Medal of Honor

By Aaron "USCGBaTs" Schol
OffDutyGamers.com

The C-130 Hercules is the workhorse aircraft for all of the Armed Forces.  From the U.S. Coast Guard performing Search and Rescue to the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels “Fat Albert” at Air Shows, this cargo aircraft can be modified to serve any need for the military.

One such modification is the AC-130 flown by the U.S. Air Force.  This is one version of the C-130 that drops support of a different nature to the ground.

The AC-130U Spooky boasts one 25mm 5 Barrel Gatling Gun, one 40mm L/60 Bofors Cannon, and one 105mm M102 Howitzer Cannon.  During Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, AC-130s played an active role in support of coalition ground forces that were pinned down by Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgents.  The AC-130 is suited for night time operations as its equipped with optics which are operated by the TV Operator, Infrared Detection Operator, and Fire Control Officer.

One of the greatest advantages of the AC-130U is not the sheer firepower it can deliver with great accuracy by the Air Force crew members, but by its flight time and endurance over the combat zone.  Being able to loiter for hours in an orbit above the ground forces not only puts the friendly forces at ease by having the big guns in the air, but puts dread and fear in the enemies hearing four turboprop engines and a Howitzer that can leave craters where their emplacements used to be.

BaTs is an Active Duty US Coast Guard Flight Mechanic who writes articles for OffDutyGamers.com. You can follow him on Twitter @uscgbats or @offdutygamers