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Gunship is 'terrifying' and lethal
©Los Angeles Times, WASHINGTON -- The AC-130 gunship that the U.S. military has begun to use in Afghanistan can pump out cannon and artillery fire at a withering 2,500 rounds per minute, making it one of the most lethal ground-attack aircraft ever developed. In its past use, the gunship's rain of destruction has had a terrifying effect on the troops below -- a key reason the Pentagon has now called it into service against Taliban forces, officials say. "They circle the target. They make a fierce noise. And they just obliterate everything," said retired Army Gen. Wesley K. Clark, who commanded NATO forces in the 1999 air campaign against Yugoslavia. "They are one of the most terrifying things imaginable if you are underneath them." Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, agreed. "The psychological effect here is very important," he said Tuesday. Newbold said two AC-130s were used on Monday, but he declined to specify their exact mission, saying only that it was successful. The Air Force's 16th Special Operations Wing, based at Hurlburt Field near Fort Walton Beach, flies the AC-130H "Spectre" gunship as well as a newer version, the AC-130U dubbed "Spooky." The gunship has several missions, including armed reconnaissance and the interdiction of other aircraft. But its primary job is to act as a sort of flying fire base to back up special operations units, which, because they must move swiftly, carry only light arms. In this type of mission, the AC-130 flies slowly around its target, while the six-barrel, 25mm Gatling guns and 40mm and 105mm cannons pump out fire. Often, the AC-130 is used to attack troops, but its explosive shells can destroy vehicles and entire buildings. Its guns are guided by a computerized system that enables them to maintain precise aim while the turboprop aircraft circles the target. The AC-130 is an effective choice "when you've got to blow up only the enemy's side of the street," said John Pike, a defense analyst at GlobalSecurity.org. During the 1990 operation to oust Gen. Manuel Noriega in Panama, the AC-130 was used to destroy Panamanian defense headquarters and command centers, while avoiding the many noncombatants in crowded Panama City. The AC-130 also was used in the war against Yugoslavia. Although their ceiling is 25,000 feet, the gunships often fly at lower altitudes, which makes them vulnerable. An AC-130 was shot down during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, killing all 14 crew members. U.S. officials declined Tuesday to discuss how vulnerable the AC-130 is in its current mission. But they said it can fly high enough to be relatively safe, and also can fly with escorts for protection. - Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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