The AC-130 is a GUNSHIP on Steroids

The 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. The AC-130 is flown by USAF Special Operations, mostly in the close air support role. Other roles include air interdiction, armed reconnaissance and force protection. AFSOC retired the AC-130H Spectre from service in 2014. The Spectre is replaced with the AC-130J Ghostrider.
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Thanks

[@igg3937]

The idea of having a frickin' howitzer on a plane is just wild.

[@robinhuff9307]

My father was one of the first Air Force pilots to fly the the first prototype of the C-130..in Armore Oklahoma. Lockheed in Murietta sent the planes to Ardmore..My Dad flew that plane his whole career..Air Rescue. Got the Distinguished Flying Cross...2 tours in Vietnam

[@iamme9138]

Ardmore, ok

[@gunny7769]

@@iamme9138 lol right...fkn dork over here....tell me more about ur daddys job @robinhuff9307

[@geraldgerhardstein2170]

My son is a gunship pilot. Doesn’t really tell me a lot about specifics, but being the son of a COMBAT ARMS MAINTENANCE AND TRAINING red hat, I get an idea of whats going on. I can only know he is following his fathers footsteps in a huge manner. Perhaps a small protective prayer 🙏 🙏 in in order for our brave who protect the air and the ground would be in order. Be safe my son wherever you fly, you are your Dad’s everything.

[@celestinovelarde9601]

Dalawa! Patrol ! WPS , palsyasin Intruders🤪😜😀😍 na highblood Ako!

[@GatorBoyXD]

My prayers are with him and thank your son for his service and duty. May he come home safe and sound!

[@celestinovelarde9601]

@@GatorBoyXD in the name of Service, po, don't worry, God knows

[@allahdoesnotexist3823]

Prayer doesn't help because God doesn't exist. He's invented by humanity.

[@celestinovelarde9601]

@@allahdoesnotexist3823 God is spirit U must know that , réspect He!

[@scott1395]

Actually the E models had upgraded engines and other and were changed to the H designation! Served as a weapons mechanic on H models from 81 to 85! Great memories!!!

[@Rotorhead1651]

I was 20th A.M.U., 834th A.G.S., at Hurlburt Fld. AFB starting in September of '82. The ACs of the 16th S.O.S. were FUCKIN' AWESOME powerhouses. Back then, they sported 2- 20mm rotating cannon, a 40mm Bofars, and the 105mm Howitzer.

[@ironclay3939]

memories is all they are because even the Russian S300 system puts this 130 tub in the dirt - Putin will jam every frequency up to Light and your 130 is flying blind waiting for a missile strike and then the impact and heat, cold and dead ... Memories are a lot of dead guys who thought americans were bullet proof remember? Quit the fantasy America is out gunned!

[@notoriousbig3k]

gr8 memories killing ppl with it ...

[@truckerman9836]

That's whay I was hoping they would talk about but perhaps for some security reasons they didn't. Aren't they pushing out what 8 thousand shaft horsepower each now?

[@scott1395]

@Rotorhead1651 I too was there from July of 81 to Jan of 85! I was also in the 834 AGS until we reorganized and weapons shop went to EMS! I worked flightless next to Eason hangar on Gunship flightline!

[@sgtjarhead99]

Amazing service life. Like the A-10, these old birds just keep going.

[@ironclay3939]

no they don't that's just it the early Russian S-200 systems closed down the C-130's and that was 20 years ago

[@franciscoalfaro]

Troll alert ^^

[@sotired7562]

The only problem is the air quality on board. Health officials literally say they should have oxygen because of how much lead residue fills the cabin.

[@panan7777]

@@ironclay3939 ALL UP to 500 will be wiped out and then this beauty will start her dance... If Ru army can't beat Ukr for months, even being soundly beaten DAILY, WHO can think that they can stand against NO restraints USAF? Well, Ru trolls for about three days, then the RU air force would cease to exist.

[@ironclay3939]

@@panan7777 you should get your news from a reputable supply.

[@davidskiff3083]

My dad was one of the first Spectre pilots, serving from 1968 - 1970. Some of the stories he told, including once shooting down a vietcong helicopter (which greatly pissed the f4 pilots which were his over cap guards).

[@davidskiff3083]

@otter Dad was the military guy, I may not be remembering the exact jets which were flying cover

[@larryhyak2529]

OuuuuuuuuRah to your Pop.....much appreciated.....

[@pamtnman1515]

What does the gunner say before firing the cannon?

[@Highland_Moo]

@@pamtnman1515 brace yourself. Just like Mrs Doubtfire’s husband, Winston 😉

[@pamtnman1515]

@@Highland_Moo ok I’ll try to hear it that way. Thx

[@user-py9ni9vq9z]

I joined the Air Force in '73. The first one of these I saw had two mini guns on the side like "Puff" and they had strapped a 105 on the back deck. They have came a long way since then. I still miss the flying on 130s

[@TheFokker03]

Fortunate enough to have been on board one of these,at the last RAF Alconbury airshow.the shell used in the howitzer is huge!

[@Stenn333]

I got to play 130 target every night driving home from Duke Field north of Eglin....our hangar had some of these parked outside, and they'd fly along 85 (123?) with me every night...I knew damn well what they were doing, trying out their night-sight targeting on my car ! I've loved these beasts since first time I saw one.... ...almost as much as my one true love, the A-10. I was living on and off Eglin in the days when they were still working out the bugs in the GAU gun....we could hear that unique "B R A T" sound from miles away as they test-fired. Those 2 will be my first Lottery purchases ! 🥳🤣

[@noahg.2099]

You're not wrong, we like to snoop on yall over at Duke 👀

[@Rotorhead1651]

20th A.M.U., Green Hornets here. Some of my friends were mechanics on the ACs.

[@Stenn333]

@@tatumergo3931 ...no, home...south to Niceville...had this cool little apartment/duplex house at the intersection of 123 and 85, I'm sure it's all wiped out and developed now....the ol' guy that owned it was probably 80 back then, and that was '78 to '81 ! 😮 (Damn I'm old ! 😱🤣)

[@Stenn333]

@@noahg.2099 🤣♥️

[@jameswood1749]

Hurlbert fld 6 years

[@DevilDogDen1775]

During Operation Phantom Fury ( Fallujah, Iraq ), we were very fortunate to have several "spookys" fly air cover for us Marines at night as we'd try to find a secure place for the night. Hearing the 20mm and 40 BOFORS opening up was somewhat comforting knowing that the bad guys had better think twice about moving around.....

[@JohnFerrier]

Remember that when you call us the "chair force" xD jk, bro.

[@Soronkulov]

Bad guys? U sure u were a "good guy"?🙂

[@user-op5zm1xq5e]

Убитые невинные младенцы Ирака по ночам во сне не приходят? Сколько детишек лично ты убил?

[@carlhelmick7711]

Man between the ac130 and the warthog the Apaches and the snakes on the vipers might call them now. We can can definitely mess up a whole bunch of stuff in a short period of time. And I love every one of them. 😁👍

[@thirdstar9255]

But we'll never use them, since our "leaders" are wimps, afwaid of pronouns

[@goldengoat1737]

Dude you served in an AC-130!? That is cool! Thanks for the video and your service!

[@pippy4658]

Never knew they carried and fired missiles and bombs too 😳 makes this plane even more SWOLE 💪

[@bigal3055]

@Trevor S That's nothing! Amber Heard's dog stepped on a bee 😭

[@ironclay3939]

and the S-2-3-400 systems by Russian ends the C-130 off the face of the earth - the 130 was great when you bombed rice growers - wake up Russians don't grow rice.

[@themightywookie351c3]

Neat plane. So much exposed ammo! Salute to the personnel in these planes.

[@YaMomsOyster]

Yeah, and no smoking signs everywhere

[@ironclay3939]

and against the Russian S400 system along with all frequencies jammed which means your c-130 is blind - totally blind - back of the craft can't communicate with the front totally blind !! and you have an incoming Russian missile - how good is your toy then? Try not to get trapped in your governments rhetoric it's not working out how they say.

[@copetimusmaximus3363]

It requires a salute of a big enough anti-air missile.

[@ironclay3939]

@@copetimusmaximus3363 that is a joke in todays world.

[@copetimusmaximus3363]

@@ironclay3939 They still could send it to a remote country with weak/no AA and poison it's land and waters with uranium.

[@apolouo]

As young private in the 82ND, back in December 1976, Puff the Magic Dragon was the first show of force I saw. Were close enough to the impact area they were targeting, the concussions from the 40s and especially 105s had us forgetting we were freezing. It was quite an experience. After the show was over, the order was given; back to the 80 packs, but one man from 3rd platoon didn’t move off the cold ground. He had lit a food heat tab under his poncho to fight off the cold and wind, and was over come by carbon monoxide after falling asleep. His body was taken back to the barracks in the 80 packs, and placed in the day room on a pool table. Two men from 3rd stood guard at the doors. No one was allowed to enter until the body was removed in the morning.

[@jaypaulauskas7108]

In 1969 I was in Vietnam Northern I Corps, DMZ. Camp JJ Carroll with the 2nd Btn 94th Arty featuring Self Propelled 175mm Howitzer with 8” swap tubes. Nasty for them. The Gun Ship was nick named Puff The Magic Dragon. At night in the mountains this Bad Ass was a light show supreme.

[@josephpacchetti5997]

Very impressive aircraft, Thanks Sam and the production crew of this video. 👍 🇺🇸

[@ddegn]

It was great to get info from someone who has actually fought from these gunships.

[@hotspur666]

Beyond stupid...the SLOW fat slob C-130 would last 3 seconds as the incoming the Javelin or the equivalent blowing it up in small pieces...THE HERCULES IS A STANDING TARGET!

[@bowloflettuce5540]

it would be impossible to get info from someone who fought one of them

[@figbloppa7183]

@@bowloflettuce5540 “from”, they mean inside one

[@dutchdragon2472]

@@figbloppa7183 He's talking about the victims being dead as hell

[@figbloppa7183]

@@dutchdragon2472 bowloflettuce was mistaking him for saying info from someone who fought against the gunship when he meant being inside one of them

[@originflightstudios2863]

Love your videos! You should do a video about the RC-135 family. RC-235V/W/S/U and WC-135

[@Jan6750]

🇬🇧Spooky & Specter, we called in "Basher 75" (think that was the correct callsign of one of the guys) to great effect in Al Amarah 2004. We got a nice letter from the crew after our return. 😊 One particular engagement was 'danger close' as they smashed a ton of terrorists on the opposite bank of the River Tigris just before we stormed over the bridge. Plenty guys took up fire positions kneeling in the bits and pieces.

[@hammerdown3876]

I cannot even begin to imagine the relief our ground troops probably feel whenever they're pinned down and they hear that 105 howitzer banging away overhead raining down on the enemy.... probably the only thing that trumps that feeling of relief is the sight of an A-10 Thunderbolt incoming when you find yourself in a jam..... 😀

[@christiandauz3742]

The US Army wished it had AC-130s back in WW2

[@ironclay3939]

so hows it go up against the Russian S300 system along with all frequencies jammed which means your c-130 is blind - totally blind back of the craft can't communicate with the front totally blind - and you have an incoming Russian missile - how good is your toy then? History tells you the c-130 is a museum piece for old men to remember ok

[@christiandauz3742]

@@ironclay3939 Wish I have a Time-machine to bring the C-130s back to 1785 US!

[@danielparson4574]

More likley happy to be back home rather than fighting another pointless war that the USA will lose

[@robbieaulia6462]

@@ironclay3939 close air support aircrafts has always been weapons deployed when one side have total air superiority. All weapons are designed for a special purpose, sending an AC-130 into an airspace littered with S300 is like sending an M1A2 Abram into a jungle, it's a suicide mission. That's where the F-16 shines brighter than the AC-130.

[@badguy1481]

I was told that in Laos, along the Ho Chi Minh trail, once North Vietnamese truck drivers became aware that an AC-130 gunship was in the area they would simply stop their truck, get out, walk to the side of the road, and wait for the AC-130 to DESTROY their vehicle. They were so confident that they, personally, were not in danger, they would just stand there and watch. Later, the North Vietnamese military CHAINED them to the steering wheel to end THAT "nonsense".

[@jacecristo3747]

Love the USA 🇺🇸 😍🥰😘

[@wolfvale7863]

Well said.😁👍

[@jacecristo3747]

And just look at that work they did on the interior with that steel it’s just beautiful

[@hotspur666]

Beyond stupid...the SLOW fat slob C-130 would last 3 seconds as the incoming the Javelin or the equivalent blowing it up in small pieces...THE HERCULES IS A STANDING TARGET!

[@raphaelambrosiuscosteau6685]

Is Ac 130 was in service during vietnam?

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@The.Original.Potatocakes]

Mr. Gatlin would be proud his new and improved invention is still being used.

[@memememe2674]

I am a brit and love watching the US troops. This aircraft used more ammo to train than the whole UK armed services combined in a year perhaps 2.

[@shinji1264]

"This aircraft used more ammo to train than the whole UK armed services" All that says is Americans are wasteful

[@memememe2674]

@@shinji1264 never heard of them running out off ammo and kit. Would not be concerned about wastage

[@sonatine3266]

Same my friend. I'm German and watching the American brothers is different... our governments are sleeping.

[@paulhiggins6024]

@@sonatine3266 not sleeping friend. They are doing it deliberately and they have it all well planned.

[@alab3657]

USA just shot 1,000,000$ rockets at a hobby ballon. US politicians don't give a f---k about tax payer money.

[@anonymousdevildog1406]

As young Infantry Marine who fought in Iraq we had a multitude of close air support. 1. Super Cobra's. 2. F18s 3. A-10s 4. AC130 Puff the Magic Dragon 5. Drones 6. Other Air Assets from the Navy/Air Force. Here is the fact, we Marines (who have seen combat) have ONE - just ONE preference . That's the AC130 Gunship... Puff the Magic Dragon we called it. The 2nd choice for us Marines is the A-10 and the 3rd was our Marine Cobras. Our 4th was an F18 flown by a Marine. USAF for the win every fucking time... every time.

[@williamd4707]

While in Vietnam I got to see these weapons at work. We called them Puff, the Magic Dragons'. I was as at Camp Holloway, Pleiku and Puff was from Camp Schmidt, Air Force Base across town.

[@martyn6792]

Really interesting video, amazing the length of service of this aircraft

[@SouthOfSanity79]

She should watch something about the B-52 Stratofortress. They started building Noah's in 1952. And we still use them. They're projected to go into the 2030s before they retire them.

[@Verb130]

Finaly, someone that got the majority of the facts right. Your only errors are minor errors of omission. Well done.

[@ironclay3939]

yeah like the Russian S200 system has ended those facts and Russia has a 3 - 4 - and S500 system that takes care on all incoming so Jesus has time moved on ha!!

[@PlannedObsolescence]

@@ironclay3939 Is that why they're getting their asses handed to them now?

[@ironclay3939]

@@PlannedObsolescence Are They? - You're Sure about that then ha. Cause your president biden said so - are you really fucken sure

[@iamnotapro7316]

“At the end of the day the ac-130 is there for one reason and one reason only” And that reason is to “bring the rain”

[@virtualpilgrim8645]

And a jobs program for White people...

[@benkeller4210]

@@virtualpilgrim8645 yeah, because we all know there are no black people in the air force. Did you get my sarcasm? I'm sure your victim mentality will serve you well, keep it up.

[@copetimusmaximus3363]

Flying uranium poisoning dispenser.

[@2serveand2protect]

PS. Plus! - the AC-130 "basic platform" is already a piece of excellent engineering & manufacturing by itself - even without the guns... It's a little bit like a modern version of the 2nd World War C47 "Dakota" 's. It may be a "reductive" paragon, but in the end it is what it is - a plane that can be used for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING... Sturdy - simple - stable and ABSOLUTELY RELIABLE. Big thanks for the video, man!

[@notoriousbig3k]

it still can get taken out of the sky with rockets

[@2serveand2protect]

@@notoriousbig3k NOOOOO SHIIIIT! REAAAYYY?? HAHHAHAHA!🤣🤣🤣🤣 Wooow! You must know something the engineers that built it didn't know! If you hate the US so much go and do it under someone else's comments - I don't need to read your idiotic statements! Get the F++K lost, troll! XD :D :D PS. BY THE WAY! For the next time! LEARN TO WRITE IN ENGLISH! HAHAHA!XDXD

[@alanmlkbanda]

@@notoriousbig3k like anything else. Question is after how many attempts and after how much time of battle ? Good luck with that

[@Notyourfathersbmw]

Heard them cannons going off earlier today. I live by Eglin AFB

[@johnmijo]

I only got to work on the C-130 Flight Simulator located at McChord AFB from 1984 ~ 1988. However this was still a fun time as we had to test the sim after maintanence and upgrades/updates etc... I always thought that the C-130 Aircraft in all it's iterations was built like a flying tank. Too bad that you could only use the JATO bottles for take off but hey, that was what they were designed and built for ;)

[@ironclay3939]

yeah well the Russian S-400 system removed all the fun wake up this is 2022

[@pmcgillan]

You seemed to have left out mention of the AC-119s. There were 2 versions flying out of mostly Uta-Pao Thailand and Da Nang, So View Nam.

[@taldozer]

AC-119s always get forgotten ...and they were developed AFTER the AC-130 gunship programs. Great birds of prey.

[@acebrandon3522]

Ole Spooky, glad ur on our side.🥰

[@williamleggett5924]

We not only incorporate the best quality in what we build but guard the system as well

[@juanfermin8173]

what's the killstreak to unlock it ?. "enemy AC 130 on the air!" . God , I love MW2.

[@NOOBATRON-bs4jo]

cha, ENEMEY AC130 ABOVE lulw

[@jerkurface602]

I thinks it's like 5

[@juanfermin8173]

@@jerkurface602 is 11 , if not it would be mad easy to get one in a game. It would be op.

[@jerkurface602]

@@juanfermin8173 shit I haven't played in so long bro haha thanks for the correction

[@C-130-Hercules]

Beautiful Airplane 👍

[@tacratt6091]

That’s an amazing weapons system!! You got an Abrams, Warthog, fighter jet weapons, with the size of a bomber rolled in to one!

[@ralphemerson497]

As a Vet, I’m the first to recommend the military for some misguided youth. There are jobs in some branches that are a once in a lifetime opportunity. Working on 130 ship is one of them. There are some fantastic opportunities.

[@theatv0954]

No one: The inventor of these things: “You know an artillery barrage? Yeah lets make it fly.”

[@adamplona9438]

Effectiveness is undeniable. When you need superior firepower sooner than later. I'll support the AC-130 and the A-10 any day.

[@djizzah]

only useful against goat herders with light weapons, any antiaircraft gun post 1930 will drop this thing out of the sky like a stone

[@mirandela777]

" Effectiveness is undeniable." - you forgot to mention ONLY vs civilians !

[@Erebus.666.]

An absolutely amazing weapons platform for its role. And the operators inside the beasts belly work like well oiled cogs. As an insurgent on the ground, if you hear this overhead, don't bother running, it's already too late.

[@shinobishen7262]

My Grandfather used to talk about Puff the magic Dragon when he would talk about the Vietnam war. He told me there was one time that he and his crew finished a building and it instantly came under vietcong mortar fire and was destroyed. He was also assigned to tank retrieval units and he constantly talked about how he never found anyone alive. that and how much it stank. Not only that but he remembers calling "Puff" and it would "Remove" a forested area for ground troops to operate more effectively. AKA it laid down heavy fire with miniguns lining it to completely remove forested areas for ground forces.

[@TheBlueB0mber]

1:09 Hey that's a scene from Michael Bay's transformers! I bet he actually completely approves of everything AC-130 related 👍

[@angeluscorpius]

Would the switchblade loitering munition (kamikaze drone) have a role in either defending/protecting the gunship, or providing the primary role of close air support? So the AC-130 would launch switchblades as it approaches the target, and the drones would seek out enemy anti-air units (mobile launchers and man-pads). when all such units are eliminated, they can target secondary objectives.

[@YaMomsOyster]

Something more like the Loyal Wingman would work better I thought. Loitering in a dangerous area.

[@direct2397]

Bruh you play to many games or watch to many movies. Do you know that anti air missiles are roughly 5 times faster then the fastest fighter yet? You think your going to hit that rocket with a kamikaze drone? Also, once an AA has locked on. The drone wouldn't be able to reach it's target in time. Again, aa rockets are extremely fast. Way faster then drones.

[@DeathPredator]

Drone swarms could act simply as smart countermeasures, whether they carry radar-reflecting panels, deployable chaff canisters, or ignitable magnesium canisters in addition to whatever their offensive capability may be as expendable drones. This would be in addition to its standard coumtermeasures. Whether it is worth it or not is not easily stated.

[@angeluscorpius]

@@direct2397 I see you dun read too good. I wrote: "the drones would seek out enemy anti-air units (mobile launchers and man-pads)." That's what Switchblade was designed to do - neutralise enemy entrenched assets and (because switchblades are so cheap) man-pad armed infantry units. But i can see how "hit the rocket with a drone" would appeal to the infantile.

[@mirandela777]

@@direct2397 - bring numbers - Mach 3 up to Mach 5, for old ones, and Mach 7 for S500. And stop talking about that crap called "Switchblade " dude ! It performed abysmal bad in Ukr !

[@Secret_Takodachi]

2:22 Narrator makes me smile, how can you choose anything besides the 105mm? lol The sound that thing makes is the sound of problems being solved. 🤣👍

[@horrnett]

call of duty modern warfare mission involving this aircraft was so memorable n badass

[@whywouldhesaythat4128]

Like the Skyraider, the A-10 and AC-130 continue a legacy of CAS, a role that cannot at present be performed by jet aircraft.

[@garychapman2661]

Tell that to your congressman/woman the next time they think about scrapping the A-10 for a jet.

[@elgringosupremo]

The A-10 is a jet

[@PushyPawn]

Being such a big target I'm not surprised they release flares with a minigun too.

[@mirandela777]

Flares are useless vs an optical homing missile. And this is the perfect target: big and slower than an airliner !

[@PushyPawn]

@@mirandela777 What is wrong with you? What does YOUR reply have ANYTHING to do with MY comment? If you have an itch to express the abilities of 'optical homing missiles', then do it in your own, separate, comment.

[@willbrink]

Bring the gatling guns back! Nothing cooler then the gatling gun opening up.

[@wyldebyll3089]

I worked on the FLIR for the AC-130 at TI in the '80s. I also worked on the S3a and A7 FLIR's

[@SeriousDiman]

Great for the war against enemy with no anti-air defence at all.

[@direct2397]

Thats the US's specialty. Fighting farmers and civilians who use weapons from the 80's.

[@Thunder_Lightning_and_Fury]

The Cong in the south didn't have anti air worth a shit. The turds in the north had formidable SAM systems. We should've nuked them. They'd still be timid makers of bamboo steamers and furniture.

[@mirandela777]

@@direct2397 - and those "WEAPONS" must be ONLY roosted AKs ! Cuz even a 1959 era missile will pop this out of the sky in no time !

[@badguy1481]

BUT...The AC-130 needs a more reliable anti-missile defense, over and above, dispensing flares.

[@wolfvale7863]

Countermeasures: Raytheon AN/ALR-69 - digital Radar warning receiver (RWR)[111][114] L-3 Communications AN/AAR-44 - UV-based Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS)[115] ITT Exelis AN/ALQ-172 - Digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) jammer-based Electronic countermeasure (ECM) incorporating integrated Electronic Warfare (EW) self-protection function of detection, processing, warning, prioritization, jamming, and threat display[111][116] BAE Systems AN/ALQ-196 Low-Band Jammer (LBJ) - low frequency DRFM jammer-based ECM[117] Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-24 Nemesis - laser-based Directional Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) (mounted on the port and starboard rear fuselage)[118] BAE Systems AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispensing System (CMDS) - chaff/flare dispenser[119] What were those people who thumbed up your comment thinking? lol.

[@badguy1481]

@@wolfvale7863 So you're saying that a simple, heat seeking, shoulder launched missile cannot knock down an AC-130 as they were doing during the Vietnam War or as they're doing now in the Ukraine War? It seems to me that once the on-board flare supply runs out the aircraft is vulnerable.

[@wolfvale7863]

@@badguy1481 Absolutely. Everything has been updated. Nothing is foolproof. 6 have been lost in their entire service life, costing 54 lives. But the question was.... The AC-130 needs a more reliable anti-missile defense, over and above flares. I produced information to that effect. Copy pasted a wiki. It could be as simple as a rock thrown out a window and it would have fit the criteria of "more than flares". Their effectiveness in various places or times was not specified.

[@badguy1481]

@@wolfvale7863 You're correct in that the AC-130 has a countermeasures "suite" that can counter various threat possibilities. But inherent in my question was the counter measures the AC-130 has, other than flares, that will counter a simple heat seeking missile. Keep in mind there could be HUNDREDS of such missiles on a potential battle field. The weakness I see in flares is they run out. So if an enemy "pops off" 1 heat seeking missiles every few minutes, the AC-130 will run out of flares very soon. Then what?

[@wolfvale7863]

@@badguy1481 What else is there? We could just fill it to the brim with flares and flare launchers....Make it a giant missle sponge! Pilot and copilot get extra one dollar per hour while in combat zone.😂

[@Nakamichi_Jun]

1:09 LOL nice use of the Scorponok killing scene from transformers

[@Rotorhead1651]

The "U" model did NOT replace the "A" model, it replaced the "H" model. I was a member of the 20th A.M.U., 834th A.G.S., 1st S.O.W. at Hurlburt Field AFB as of 9/01/82. We were the maintenance arm of the 20th S.O.S., the helicopter operations unit which flew both the UH-1N Huey, and the MH-53H Pavelow III. As of that point in American Military History, the 16th S.O.S. Spectre operated the AC-130H which was armed with twin 20mm rotating cannon, a 40mm Bofors, a 105mm Howitzer, low-light TV, with both wide and narrow angle views, FLIR, and 2Kw & 40Kw flood lights, which were so powerful that they couldn't be turned on except in flight. The aircraft were also fitted with 4 "bathtubs", heavily insulated mechanical fairings, bolted to the underside of the wings, overlapping the engine exhausts, which combined the much colder air of high altitude with the hot exhaust gases, minimizing the aircraft's thermal signature. The overhead door for the ramp had a "fish bowl" installed in it. This was an approximately 4ft dia, polycarbonate bowl used by the I.O. (Incoming Officer), who laid on his stomach, watching for weapons threats approaching from the rear and underneath. Like the venerable A-10, the AC-130H's 20mm guns let out a "brrrrrt" sound when fired. The 40mm was more of a rhythmic "pop pop pop pop", as they tended to fire 4 rounds at a time. The 105mm sounded like a dull "poom". I spent a total of 4 yrs as part of the 1st S.O.W., not all of it happy. We lost several aircraft (both helicopters and fixed wing), in both training and test flights. My 1st assigned aircraft, #72-1651, was lost in an in-flight aerial refueling training exercise, when a rookie pilot in another helicopter panicked as the refuel hose suddenly whipped upwards due to turbulence. His unfortunate maneuvering caused the pilot of 1651 to veer to one side in an extreme roll maneuver which, sadly caused the crash which took the lives of all crew members.

[@thevoxdeus]

The "problem" with AC-130 is that it is purely a counter-insurgency platform. It's large and slow, so it's easily destroyed by any type of dedicated air defense. It's highly effective in its role, but it's a very narrow role.

[@jennifercarruth2811]

That's why they have ground forces clear the area first

[@jennifercarruth2811]

And I think the ground forces calling for air support would inform the about the assets on the ground

[@anthonygallagher1397]

Exactly,ok I'm conflict when you own the airspace, firing into jungles,or into villages etc,in the middle East or Africa, wouldn't stand a chance against fighter jets, guided missiles, and with the freedom of airspace over their own countries, states etc, they would be like sitting duck's against a modern day fighter in its own airspace, useless, unless they owned the airspace, and even then, like you said, they could be brought down easily with the modern day weaponry,air defence, or hand held guided missiles.

[@ryan911]

Have you ever seen an AC-130 flying solo? I imagine they are like aircraft carries, only in battle when defended by plenty of companion aircraft

[@cwell2112]

There's some discussion about this weakness in the last two minutes of the video.

[@2serveand2protect]

Absolutely stunning piece of engineering. I mean - SERIOUSLY! - who the hell puts 30mm's and 105mms GUNS on a PLANE and uses it escort convoys or ATTACK ENEMY CONVOYS ON THE GROUND?? :D Only the States can produce such equipment in large numbers and make it run smoothly and EFFECTIVELY - in any other military aviation forces this (putting 100mm's guns on a plane like it's done here) would have been considered simply "insane".

[@notoriousbig3k]

only the states cant do that no more cus they exhausted their money capabillities and resources in he cold war and now are at rock bottom and do propaganda videos with wonder magic ion laser canons that cant hit ship targets .... when standing still and c harges 3 hours .... the states cant invade Ukraine to help it cus nuclear holocaust threats from a paper tiger that hit it self with a missile ...

[@2serveand2protect]

@@notoriousbig3k PS. ...and now OUT! I don't respond to trolls! :D

[@mirandela777]

" run smoothly and EFFECTIVELY" hahaha !!! Effective vs poor peasants with roosted AKs ??

[@2serveand2protect]

@@mirandela777 First thing first! If anything the correct word is RUSTY - eventually "rusted"- sure as hell nobody "ROOSTS" Ak's, but maybe we'll learn something new from you. Second! - if those "poor peasants" are - for some resaon - using AK's, then they aren't not much of a "peasants" anymore aren't they? Three - if those "peasants" using AK's are COMMUNIST - then they DESERVE to be shredded to pieces. Fourth and last! The AC-130 runs smoothly and effectively whether they are "peasants with AK" or any other military in the world with modern SAM's - it doesn't matter because only a total M@R@N like you would think a "gunship" like this operates alone - just by itself, without any proper cover and enters high-density SAM-batteries areas just for the fun of it.

[@adventwolfbane]

Hey would there be enough on the new Block III F/A-18 Super Hornets to make a video on them? Since those look like they would be a good complement for the F-35 in Naval units.

[@tomrotelli1355]

Cool airplane, but in modern warfare against a well equipped military this would be a death trap.

[@mirandela777]

Yup, will be targeted by S300-S400 even before he could finish the take-off !

[@arti-mon]

Именно поэтому этот самолёт хорош только в кино. В современной войне, это летающий металлолом, который будет сбит ещё на взлёте.

[@whywouldhesaythat4128]

The Herky is just such a basic, flexible airframe - it’ll probably be used for another 50 - 100 years if only for utility missions.

[@vernoworkman9879]

I love the documentaries thank you

[@gautammisra2741]

In low flight counterinsurgency operation this aircraft seems to play superb.

[@ScrawnyClownSnatch]

I imagnine this as the most reasonable solution to the air to air vulnerability, that still fits within the logic behind the AC-130. Air Force Command: Were concerned it may be vulnerable to other aircraft. Boeing's mad scientists: So we slaped an anti-air gun emplacment on the roof, what do you think? Air Force command: We love it.

[@ivanthegod49]

fox-3

[@Shipnot_Nonindustries]

@@ivanthegod49 we installed a CIWS on the roof

[@Shipnot_Nonindustries]

@@ivanthegod49 they'll do it. we just won't know when.

[@ironclay3939]

Awesome so the western troops have the C-130 air support - WHAT'S THE C-130 LIKE AGAINST THE S-400? = End GAME = exit c-130 = so Stop bullshiting your guys into going into war when they never come back in one piece - ask your returned they're legless and on the street begging - America/the west is now Outgunned - Out fueled - Out of ammo - and out the financial back door because of your own sanctions and public thefts of other nations property. America nor it's west can Fight your way out of this - you've met your masters in Syria and now Ukraine and soon to meet the Educator in the South China Sea.

[@ivanthegod49]

@@ironclay3939 ok Xi Jinping calm down

[@diras2010]

AC-130... because if you haven't instilled a deeply rooted fear on your enemies using the Warthog A-10, then there's always a meanest way to do it

[@frantzdurand3299]

Loved using this in COD Modern Warfare… 🔥🔥🔥😎

[@c123bthunderpig]

Depends on your theater of operations and ROE's. Sure lots of very expensive high maintenance firepower, like our AC 47 's in Nam - all of which were shot down before the end of their tour.

[@thhdhn2]

The best thing about AC 130, it can take off and land on a short rough runway.

[@ironclay3939]

Wrong!! since the Russians built the first S-200 systems the best these C-130's are is target practice.

[@snakeace0]

@@ironclay3939 Yeah they work so great that Russia still doesnt have Air supremacy in Ukraine lol. You damn bots dont understand that the AC-130 only goes into action when air supremacy is achieved. All your sweet little s-300´s would be destroyed by f-35´s and cruise missiles. All the AC-130 needs to do is stay out of MANPAD range. Air -to -Air defense is done via f-35´s , which Russia still has no answer to lol.

[@mirandela777]

@@ironclay3939 - and that was back in 1959 ! One of those popped at least one stealth bomber in Yugoslavia, humiliating USA - later the serbs said "sorry, we didn't know it was "invisible" haha ! Also the SA2 are the one who humiliated the U2 , and later, in Vietnam, bring death on B52 crews ...

[@Mr.Robert1]

Airforce 1991🇺🇸. In my opinion with the success of the drones the days of the small fighter jet and dog fights are rapidly coming to an end. They're very expensive they cost a fortune to keep in the air. Things could be taken care of by unmanned vehicles for quite some time now especially the drones that I have mentioned. A large assortment of missiles as you could see the C-130 still has a place although it is very large and easy to shoot down unfortunately. All you have to do is look at the war in Ukraine and you will see what is successful and what is not. That will give you some idea of the future or the now.

[@ironclay3939]

Arrh Mr Roberts you are correct when you were fighting Rice Farmers the C-130 was bloody awesome but now your fighting the Russian S-400 systems.

[@Mr.Robert1]

@@ironclay3939 Exactly

[@kazedcat]

Artillery is still a powerhouse in Ukraine. They just need to modify the system to become a flying artillery. Upgrading the 105 cannon to fire smart munition. Adding precision guidance and navigation to the plane. And programming a range attack autopilot so that the plane and cannon can have precise coordination to fire artillery shell at maximum range with very high accuracy.

[@mirandela777]

A 1959 SA2 is a deadly threat for such a slow, fat plane ! A S300 will scare the hell off them, lol !

[@kazedcat]

@@mirandela777 AWACS works. The plane is protected at the back. Put flying artillery near your AWACS and they get the same level of protection.

[@1080p4ALL]

"With so many weapons systems on board, it can be tough to choose a favorite." every COD MW2 Player 🤣😁

[@tomasgoes]

"Cap... Do you see that company? I don't want to see it anymore" "Roger, sir".

[@BMH1965]

This is only effective against ground targets that can't shot back - any units with SAM's or aircraft will dominate this aircraft.

[@OzWannabe]

That is if one is assuming the AC-130 is sent into action before SEAD/DEAD operations.

[@Bonked0001]

@@OzWannabe and assuming it has no support with all the countermeasures it has on board (flare/chaff) etc

[@philliplopez8745]

The outriders providing air superiority would eliminate any threat to the gunship .

[@ntladimaepa6265]

they will destroy it in seconds...this will only work against goat farmers not real combat soldiers

[@ntladimaepa6265]

@@philliplopez8745 if they fail means bye bye gunship remember not every country in the world has farmers as soldiers some countries got planes too...planes that are better than USA planes and can outgun them

[@shaggie465]

It probably works well when fighting an enemy with no airforce or anti air capabilites.

[@coastiesaurus6810]

"You can run, but you will only DIE tired."

[@mirandela777]

Said the AA missile to this plane :p

[@43sunray]

Aircrew doing artillerymen duties in the sky.

[@Hmyt-yucca]

AC-130 is immune to all missiles ? Radar is not detachable ? What a ingenious design👍

[@ofecer007]

1 или 2 ракеты с300/с400 и этот самолет превратится в самый красивый фейрверк в мире))))

[@GilbertNichols]

I was fortunate to work on the parts that built the C130 and C5B aircraft at Lockheed Marietta (Georgia) in the late eighties

[@stargazer4683]

Nice video no hella loud guitar in background

[@a.j.haverkamp4023]

It’s amazing the plane isn’t falling apart while firing. The forces on the air frame must be massive.

[@Rotorhead1651]

The superstructure was reinforced at the factory for the "A" models. All succeeding models were fabricated as dedicated gunships, so they are well up to the handling those forces.

[@mirandela777]

@@Rotorhead1651 - they do not break after first mission now, they endure probably 2-3 missions before returning for a hard refitting :p A bit like another stupid project, the (in)famous "rail gun" ( now abandoned) who could only fire a dozen shots before the rails popped out !

[@memelephant]

This video contradicts itself many times. It says the AC-130 was used in Vietnam, but construction began ing 1987? Also said the J model is the most recent, but later said the U version is the newest

[@jaybee9269]

The J is the newest. The original was used in Vietnam, an A model. U came before J, the J is the newest C-130. Guy’s just reading Wikipedia anyway.

[@FrankConforti]

It was used towards the end of the Vietnam war. The AC-47s (Puff the Magic Dragon) had literally worn themselves out by the vibration of the weapons. Metal fatigue grounded them. The AC-47 proved the concept thus some C-130s were quickly put into service in Vietnam. This according to an article I read years ago in Air & Space (Smithsonian museum) magazine. My guess is the AC-130 gets a thorough going over after every mission specifically looking for stress fractures. All that ordinance has got to be rough on the airframe.

[@BEATDADDYMUSICIntl]

One of my lectures (While stationed at the USAF Academy) was on the AC-130 Spectre gunship. Everyone loved it....! An astonishing war bird.

[@theradarblip1070]

Former Soviet civilian and transport aircraft construction factory worker here. Love me some firepower from above! Absolutely beautiful bird - outstanding engineering solution and very successful airframe that lasts for decades and I'm sure it will do so for many more to come! Yes and the deterrence might of its firepower is second to none! Keep up the good work, dear American military/transport aircraft manufacturers!

[@jeffjankiewicz5100]

Some of the facts of our planes should not be said in public on yt.

[@jaybee9269]

It’s open source. No worries.

[@geraldgerhardstein2170]

Don’t worry, they wont be alive long enough to make any information security matter…..

[@Bob_Adkins]

Great, highly effective gunship, but only for primitive areas. They're sitting ducks for MANPADs, SAMs, AA guns, fighters, and even helicopters. They're also very expensive assets with large crews you don't want to put at risk.

[@Rotorhead1651]

What is your background that you speak with such authority on the efficacy/vulnerabilities of this aircraft?

[@Bob_Adkins]

@@Rotorhead1651 ARMA3. No, kidding, I'm former infantry, seen and heard them working out very close up. Now a retired engineer. Thanks for asking, I guess. :)

[@Rotorhead1651]

I'm former USAF, 20th A.M.U., 834th A.G.S., 1st S.O.W. (home of the 16th S.O.S., the unit which operated the ACs.). Our Wing was activated for rescue operations in Greneda, back in '83. Cuba had made a full scale military incursion, and believe me, Cuban regulars are no slouches, nor was their AA. MC-130E Combat Talon IIs from Hurlburt, and C-141B Starlifters from Pope AFB/Ft Bragg, were attempting to make personnel drops, but the AA was to thick. Full General Mall (flying the lead Talon) called in an air strike from the ACs, which were orbiting at 10,000 ft, and after just one pass, all of the AA batteries were silenced. The gunships (3 of them) returned to Hurlburt with kill marks painted above where the crew door would have been.

[@Bob_Adkins]

@@Rotorhead1651 Exciting times, and a little scary! Thanks for your service!

[@hammerdown3876]

Thank you both for your service!

[@mikesuch9021]

I was stationed in a air navel gunfire liaison unit in the early 80s USMC. Still using the old school Vietnam pric 25 radios.

[@joequillun7790]

Are there any ACs at LRAFB?

[@robwernet9609]

My grandad was a flight engineer on one of the first ac-130 gunships deployed to s.e.a. he remained in the f.e. seat for anouther 23 years accruing more than 50k flight time hours in the gunship.

[@kevinlee6003]

Damn! Thats a ton of work hours. What was he pulling, 10-12 hour shifts everyday for years in that plane?

[@Verbindungs]

Only valid with absolute air superiority, otherwise is dead meat.

[@hotspur666]

Yes, dead meat if you do more than massacre armless without any defence CIVILIANS!

[@DiscothecaImperialis]

Did the weight restriction prevents fitting another weapons array to the starboard side?

[@4892wyvern]

I remember be on station as they did a gunshoot. fired on some killer tomatoes we launched and it sounds epic. Especially when you cant see it.

[@optimalbass]

I’ve personally heard an ex military tell that the crew in this gunship usually end up suffering from lung cancer due to exposure to a shit load of chemical fumes from the ammo

[@hazerod833]

I always thought it was just the lead in the air. I’ve heard stories of gunner crews getting extreme headaches and shit from lead poisoning.

[@sotired7562]

@@hazerod833 many also develop cancer.

[@Sayitwithchachest]

Why not have them wear respirators. We have protocols for working in lead inside of oil refineries.

[@ibcalm24]

@@Sayitwithchachest I know right. You beat the war only to come home to die a slow cancerous death. 🤔

[@2jsanc681]

I heard flight crew has it rough with all the gun smoke that come with firing these weapons in such a small plane. Lung cancer seems to be the norm

[@kloppskalli]

no, it's all victory and glory only..

[@noahg.2099]

Most of us don't care, it's a risk worth taking

[@Rotorhead1651]

"Such a SMALL plane"?!? You've never seen one of these up close, have you?

[@2jsanc681]

@@Rotorhead1651 to be honest no I haven't. I'm a fighter crew chief so I know what a small plane is really like. I wasn't really being literal

[@burnssy112]

Heard the same thing

[@eprostation4260]

It's so good to see Bofors from WW2 is still on action.

[@Rotorhead1651]

Correction: Bofars

[@gunnerroo6514]

Video games: 5 shots before reloading Real life: Hold my beer.

[@astro1218]

Would a gunship like this be able to get close enough to attack a modern enemy defending its self with guided missiles ?

[@elcaudillorecords7204]

Tal vez auque parece ser mas util para apoyo cercano y ataque de vehículos blindados o ataque a insurgente o embarcaciones de narco trafico y piratas.

[@astro1218]

@@elcaudillorecords7204 yeah.. i feel like a modern conflict it would be way to risky to loose such a big plane

[@mirandela777]

@@astro1218 - anyone who uses more than a brain cell can realize this ! A 1960 era missile - SA-2 will pop this whale long before they realize what's up ! " Following its first deployment in 1957 it became one of the most widely deployed air defence systems in history. It scored the first destruction of an enemy aircraft by a surface-to-air missile, with the shooting down of a Taiwanese Martin RB-57D Canberra over China on 7 October 1959 that was hit by a salvo of three V-750 (1D) missiles at an altitude of 20 km (65,600 ft" That was 1959 !

[@SouthOfSanity79]

If it had competent capable air support with it then yes it could. But realistically speaking in a situation like that you wouldn't need one of these gunships to take care of that problem. We have many many many other ways of dealing with that. Especially if they are anywhere near an ocean.

[@knightrider693]

Air force would eliminate AA threats and then this would fly with support planes. This big boy would bat clean up sort of speak

[@UNSF]

I heard that the 105mm may be removed in a future variant in favour of 40mm (edit: actually, should be a 120mm mortar) or maybe an AC-130 replacement. Really hope this does not happen as 105mm to me is the most important element of AC-130 family. My absolute wet dream is that the AC-130 could somehow fit a 155mm one day.

[@Rotorhead1651]

Unlikely. The 105mm Howitzer cannon has been THE main gun of the ACs for several decades. With their FCS, a well-trained crew can put a 105 round in your lap, from 10,000 ft., on a cloudy night, while you're doing 50 mph. The 40mm Bofars, and the twin 20mm rotating cannon these birds sported in the late 70s/early 80s, have all been replaced at one point or other. As far as installing a 155m gun, you have to remember basic physics here. The recoil (however dampened) from a larger gun would still affect both airframe structural integrity AND flight stability. A macro example of this would be the 16 inch main guns on the Iowa class battleships. When all 9 guns were fired at once (usually only for photo-ops) the entire ship would shift 6 feet, perpendicular to its course. Obviously, this is an extreme example, but the same principle applies to the gunship. Also, the BBs weighed 10s of thousands of TONS, and were in water, which had to be displaced as the ship was shoved sideways. The ACs are airborne with far less mass resisting their lateral movement.

[@UNSF]

@@Rotorhead1651 I just checked and 40mm bofors seem to be a memory error on my part (that was once done but changed to 25mm gatling). The candidate for 105 replacement is a 120mm mortar, which I do not know if it will be more powerful than a 105mm howitzer despite caliber increase. But still, howitzer sound more powerful to me than a mortar tho.

[@petert3355]

@@Rotorhead1651 you know that claim that a full 9 gun salute broadside from an Iowa class DB would move the ship laterally is a complete urban myth right? Just spend 5 seconds thinking about the physics of what you are claiming and you'll understand why it's complete BS.

[@1980Hungary]

Why didn't the even more destructive 30mm calibre machine gun get fitted to the AC-130 aircraft? Would that be too heavy for the plane with the weight of the ammunition, or would the gun be too big for the inside of the plane? And the two other weapons could be of a larger calibre.

[@BartimaeusCarbulo]

I guess that would make sense when there's hellfire missiles and other comparable munitions on board.

[@johneckerd1750]

I love gunships that plane is awesome

[@devildog1073]

I live right near HAAFB. See these planes flying their figure 8s all the time. This bird is a grunts best friend because of the different kinds of death it can bring to our enemy! Semper Fi!

[@EricDaMAJ]

I love the AC-130 but I don't see much of a future for it unless we get into another insurgency war. It's utterly dependent on US air superiority to survive. And largely dependent on the enemy having no decent SAMs. I got to direct an AC130's 25mm fire in training. It had stupid precise night vision capabilities and accuracy. It could located something as small as an illuminate watch from 5,000 feet up. _And that was in the 1980s._ The new ones could probably do a DNA test. Unless you were there you'd never believe how loud it is firing at night in the desert. One took out a warehouse full of insurgents five miles from my FOB in Baghdad (and several thousand feet up) using its 40mm cannon. I literally thought insurgents were on the FOB _right outside my door._

[@ironworkerfxr7105]

Pretty much you will always need boots on the ground and support...

[@virtualpilgrim8645]

Why only White people doing this job?

[@hammerdown3876]

I wouldnt worry too much about that between what we spend on our aircraft and aircraft carriers, the US will maintain air superiority for quite some time... just one of our Gerald R Ford class aircraft carriers has more air power than most Nations ...

[@Tabacish]

@@hammerdown3876 Sure, but with modern manpads, a large, slow aircraft at medium altitude...

[@EricDaMAJ]

@@virtualpilgrim8645 Because you only see a few clips of some White people doing a job that thousands from all ethnic groups have been doing for decades and your low intellect jumps to "racism" because you are, in fact, a racist, and can't help but project it on other people.