rapid-fire gun and some 105 mm howitzers.
AC-130H: Medium-improved, modified by the AC-130E, a total of 8 modified, nicknamed "Spectre". Fitted with an Allison T56-A-15 engine, protective armor was mounted on the belly and weapons included a 40 mm rapid-fire gun and a 105 mm howitzer, and entered service in 1973.
AC-130U: Late modified version, modified on the AC-130H, nicknamed "Spooky", entered service in 1992, a total of 17 modified aircraft. Equipped with synthetic aperture radar and a new navigation system, it can simultaneously attack two targets 1 km apart. The entire cabin has a booster capability, increased flight altitude, and more advanced foil strip/infrared decoy launchers for jamming anti-aircraft fire. A certain amount of ceramic armor was added to provide better protection.
AC-130J: Modified from the C-130J, nicknamed the Ghost Rider, to replace the AC-130H, it first flew in January 2014, with a total of 16 modified aircraft.
AC-130W: Latest improvement, 12 have been received.
△ AC-130 side view of all models of aircraft, picture from the network
Status of service
The AC-130 was converted to about 75 and served primarily with the U.S. Air Force, and all AC-130As were retired from active service in 1995. In 2015, all AC-130Hs were retired from active service. Currently in service are six AC-130Hs, 17 AC-130Us, 16 AC-130Js and 12 AC-130Ws.
Practical applications
The AC-130 first participated in the Vietnam War and participated in most U.S. military operations since the Vietnam War, including the invasion of Grenada in 1983, Panama in 1989, the Gulf War in 1991, the Somali War and the Balkan conflict in 1994, and the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya in recent years. The AC-130 achieved good combat results in combat operations.
During the Vietnam War, the AC-130 fleet destroyed more than 10,000 Vietnamese vehicles, effectively cutting off the transport of Vietnamese troops, weapons and supplies. So far, a total of 8 AC-130s have been shot down, 6 of them in the Vietnam War and 2 in the Gulf War and 2 in Somalia.
△ AC-130 "licking the ground" infrared imaging video screen
△ The AC-130 being refueled in the air
Basic Performance (AC-130U)
Dimensional data
Wingspan: 40.41 m
Length: 29.79 m
Height: 11.66 m
Wing area: 162.1 m2
Wing spread ratio: 10.07
Weight data
Empty weight: 34686 kg
Normal takeoff weight: 55520 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 69,750 kg
Maximum deadweight: 22597 kg
Flight performance data
Maximum level flight speed: 583 km/h
Cruising speed: 556 km / h
Practical ceiling: 10058 meters
Maximum climb rate: 9.13 m/s
Transit range: 4070 km
Power plant
Four Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines with a maximum power of 3,362 kW per unit.
On-board equipment
AN/APQ-180 attack radar, tactical situation map, AN/AAQ-117 forward-looking infrared, active low-light night vision camera with laser orientation and ranging functions (mounted on a gun mount protruding under the nose with 360-degree field of view), AN/ALQ-172 electronic jammer, etc.
weapons
1 GAU-12 25 mm 5-barrel cannon (H type is 2 M61 Vulcan 20 mm 6-tube cannons), 1 Bofors L60 40 mm cannon, 1 M102 105 mm howitzer.
Crew members
A total of 14 people, 1 pilot, 1 co-pilot, 1 navigator, 1 fire controller, 1 electronic warfare officer and 9 professionals (including flight engineers, TV operators, infrared sensor operators, reloaders and 4 gunners, H-type 5 gunners).
Large hd image of the AC-130