Gunboat AC-130 looks quite “pitious”, but the performance is also average. In terms of main armament, the AC-130 gunboat has one 105mm cannon, one 40mm cannon and two 20mm cannons; However, the overall power is not equal to a self-propelled 120mm cannon in real combat.AC-130 is a weapon that can be considered “unique”, but only US Air Force own. The aircraft is designed for fire support missions, supporting special operations on the ground. AC-130 is equipped with a very powerful sensor system, allowing simultaneous attack on many ground targets at the same time.The fuselage of the AC-130 aircraft is in charge of the Boeing company; The design, armament and finishing touches to become a fighter aircraft are carried out by the Lockheed company.The US Air Force uses AC-130 gunboats to support ground combat units, guide other fighters, and counter enemy air defense units.The danger is that the AC-130 is a “ground-to-air arsenal”, so its power increases much more than that of a conventional attack aircraft. With 10 tons of weapons to carry and the arrangement of weapons mounted on the side, the AC-130 can maintain fire for a long time from many different angles. However, the AC-130 aircraft does not have a high flight speed, relatively limited maneuverability, large shape, and often has to fly low; so it will be easily shot down with low-range anti-aircraft weapons; but in practice, very few AC-130s were shot down in combat.The reason is that the US Army always holds absolute air superiority, and only when they have eliminated all threats from the enemy’s ground and air defenses, they will launch AC-130s into the battlefield. , to continuously increase direct firepower, suppress targets on the ground.Support fire is divided into two types, direct and indirect fire. Direct fire has the advantage of suppressing the target continuously, quickly, with high accuracy and efficiency; but easily counterattacked by the opponent.The advantage of indirect reinforcement firepower is safety, but the accuracy is limited, especially when it is impossible to suppress the target in time. For a long time, air force firepower was similar to indirect fire and lacked firepower in direct attacks. These attack aircraft such as the A-10 American and Soviet Su-25, can be considered as direct fire support aircraft; but their cannons have small caliber, limited number of ammunition, medium range, short aerial ability. Therefore, it is not possible to provide continuous direct firepower to combat ground forces.The AC-130 gunboat has overcome the weaknesses of ground attack ships such as the A-10; with the amount of weapons it carries, it can fire continuously for several hours; This “overhead” artillery field is capable of providing firepower to a very large area and destroying solid targets.Conventional ground attack aircraft can only attack from a certain direction because the weapons are positioned forward. The scary point of the AC-130 is that it can circle around the target and release bullets.But the AC-130 will not be effective in an all-out conflict, for example in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict; With strong air defense forces, the AC-130 gunboat never had a chance to appear on the battlefield. When it comes to absolute air superiority, the AC-130 gunboat will be like an expensive big toy, which only the US Army can afford to maintain. According to military experts, AC-130 gunboat in addition to showing off the US’s firepower and advantages, it is also nothing too special, because many other weapons are also capable of providing equivalent firepower, but much cheaper.
Gunboat AC-130 looks quite “pitious”, but the performance is also average. In terms of main armament, the AC-130 gunboat has one 105mm cannon, one 40mm cannon and two 20mm cannons; However, the overall power is not equal to a self-propelled 120mm cannon in real combat.
AC-130 is a weapon that can be considered “unique”, but only US Air Force own. The aircraft is designed for fire support missions, supporting special operations on the ground. AC-130 is equipped with a very powerful sensor system, allowing simultaneous attack on many ground targets at the same time.
The fuselage of the AC-130 aircraft is in charge of the Boeing company; The design, armament and finishing touches to become a fighter aircraft are carried out by the Lockheed company.
The US Air Force uses AC-130 gunboats to support ground combat units, guide other fighters, and counter enemy air defense units.
The danger is that the AC-130 is a “ground-to-air arsenal”, so its power increases much more than that of a conventional attack aircraft. With 10 tons of weapons to carry and the arrangement of weapons mounted on the side, the AC-130 can maintain fire for a long time from many different angles.
However, the AC-130 aircraft does not have a high flight speed, relatively limited maneuverability, large shape, and often has to fly low; so it will be easily shot down with low-range anti-aircraft weapons; but in practice, very few AC-130s were shot down in combat.
The reason is that the US Army always holds absolute air superiority, and only when they have eliminated all threats from the enemy’s ground and air defenses, they will launch AC-130s into the battlefield. , to continuously increase direct firepower, suppress targets on the ground.
Support fire is divided into two types, direct and indirect fire. Direct fire has the advantage of suppressing the target continuously, quickly, with high accuracy and efficiency; but easily counterattacked by the opponent.
The advantage of indirect reinforcement firepower is safety, but the accuracy is limited, especially when it is impossible to suppress the target in time. For a long time, air force firepower was similar to indirect fire and lacked firepower in direct attacks.
These attack aircraft such as the A-10 American and Soviet Su-25, can be considered as direct fire support aircraft; but their cannons have small caliber, limited number of ammunition, medium range, short aerial ability. Therefore, it is not possible to provide continuous direct firepower to combat ground forces.
The AC-130 gunboat has overcome the weaknesses of ground attack ships such as the A-10; with the amount of weapons it carries, it can fire continuously for several hours; This “overhead” artillery field is capable of providing firepower to a very large area and destroying solid targets.
Conventional ground attack aircraft can only attack from a certain direction because the weapons are positioned forward. The scary point of the AC-130 is that it can circle around the target and release bullets.
But the AC-130 will not be effective in an all-out conflict, for example in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict; With strong anti-aircraft forces, the AC-130 gunboat never had a chance to appear on the battlefield.
When it comes to absolute air superiority, the AC-130 gunboat will be like an expensive big toy, which only the US Army can afford to maintain. According to military experts, AC-130 gunboat in addition to showing off the US’s firepower and advantages, it is also nothing too special, because many other weapons are also capable of providing equivalent firepower, but much cheaper.
