40mm Bofors Ac-130 - The service was the last user of the Bofors cannon in the US military and had to hunt for more ammunition.
The U.S. Air Force has rebuilt tens of thousands of World War II-era cannons, particularly the 40 mm cannon on the AC-130U Spooky II. Although the service is looking to finally phase out this part of its arsenal, which has become an increasing nightmare, the older weapons have so far been too effective to be phased out entirely.
40mm Bofors Ac-130
In November 2017, the U.S. Air Force revealed that the 780th Test Systems Wing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida had been testing a 40mm high-explosive bomb known as the PGU-9D/B earlier this year. The new version has decades-old components and a safer and more reliable fuel than the original model. Some brass cartridge cases have a production date stamp dating back to 1944.
Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum\
In total, the service plans to rebuild nearly 80,000 old circuits in its new configuration. 780 has developed a process for modifying existing ammunition and building a number of prototypes, but it's unclear whether the unit, which is responsible for various weapons testing tasks, will be able to do all the work. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) controls all AC-130 fighters in service, as well as the new AC-130W Stinger II and the still-in-development AC-130J Ghostrider.
This project addressed the continued importance of the AC-130U and its 40 mm Bofors cannon. To realize the need for the aircraft, the seven Spooky IIs assigned to the 4th Special Operations Wing flew nearly 4,000 combat hours between November 2013 and June 2014, according to the Air Force's official history. The planes and their crews spent more than 1,175 days. At that time, he was sent to conflict zones.
Members of the 780th Test Systems Team load a PGU-9D/B round into a test gun during testing.
In October 2017, members of a squadron of 4-AC-130Us flying Spooky 43 were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and other bravery medals for one of the toughest operations in Afghanistan in 2016. The weapon defeated the insurgents hiding the US troops. Army special forces were to fire 40mm cannons and rounds from 105mm howitzers close to friendly troops from three sides.
Newspiece On Rebuilt 40 Mm Bofors Shells For Ac 130u Gunships
Currently, the Spooky II is the only system of any type left in the US military. Using weapons in any way. In addition to the PGU-9 round, the weapons can be high-explosive, armor-piercing rounds, or a combination of all three, depending on the target.
The US first used Swedish-made weapons during World War II for use against aircraft at sea and on land. Chrysler built about 60,000 vehicles in the United States. The last of these anti-aircraft weapons were decommissioned at least in the late 1970s.
However, by 1969, the Air Force began purchasing a completely different set of weapons. At the same time, its AC-130A and AC-119K aircraft flew down the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, intercepting the transfer of personnel, weapons, and other supplies from North Vietnam to South Vietnam.
Although tracked vehicles, the North Vietnamese Army converted many sections into functional highways. Dense anti-aircraft defenses, including 37 mm and 57 mm guns, protected the runway and became a significant threat to the Air Force's slow-moving and maneuverable cargo aircraft.
The C 130 History
With a 40mm gun instead of two of the four Vulcan 20mm cannons on previous versions, AC-130 crews can fly higher above enemy air defenses and still be able to hit trucks and crews accurately. The new weapons were so successful that the Air Force replaced the earlier Model A guns with more powerful guns and converted the powerful C-130Es to the same caliber.
The Air Force eventually replaced one of the 40 mm Bofors with a larger 105 mm howitzer in later versions of the E, a gun configuration that later became a feature of the AC-130H and AC-130U guns. The service retired the last H-type in 2015, leaving only the U-type and older guns, which continue to serve combat missions in war zones such as Afghanistan.
In 2007, the Air Force decided to replace the Spooky II's 40 mm gun and 25 mm GAU-12/U gun with a 30 mm gun. These tests did not turn out well, as the service complained that it was inaccurate, and the aircraft returned to its original configuration the following year.
The 30mm gun became the standard armament of the new AC-130W, and will be part of the armament of the AC-130J. As we reported in Warzone in October 2017, the weapon has problems with the accuracy and reliability of its ammunition.
Wwii Ammunition Finds New Life In War On Terrorism > Air Force > Article Display
At the same time, after more than seventy years of steady service and nearly 50 years of service, the Bofors guns were becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. A Swedish company, now part of the US-headquartered defense contractor. BAE Systems still manufactures 40mm guns, but their latest versions do not use the same ammunition as the older models in the US.
Old rounds can be difficult to find, as evidenced by the Air Force's plans to rebuild its current surplus build, but the challenge goes beyond finding more ammunition to meet the Air Force's needs. The barrel doesn't last forever among other parts, and heavy use wears down the rifle and its basic structure, making it extremely accurate and dangerous to use. In 2013, the Air Force had to order new barrels at a cost of $1.3 million each.
Last year, the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) sent a team to Greece to buy some of the old barrels that the NATO member had kept after the last version was retired in 2005. The service was able to get about 140 barrels and other rare parts at low cost to keep the guns running smoothly, saving a total of $14 million in the process.
Bill Walter, right, inspected a 1950s production 40mm barrel in its original packaging in Greece in 2012.
Ria Self Guided Tour: M1 40 Mm Anti Aircraft Gun (bofors)
"I spent two days looking for a 40mm kit, collecting a lot of weapons," said Bill Walter, a program analyst for AFSOC's strike requirements branch at the time. “It was like walking into a museum. I suddenly felt a panic attack. It's like stepping into another phase, like going back to the '50s or '60s."
This poor condition may not be a problem for long. In 2015, the Air Force retired the first AC-130U. The service expects to continue sending fleet members through 2018, when it is close to achieving initial operational capability with the new AC-130J.
When the last Spooky II left service, it marked the end of an impressive career for both aircraft.
The final retirement of the Bofors cannon after at least 75 years of service with the US Army.
Vliegen Met Een Howitzer, Want Waarom Ook Niet
40mm quad bofors, 40mm bofors shell, bofors 40mm mk4, 40mm bofors projectile, 40mm bofors, lego bofors 40mm, 40mm bofors round, bofors 40mm quad mount, twin 40mm bofors, 40mm bofors l70, ac 130 40mm, gmc bofors 40mm gun
0 Comments