Gunship

Post–World War II aviation

Fixed-wing aircraft

In the more modern, post-World War II fixed-wing aircraft category, a gunship is an aircraft having laterally-mounted heavy armaments (i.e., firing to the side) to attack ground or sea targets. These gunships were configured to circle the target instead of performing strafing runs. Such aircraft have their armament on one side harmonized to fire at the apex of an imaginary cone formed by the aircraft and the ground when performing a pylon turn (banking turn).

The Douglas AC-47 Spooky was the first notable modern gunship. In 1964, during the Vietnam War, the popular Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport was successfully modified into a gunship by the United States Air Force with three side-firing Miniguns for circling attacks. At the time, the aircraft was known as a "Dragonship", "Puff, the Magic Dragon," or "Spooky" (officially designated FC-47, later corrected to AC-47). Its three 7.62 mm (0.300 in) miniguns could selectively fire either 50 or 100 rounds per second. Cruising in an overhead left-hand orbit at 120 knots (220 km/h; 140 mph) air speed at an altitude of 3,000 feet (900 m), the gunship could put a bullet or glowing red tracer (every fifth round) into every square yard of a football field–sized target in potentially less than 10 seconds. And, as long as its 45-flare and 24,000-round basic load of ammunition held out, it could do this intermittently while loitering over the target for hours.

The lesser-known Fairchild AC-119G Shadow and AC-119K Stingers were twin-engine piston-powered gunships developed by the United States during the Vietnam War. Armed with four 7.62 mm GAU-2/A Miniguns (and two 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan six-barrel rotary cannons in the AC-119K version), they replaced the Douglas AC-47 Spooky. They operated alongside the early versions of the Lockheed AC-130 gunship.

It was the latter, larger Lockheed AC-130 Gunship II that became the modern, post–World War II origin of the term "gunship" in military aviation. These heavily armed aircraft used a variety of weapon systems, including 7.62 mm (0.300 in) GAU-2/A Miniguns, 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan six-barrel rotary cannons, 25 mm (0.984 in) GAU-12/U Equalizer five-barreled rotary cannons, 30 mm (1.181 in) Mk44 Bushmaster II chain guns, 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors autocannons, and 105 mm (4.134 in) M102 howitzers. The Douglas AC-47 Spooky, the Fairchild AC-119, and the AC-130 Spectre/Spooky, were vulnerable, and meant to operate only after achieving air superiority.

Smaller gunship designs such as the Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker and the Helio AU-24 Stallion were also designed by the United States during the Vietnam War. These aircraft were meant to be cheap and easy to fly and maintain. They were to be given to friendly governments in Southeast Asia to assist with counter-insurgency operations, eventually seeing service with the Khmer National Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force, and Republic of Vietnam Air Force as well as limited use by the United States Air Force.

Renewed interest in the concept of gunships has resulted in the development of a gunship variant of the Alenia C-27J Spartan. Although the United States Air Force decided not to procure the AC-27J, other nations including Italy have chosen the aircraft for introduction. Additionally, in 2013 the US Air Force Special Operations Command reportedly tested a gunship version of the C-145A Skytruck armed with a GAU-18 twin-mount 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine gun system.

Some air forces in the Middle East have begun experimenting with smaller gunships than the AC-130, with the Jordan Air Force converting 2 AC-235s and a single AC-295 into gunships. These are armed with ATK's side-mounted M230 30 mm (1.181 in) chain guns and various munitions, including 2.75 in (70 mm) rockets, Hellfire missiles, and bombs, mounted onto wing pylons.

Helicopter gunships

Early helicopter gunships also operated in the side-firing configuration, with an early example being the Aérospatiale Alouette III. During the overseas wars in Africa in the 1960s, the Portuguese Air Force experimented with the installation of M2 Browning 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in a side-firing twin-mounting configuration in some of its Alouette III helicopters. Later, the machine guns were replaced by a MG 151 20 mm cannon in a single mounting. These helicopters were known in Portuguese service as "helicanhões" (heli-cannons). They were used to escort unarmed transport helicopters in air assault operations and to provide fire support to troops on the ground. The South African and Rhodesian air forces later used armed Alouette III in similar configurations as the Portuguese, respectively in the South African Border and Rhodesian Bush wars.

During the Algerian War, the French operated Sikorsky H-34 "Pirate" armed with a German 20 mm MG151 cannon and two .50 inch machine guns. During the early days of the Vietnam War, USMC H-34s were among the first helicopter gunships in theater, fitted with the Temporary Kit-1 (TK-1), comprising two M60C machine guns and two 19-shot 2.75 inch rocket pods. The operations were met with mixed enthusiasm, and the armed H-34s, known as "Stingers", were quickly phased out. The TK-1 kit would form the basis of the TK-2 kit used later on the USMC's UH-1E helicopters.

The U.S. Army also experimented with H-34 gunships armed with M2 .50 caliber machine-guns and 2.75-inch rockets. In September 1971, a CH-34 was armed with two M2 .50 caliber machine guns, four M1919 .30 caliber machine guns, forty 2.75-inch rockets, two 5-inch high velocity aerial rockets (HVAR), plus two additional .30 caliber machine guns in the left side aft windows and one .50 caliber machine gun in the right side cargo door. The result was the world's most heavily armed helicopter at the time.

Also, during the Vietnam War, the ubiquitous Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters were modified into gunships by mounting the U.S. Helicopter Armament Subsystems—these were forward-firing weapons, such as machine guns, rockets, and autocannons, that began to appear in 1962–1963. Helicopters can use a variety of combat maneuvers to approach a target. In their case, the term gunship is synonymous with heavily armed helicopter. Specifically, dedicated attack helicopters such as the Bell AH-1 Cobra also fit this meaning. In any case, the gunship armaments include machine guns, rockets, and missiles.

The Soviet Mil Mi-24 (NATO code name: Hind) is a large, heavily armed and armored helicopter gunship and troop transport. It was introduced in the 1970s and operated by the pre-1991 Soviet Air Force and its successors post-1991, and more than 30 other nations. It was heavily armed with a reinforced fuselage, designed to withstand .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine gun fire. Its armored cockpits and titanium rotor head can withstand 20 mm cannon fire.

Examples

Fixed-wing aircraft

• Basler BT-67
• Douglas AC-47
• Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker
• Fairchild AC-119
• Lockheed AC-130
• Helio AU-24 Stallion
• Airbus AC-235
• Airbus AC-295

Helicopters

• Aérospatiale SA319 Alouette III
• Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma
• Boeing ACH-47 Chinook
• Bell UH-1B/C/M
• Mil Mi-24
• HAL Rudra
• HAL Lancer
• HAL Prachand
• Sikorsky MH-60L DAP
• Z-9WA