Although it's primarily a cargo transport plane, the C-130 can be configured as a gunship (giving it the designation AC-130 ) to provide close air support of ground troops and air defense of bases. Weapons in the H and U variants have been 40mm and 105mm cannons, along with a 25mm gatling gun in the U model. (U models are being retrofitted with a 30mm Bushmaster cannon in place of the 40mm and the gatling gun.)
The call sign for the H is "Spectre," and for the U, "Spooky." During the Vietnam War, troops often referred to the C-130 gunship as "Puff the Magic Dragon."
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- C-130 = Super Spooky?
- IIRC, before the end of the Vietnam fiasco the C-130 gunships were flying although they weren't nearly as potent or as accurate as what flies today. This would have been in the '68 period. The old AC-... (Read the rest)
- Posted by: bodger@... Posted on: 01/07/08 You are currently: Logged In | Log out
 Puff the Magic Dragon mgkdrgn | 01/02/08 |
 "Puff" was NOT a C-130 Dr_Zinj | 01/02/08 |
 They're loud... Dr. John | 01/02/08 |
| "Puff" was a "gooney bird" silvertip@... | 01/05/08 |
| C-130 Hercules gregory-wheeler@... | 01/02/08 |
| C-130 = Super Spooky? bodger@... | 01/07/08 |
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