Gunships Unleashed

[Big_Dave]

Slayer 74, an AC-130U side-firing gunship, was en route to Fallujah, Iraq, on October 5, 2003, to work with a joint terminal air controller (JTAC) from the 82nd Airborne Division on a routine counter-mortar mission. Approximately 5 minutes from Fallujah, the pilot, equipped with night-vision goggles, noticed surface-to-surface fire through the small window by his left foot. He immediately rolled into a 20-degree left bank and talked his infrared and all low light level television sensor operators onto the tracers. In less than 30 seconds, they had identified stationary U.S. military vehicles and several suspicious individuals fleeing the area.
Read the rest here (http://www.military.com/forums/0,15240,141012,00.html?ESRC=army.nl)

[Randg1]

Interesting read---Thanks....

[Big_Dave]

Interesting read---Thanks....
No problem.

One thing I do find odd is.......when I was in the Army from 2/79 - 6/88, they preached the 'combined arms' doctrine. Meaning efficient use of air power, naval power, armor, infantry and artillery.

I guess that asking the politicians to let the Military do their job and wage the actual combat part of the war on terrorism is too much to ask.

If you're gonna have troops in an armed conflict, give them the means and ways to eliminate the enemy with minimal casualties to our troops.

I was kinda shocked to read that they wouldn't let an AC-130 in the area engage, but instead called one in from quite a ways away......therefore assuring casualties on our side. :wtf: :angry:

[Bookworm]

Two of the best sounds a grunt under fire can hear is the freight train roar of a 105 shell passing overhead or the zipper sound of "Spooky" opening up. I would much rather hear spooky as I know it has a little better targeting.

Dave