Piloting an AC-130 Spectre

Jay Honeck wrote: brevity snip
In order to keep the weapons on target, I would think that you'd have
to hold altitude accurately, too, and your "track" would need to be
smooth enough so that the computers could figure deflection accurately.

The capabilities of weapons systems boggle the mind. When I was an
army FO/FAC (70's) it was rumored an 8-inch tracked howitzer could put
2 rounds into the same hole. Probably exaggeration, but not beyond the
realm of possibility.

FDC's (fire direction centers) used to compute the the trajectories -by
hand-, including temperature, humidity, surface wind, winds aloft,
differences in elevation between the gun and target and the rotation of
the earth for the duration of the round flight. A good FO could "Fire
For Effect" and put "steel on target" the third round, but not without
estimating the effect of the adjustment gun's hot barrel as opposed to
the other gun's cold barrels.

I only adjusted navy guns in training but they were, by far, the most
accurate... while floating and rocking in the sea. How... I have no
idea.

With GPS and computer-controlled guns factored into the equation, if it
can be seen, it can be destroyed. I imagine Spooky pilots might not
have to fly much of an attack at all, but I would -love- to hear what
actually goes on.

I've seen video from the FLIR camera of a night attack on "personnel in
the open" using the smaller cannons and the helplessness of the targets
was truly pitiful. One second they were there going about their
business, the next few seconds they were converted to pink mist. There
was -no chance- for escape.
-----

- gpsman

On 11 Jan 2007 10:11:47 -0800, "gpsman"
wrote:

The capabilities of weapons systems boggle the mind. When I was an
army FO/FAC (70's) it was rumored an 8-inch tracked howitzer could put
2 rounds into the same hole. Probably exaggeration, but not beyond the
realm of possibility


Keep in mind that the Howitzer makes a sizable first hole.

Don



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