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03-01-2010, 02:38 PM
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Ultimate close support weapon?
I suspect that if Bin Laden ever sees one of these, he can bend over and kiss it goodbye. This is a shot I took last November of an AH-64D Apache attack helicopter in flight on Veterans Day.
A 30mm automatic Boeing M230 chain gun is located under the fuselage. It provides a rate of fire of 625 rounds a minute. The helicopter has capacity for up to 1,200 rounds of ammunition.
The AH-64D is armed with the Lockheed Martin / Boeing AGM-114D Longbow Hellfire air-to-surface missile which has a millimetre wave seeker which allows the missile to perform in full fire and forget mode. Range is 8km to 12km.
The Apache can be equipped with air-to-air missiles (Stinger, AIM-9 Sidewinder, Mistral and Sidearm) and the advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS), formerly known as Hydra, family of guided and unguided 70mm rockets.
Nice to know these babies are on OUR side...
Here's a stock photo of one fully loaded and ready to go:
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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -
Last edited by PALADIN85020; 03-01-2010 at 02:48 PM.
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03-01-2010, 03:12 PM
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Another close air support aircraft I'm glad is on our side: A-10 Thunderbolt II. My nephew has piloted these bad boys over in Iraq / Afghanistan.
- 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun, 1200 rounds
- Up to 16,000 pounds of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing and three under-fuselage pylon stations
- 500 pound Mk-82 and 2,000 pounds Mk-84 series low/high drag bombs, incendiary cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, mine dispensing munitions, AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs
- infrared countermeasure flares; electronic countermeasure chaff; jammer pods; 2.75-inch rockets; illumination flares and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
Gotta love US military might! 
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03-01-2010, 05:08 PM
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A-10 ...just bad ...all there is to it...
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03-01-2010, 05:57 PM
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That must be what they mean when they say "bristling with weapons"...
Thanks to ALL of the men and women who serve or have served this great country!
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03-01-2010, 10:52 PM
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Close support
I always thought the AC-130 was pretty good, and back in the day they would get as close as you needed.
Here's some of the ammo used.
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"DE OPPRESSO LIBER"
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03-02-2010, 12:26 PM
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with the c-130 gunship overhead ...now that is a warm and fuzzy feeling...That is serious support..
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03-02-2010, 12:33 PM
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Agree with those three! I was going to buy an Apache, but couldn't find a holster for it!
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Term limits!
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03-02-2010, 12:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lomax Anderson
with the c-130 gunship overhead ...now that is a warm and fuzzy feeling...That is serious support..
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Puff the Magic Dragon is definitely your friend..... 
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Regards,
Lee Jarrett
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03-02-2010, 01:31 PM
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I have some fond memories of my days on the AC-130U Spooky II... 
The gunners pictured are Ghostriders from the 4th Special Operations Squadron loading 105 and 40mm rounds.
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03-02-2010, 10:54 PM
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"Ultimate close support weapon?"
1st Marine Air Wing.
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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!
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03-02-2010, 11:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scotsbrae
Agree with those three! I was going to buy an Apache, but couldn't find a holster for it!
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IWB would be tight, you may have to buy a stronger belt....
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03-03-2010, 12:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Muley Gil
"Ultimate close support weapon?"
1st Marine Air Wing. |
Only if they're flying off a bird farm.
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03-03-2010, 04:21 PM
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I was lucky enough to see an ac130 in action. I sure wouldn't want to be that beast's target!
I say lucky because an ac130 literally saved my life. I never thought I'd say it, but thank God for USAF combat controllers!
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