AC-130H Spectre Firing 105mm Cannon
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff SGT. Nicholas Phelps
A AC-130H Spectre Gunship with the 16th Special Operations Squadron, 27th Special Operations Wing fires a 105 mm round during a demonstration at Melrose Air Force Range, June 8th 2011.
The AC-130H's array of air-to-ground weaponry includes a M102 105 mm howitzer mounted in the left rear side door.
The weapon is adapted from the M102 light-towed howitzer - a light field artillery piece introduced into US service during the Vietnam War.
The gun is aimed and fired by computer and loaded and maintained by a crew of 3 Aerial Gunners aboard the aircraft.
