- Yes
- No
History
During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Air Force developed AC-47 Spooky under Project Gunship I. The concept of modifying cargo aircraft with weapons were proved to be vial, and it led to the next project. By Project Gunship II, the C-130 Hercules was converted to new gunship, the AC-130A Spectre.
The AC-130A could fly faster, higher, and longer than the AC-47, while carrying more weapons and ammunition. It was so successful that its successors, the AC-130A Surprise Package/Pave Pronto and AC-130E, soon followed. Later the AC-130E was upgraded to AC-130H configuration, and participated in Gulf War along with the AC-130A.
After the Gulf War, the next generation gunship came to service. This is the AC-130U Spooky II, which replaced old AC-130A. The name “Spooky II” is a continuation of the original AC-47.
The AC-130U was continuously operated for more than 20 years, and finally being retired on June 26, 2020. Its role is now filled by the AC-130J Ghostrider.
Design
Airframe and Engine
The AC-130U is based on C-130H. Compared to the previous verision, C-130E, it features more powerful Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines.
As like other gunships, the AC-130 is slow and highly unmaneuverable. So it is vulnerable to air defenses beyond old-school anti-aircraft guns, and definitely cannot survive against enemy aircraft. Real-world AC-130s are operated by Special Operations Command, so they’re naturally prepared for these issues. But in this game, it’s going to be a different story.
Avionics
Radar
The AC-130U has an AN/APQ-180 multi-mode radar in the nose. It is a modified version of the F-15E’s AN/APG-70, with different gimbal scheme.
Electro-Optical Sensors
The AC-130U is equipped with the AN/AAQ-39 TSS, which is also used on the AH-1Z.
To improve survivability, the AC-130U is equipped with the AN/AAR-44 MAWS.
Armament and Countermeasures
The AC-130U is armed with the GAU-12/U 25 mm 5-barrel rotary cannon, M2A1 40 mm L/60 autocannon, M102 105 mm howitzers. This is same as the previous versions, except that the two M61 Vulcans are replaced with a single GAU-12.
While the GAU-12 has a linkless feed system, the M2A1 and M102 is loaded manually just like its ground counterparts. The reloading is performed by four aerial gunners.
AC-130U mostly uses conventional ammunition for its weapon, but there are some notable munitions. One is the PGU-31/B APFSDS for 40 mm L/60 cannon of the AC-130. It was tested but never adopted for service.
Another one is not used by the AC-130, but technically capable: M662 HEAT-T. This is a 105×372 mm cartridge combined with the projectile of M456 HEAT-T. This will help with the AC-130’s anti-tank capabilities, which are overall subtle for its size.
The fire control officer controls all weapons of the AC-130U. The AC-130U’s fire control system utilizes GPS, inertial navigation, and ballistic calculator to provide precise firing solutions.
The AC-130U has several defensive equipment to compensate for its poor survivability. It carries up to 480 countermeasures and two AN/AAQ-24 DIRCM to neutralize infrared guided missile. They are also equipped with infrared suppressors to reduce IR signature.
In-game considerations
The AC-130 is renowned for its extremely capable ground attack capabilities, but it’s important to note that most of that reputation has been earned as an asset operated by special operation forces with complete air superiority.
The AC-130U is quite resistant to heat-seeking missiles, but there are no guided weapons and must attack the ground vehicle with cannons. The farther away you are from the battlefield, the longer the time between shot and hit, results in inaccurate shot. So there will be a risk of getting closer to make accurate shots, and some anti-aircraft guns with radar lead and proximity fuse shells (or AHEADs) will be able to shoot down gunship in close range.
And in this game, we often need to scramble attackers even there are no air superiority, and gunships are no exception. While infrared guided missiles can be evaded, they are slow, large and unmaneuverable, a perfect target for air gunnery. I bet you could easily shoot this down, even without a jet fighter.
Therefore, I think it’s okay to have a pretty low BR for this. There must be a lower limit, as there are great avionics to help you find and engage targets, but I don’t think it’s something that can be a rank VII or higher.
Specifications
Crew: 13 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, fire control officer, EW officer, flight engineer, TV operator, infrared detection set operator, loadmaster, 4 gunners)
Length: 97 ft 9 in (29.8 m)
Wingspan: 132 ft 7 in (40.4 m)
Height: 38 ft 6 in (11.7 m)
Maximum takeoff weight: 155,000 lb (70,306 kg)
Wing area: 1,745 ft² (162.12 m²)
Powerplant: 4× T56-A-15 turboprop
- Thrust: 4,910 shp
Performances:
- Maximum speed at sea level: 300 mph (483 km/h)
- Maximum ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,576 m)
Armament:
- GAU-12/U 25 mm gatling gun (3,000 rounds)
- M2A1 40 mm L/60 cannon (256 rounds)
- Ammunition:
- M81A1 API
- PGU-9/B HEI
- PGU-31/B APFSDS
- Projectile mass: 230 g
- Muzzle velocity: 1,335 m/s
- PGU-49/B HEI
- PGU-50/B HEI
- Ammunition:
- M102 105 mm howitzer (96 rounds)
- Ammunition:
- M662 HEAT-T
- Projectile mass: 10.5 kg
- Explosive type: 970 g
- TNT equivalent: 1.27 kg
- Armor penetration by high-energy action: 17 mm
- Fuze delay: 0.05 m
- Fuze sensitivity: 0.1 mm
- Angle of attack with 0% chance of a ricochet: 65°
- Angle of attack with 50% chance of a ricochet: 72°
- Angle of attack with 100% chance of a ricochet: 77°
- Armor penetration:
- @ 0°: 400 mm
- @ 30°: 346 mm
- @ 60°: 200 mm
- PGU-44/B HE
- Explosive type: Composition B
- Explosive mass: 2.18 kg
- PGU-45/B HE-VT
- Explosive type: Composition B
- Explosive mass: 2.18 kg
- M662 HEAT-T
- Ammunition:
Avionics:
- Radar: AN/APQ-180
- RWR: AN/ALR-69A
- Band: C-K
- MAWS: AN/AAR-44
- FLIR: AN/AAQ-39 TSS
- Optics: 3.4x-83.7x (TV, FLIR)
- IRST: Auto tracker
Countermeasures:
- Chaff/Flares: 480
- DIRCM: 2× AN/AAQ-24 Nemesis
- IRSS: Yes
Sources
- AAQ-17 - Forecast International
- AC-130U - United States Air Force
- Air Force Magazine May 2011
- Crowood Aviation Series: Lockheed C-130 Hercules by Martin W. Bowman
- Flying Guns of the Modern Era by Anthony G. Williams
- GAO/NSIAD-99-1 Special Operations Forces: C-130 Upgrade Plan Could Help Fix Electronic Warfare Deficiencies
- Ghostriders 1976-1995 by William Walter
- Joint Program Executive Office Portfolio Book
- Lockheed Martin Delivers First AN/AAQ-39 Targeting System Production Unit to the U.S. Air Force - Lockheed Martin
- Projectile and Mortar Metal Parts - General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Scranton Operations
- Reduction of 40-mm Muzzle Blast and Flash for AC-130 Gunship by Kevin S. Fansler and Raymond Von Wahlde
- Robins unit answers urgent call for AC-130U repair - United States Air Force
- SNC-Davis C-130 Infrared Suppressor
- Spectre Gunship ammunition storage - Meggit Defense
- TM 43-0001-28 Army Ammunition Data Sheets, Artillery Ammunition: Guns, Howitzers, Mortars, Recoilless Rifles, Grenade Launchers, and Artillery Fuzes (FSC 1310, 1315, 1320, 1390)
- The AC-130 Gunship and its Variants: Research from 10/2010
- The Bofors Gun by Terry Gander
- Wideband Microwave Receivers - L3Harris