Does AC 130 have guns on both sides?

The AC-130 is the world’s biggest flying artillery gunship, nicknamed “Hell in the Sky.” With three side-firing weapons—a 25mm gatling gun, a 40mm Bofors cannon, and a 105mm howitzer—it’s easy to see why it got its name. (3:07)

Does the AC 130 get shot down?

Sadly, the enemy shot down one AC-130H gunship. It resulted in the loss of all 14 crewmembers, the largest singer air power loss of the war. In March 1994, the price of freedom and the high operations tempo was paid by a 16th Special Operations Squadron AC- 130H gunship, call sign Jockey 14.

Was the AC 130 gunship used in Vietnam?

They were used in Vietnam from 1962-1970. Beginning in 1965, the C-130 Hercules with its four turbo-prop engines, superior 15-ton payload, and its ability to rapidly offload palletized cargo dominated airlift operations in Vietnam. As ground combat increased, so did airlift requirements.

Are AC-130 still in service?

The AC-130U returned from its final combat deployment on 8 July 2019; the final AC-130U was retired in August 2019.

Did they have Miniguns in Vietnam?

The U.S. government had procured some 10,000 Miniguns during the Vietnam War. Around 1990, Dillon Aero acquired a large number of Miniguns and spares from “a foreign user”. The guns kept failing to shoot continuously, revealing that they were actually worn-out weapons.

What kind of Artillery does an AC-130 carry?

An AC-130 crew loads the 105 mm howitzer. (Image source: U.S. Air Force) Lockheed gets the final work in aircraft-mounted artillery. The AC-130 Specter, which first appeared during the Vietnam War, packed the firepower of a small battery.

What is the role of the AC-130?

The AC-130 is flown by USAF Special Operations, mostly in the close air support role. Other roles include air interdiction (pre-planned air-to-ground strikes), armed reconnaissance and force protection (flying defensive patrols over friendly forces / bases).

Is the AC-130 a real gun ship?

AC-130 Spectre / Spooky II Gunship The Lockheed AC-130 is a C-130 cargo plane converted into a gunship. The port side of the AC-130 houses firing ports for an array of cannons, howitzers and gatling guns. AC-130 – Role

What kind of weapons does a Lockheed AC-130 have?

Lockheed AC-130. The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport fixed-wing aircraft. It carries a wide array of anti-ground oriented weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poBtEjxZAX4