AC-130 Spectre / Spooky II Gunship

The Lockheed AC-130 is a C-130 cargo plane converted into a gunship. The port side of the AC-130 houses firing ports for an array of cannons, howitzers and gatling guns.

AC-130 - Role

The AC-130 is flown by USAF Special Operations, mostly in the close air support role. Other roles include air interdiction (pre-planned air-to-ground strikes), armed reconnaissance and force protection (flying defensive patrols over friendly forces / bases).

AC-130s missions are often coordinated by JTAC units on the ground, usually by USAF Combat Controllers (CCTs).

AC-130 Video

AC-130 Variants

The 2 variants of the AC-130 Featured on this page are:

AC-130H (Spectre)
operated by the 16th Special Operations Squadron
armed with:
- 2 x 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon
- 1 x 40mm L60 Bofors cannon (120 rpm)
- 1 x 105mm M102 howitzer (6-10 rpm)
AC-130U (Spooky II)
operated by the 4th Special Operations Squadron
armed with:
- 1 x 25mm GAU-12/U gatling gun (1800 rpm)
- 1 x 40mm L60 Bofors cannon (120 rpm)
- 1 x 10mm M102 howitzer (6-10 rpm)
AC-130Us are pressurized, allowing them to operate 5000ft higher then the H models, which results in a greater range.

Note: AFSOC retired the AC-130H Spectre from service in 2014. The Spectre is being replaced with the AC-130J Ghostrider (see below).

Since this article was first published, AFSOC have adopted 2 other AC-130 variants:

AC-130W Stinger II - based on MC-130W Combat Spear + Precision Strike Package
more info: AC-130W Stinger II
AC-130J Ghostrider - based on MC-130J Commando II + Precision Strike Package
more info: AC-130J Ghostrider

The AC-130U interior features an array of screens and sensors that allow the operators to find ground targets.

DoD photo by: SENIOR AIRMAN ALI E. FLISEK

A 40mm cannon and 105mm howitzer protruding from the fuselages of a AC-130H

DoD photo by: SSGT SUSAN FOREMAN

AC-130 Operational History

1960s/70s - Vietnam / Laos
1983 - Grenada - Operation Urgent Fury
1989 - Panama - Operation Just Cause
1991 - Persian Gulf - Operation Desert Storm
1993 - Somalia - Operation Restore Hope
1995 - Bosnia - Operation Deliberate Force
2001 - Present - Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom
2003 - Present - Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom

A total of 7 AC-130s have been lost during combat operations, including 5 over South East Asia, 1 during Desert Storm and 1 over Somalia, 1993.

AC-130Specifications

Crew	AC-130H 14 crew consisting of: pilot co-pilot navigator fire control officer. electronic warfare officer flight engineer loadmaster low-light TV operator infrared detection set operator 5 aerial gunners AC-130U 13 crew consisting of: pilot co-pilot navigator fire control officer. electronic warfare officer flight engineer loadmaster all-light-level TV operator infrared detection set operator 4 aerial gunners
Engines	4 Allison turboprop engines T56-A-15
Dimensions	29.8 meters 11.7 meters 40.4 meters
Max Takeoff Weight	69,750 kilograms
Range	1,300 nautical miles (AC-130H) / 2,200 nm (AC_130U)
Ceiling	25,000 feet (AC-130H) / 30,000 feet (AC-130U)
Speed	300 mph (sea level)
Countermeasures	AC-103U: AN/AAQ-24 Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) AN/AAR-44 infrared warning receiver AN/AAR-47 missile warning system AN/ALE-47 flare and chaff dispensing system AN/ALQ-172 Electronic Countermeasure System AN/ALQ-196 Jammer AN/ALR-69 radar warning receiver AN/APR-46A panoramic RF receiver QRC-84-02 infrared countermeasures system ;
Sensors	AC-130U: Multi-mode strike radar All-Light Level Television (ALLTV) Laser illuminator Laser Designator Laser Range Finder Infrared detection set

a USAF AC-130 Gunship pictured in flight.

DoD photo by: TECH. SGT. LEE SCHADING

USAF AC-130U Spooky gunships assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron.

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Barry Loo/Released

AC-130 Spectre Resources

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