Tools of War: The AC-130 Bad Mutha-F'er

Okay, so thus far we've had little pea-shooter (M9), a fictitious strategic bomber with alien technology (M1225), and a PDW that LOOKS like it is from the future (FN P90).

Today we are going to discuss the exact opposite of all of those. It's the anti-pea-shooter. It's big and flies, but it isn't a bomber, and it damn sure doesn't look like it's from the future.

It's the design equivalent of a big American pushrod V-8. No real fancy gizmos (other than the sensor and targeting systems), no highly-stressed, ultra-high tolerance design. Someone just said, "Hey, this is a big fuckin' plane. Let's put some big fuckin' guns on it!" (Pardon the language....he said it, not me....I'm just quoting him. Because you KNOW someone said that when they designed this puppy.)

It's been called Spooky and/or Spectre by friendly forces, and "What the heck is that stupid American cargo plane doin...OH SHIT!!!" by our enemies. There have been several different armament load-outs, depending on the model (though the 105mm howitzer has remained a constant on every single one since the AC-130E because, tactical considerations aside, it is JUST...SO...AWESOME to have a howitzer mounted on an airplane!).

You really have to wonder if the design criteria had something in it about each system being old enough to collect social security. Okay, okay, this thing has been around in one form or another since the mid-60's, so obviously I jest. But the fact is that everything on this thing is, by now, so tried and tested that it is pretty much fool-proof. The C-130 and the M61 20mm Vulcan cannon have been around since the 1950's (though the M61 was replaced by the GAU-12/U Equalizer from the 1970's), the 40mm Bofors are from the 1930's, and I'm pretty sure that King Leonidas had a few 105mm howitzers at his disposal.

By contrast, the targeting and sensor systems have been steadily and consistently updated with leading-edge hardware, and the result has been a system that will accurately put a LOT of firepower in one little precise space. Contrast that with the MO of the MLRS 'Grid Square Removal Service' when you're on the horn asking for a little help to kill all those pesky Bad Guys that are about to over-run your position, or are trying to avoid vaporizing the hearts and minds of the local non-combatants in a MOUT environment.

With the latest sensor/targeting techno-wizardry guiding the prodigious firepower on the AC-130U onto the target, it has become THE toy to bring to the party. "I have an AC-130....all your base are belong to us."

Our friends at FAS have put together a nice article.

And now, your moment of zen...

By: Steve