Gunships

Gunships PDF Author: Wayne Mutza
Publisher: Specialty Press (MN)
ISBN: 9781580071239
Category : AC-119 (Gunship)
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Gunships: The Story of Spooky, Shadow, Stinger, and Spectre tells the dramatic story of transforming military cargo transports into deadly ground-attack aircraft used by the U.S. and other countries in worldwide conflicts from the Vietnam War to the Middle East today. This comprehensive and detailed accounting of gunships begins with piston-powered, WWII-era C-47s and progresses to the four-engine turboprop C-130 Hercules, showing how gunships evolved from using 20mm miniguns to 105mm Howitzers with digital-age Battle Management Centers housed onboard. These highly effective airplanes made history by removing the safe haven of night operations from the enemy, and allowing strategic victory that might not have otherwise been possible. Author Wayne Mutza not only carefully researched all of these aircraft and their paths to reality, but also tells the tale of the brave and persevering men who believed in this unique weapon system and who saw its development through to the end. This book features a wealth of outstanding color photographs, many of which have never before been published, and also contains detailed appendices documenting gunship production data, combat units, and aircraft losses.

Gunships

Gunships PDF Author: Wayne Mutza
Publisher: Specialty Press (MN)
ISBN: 9781580071239
Category : AC-119 (Gunship)
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Gunships: The Story of Spooky, Shadow, Stinger, and Spectre tells the dramatic story of transforming military cargo transports into deadly ground-attack aircraft used by the U.S. and other countries in worldwide conflicts from the Vietnam War to the Middle East today. This comprehensive and detailed accounting of gunships begins with piston-powered, WWII-era C-47s and progresses to the four-engine turboprop C-130 Hercules, showing how gunships evolved from using 20mm miniguns to 105mm Howitzers with digital-age Battle Management Centers housed onboard. These highly effective airplanes made history by removing the safe haven of night operations from the enemy, and allowing strategic victory that might not have otherwise been possible. Author Wayne Mutza not only carefully researched all of these aircraft and their paths to reality, but also tells the tale of the brave and persevering men who believed in this unique weapon system and who saw its development through to the end. This book features a wealth of outstanding color photographs, many of which have never before been published, and also contains detailed appendices documenting gunship production data, combat units, and aircraft losses.

Development and Employment of Fixed-wing Gunships, 1962-1972

Development and Employment of Fixed-wing Gunships, 1962-1972 PDF Author: Jack S. Ballard
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Gunships (Military aircraft)
Languages : en
Pages : 342

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Book Description


Development and employment of fixed-wing gunships 1962-1972

Development and employment of fixed-wing gunships 1962-1972 PDF Author:
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1428993649
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 342

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Book Description


SHADOW AND STINGER: Developing the AC119G/K Gunships in the Vietnam War

SHADOW AND STINGER: Developing the AC119G/K Gunships in the Vietnam War PDF Author: William P. Head
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
ISBN: 1603445072
Category : AC-119 (Gunship)
Languages : en
Pages : 354

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Book Description
Nicknamed ""the truck killer,"" the AC-119K gunship and its counterpart, the AC-119G, were developed in the late 1960s in response to the needs of the US military in Vietnam. This book examines the evolution of these aircraft and their role within Vietnam, military policy, and geopolitical realities.

UH-1 Huey Gunship vs NVA/VC Forces

UH-1 Huey Gunship vs NVA/VC Forces PDF Author: Peter E. Davies
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472845145
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 81

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Book Description
Often described as the US Army's aerial jeep the UH-1 Iroquois ('Huey') was the general-purpose vehicle that provided mobility in a hostile jungle environment which made rapid troop movement extremely challenging by any other means. Hueys airlifted troops, evacuated casualties, rescued downed pilots, transported cargo externally and enabled rapid transit of commanders in the field. Although 'vertical aviation' had only become a practical reality during the Korean War helicopters evolved rapidly in the decade before Vietnam and by 1965 the US Army and US Marines relied on them as primary combat tools. This was principally because North Vietnam's armed forces had long experience of jungle operations, camouflage and evasion. Generally avoiding set-piece pitched battles they relied on rapid, frequent strikes and withdrew using routes that were generally inaccessible to US vehicles. They commonly relied on darkness and bad weather to make their moves, often rendering them immune to conventional air attack. Gunship helicopters, sometimes equipped with Firefly searchlights and early night vision light intensifiers, were more able to track and attack the enemy. Innovative tactics were required for this unfamiliar combat scenario and for a US Army that was more prepared for conventional operations in a European-type setting. One of the most valuable new initiatives was the UH-1C 'Huey Hog' or 'Frog' gunship, conceived in 1960 and offering more power and agility than the UH-1B that pioneered gunship use in combat. Heavily armed with guns and rockets and easily transportable by air these helicopters became available in large numbers and they became a major problem for the insurgent forces throughout the war. Covering fascinating details of the innovations in tactics and combat introduced by gunship helicopters, this book offers an analysis of their adaptability and usefulness in a variety of operations, while exploring the insurgent forces' responses to the advent of 'vertical aviation'.

Marines and Helicopters, 1962-1973

Marines and Helicopters, 1962-1973 PDF Author: William R. Fails
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 0788118188
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 273

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Book Description
Traces the development of helicopters in the Marine Corps from 1962 to 1973. Portrays accurately the difficulties faced and the obstacles conquered by the men who developed helicopters in the Marine Corps. Over 100 figures, maps, photos, and tables.

Night Hunters

Night Hunters PDF Author: William Pace Head
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
ISBN: 1623491509
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 403

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Book Description
In Night Hunters, air power historian William P. Head provides the first detailed study of the development and deployment of the AC-130 gunship. While other airframes and other types of close air support (CAS) and interdiction weapon systems preceded or flew with the AC-130s, this four-engine cargo airframe proved to be not only the longest serving fixed-wing gunship but also the most effective by far. During the Vietnam War, the US military developed new tactics and weapons systems to counter a diversity of enemy tactics and geographic features, the difficult climate, and the shifting diplomatic context. One of the most important was the development of the AC-130. Its ability to transport heavier payloads at higher altitudes across longer distances made it the logical choice to be the final Vietnam-era fixed-wing gunship and the only one that continues to fly missions in the twenty-first century. In addition, it employed many of the most advanced weapons, sensors, targeting devices, and fire control systems of the 1970s or of any era. By recounting both the technical development and the combat operations of the plane, and by looking at the proposed alternatives for its use in the War on Terror, Night Hunters offers a clear view of the role of gunships and of close air support in US wars. In today’s never-ending brushfire wars, the AC-130s continue to uphold their reputation for excellence.

Shadow and Stinger

Shadow and Stinger PDF Author: William Pace Head
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
ISBN: 9781585445776
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 364

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Book Description
Nicknamed “the truck killer,” the AC-119K gunship and its counterpart, the AC-119G, were developed in the late 1960s in response to the needs of the U.S. military in Vietnam. This important book examines the evolution of these aircraft and their role within Vietnam, military policy, and geopolitical realities. Drawing on unpublished studies and a host of primary materials, William Head discusses the events that led to the birth of the AC-119, the planning and modification processes that followed, and its operational history. The G model, or “Shadow,” focused on air support and anti-personnel missions. “Stinger,” the K model, which could carry more cargo for longer distances, was suited for destruction of enemy vehicles. Though the AC-119 was only an interim asset, its descendants—the AC-130E, H, and U—have played an active role in the recent conflict in Iraq. A narrative of the crews and pilots who executed the missions and the engineers, designers, and the politicians responsible for the aircraft, Shadow and Stinger will be of interest to Vietnam veterans, historians, and scholars, as well as aviation enthusiasts.

Air Power and the Ground War in Vietnam

Air Power and the Ground War in Vietnam PDF Author: Donald J. Mrozek
Publisher: The Minerva Group, Inc.
ISBN: 9780898759815
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description
Dr. Donald J. Mrozeks research sheds considerable light on how the use of air power evolved in the Vietnam War. Much more than simply retelling events, Mrozek analyzes how history, politics, technology, and the complexity of the war drove the application of air power in a long and divisive struggle. Mrozek delves into a wealth of original documentation, and his scholarship is impeccable. His analysis is thorough and balanced. His conclusions are well reasoned but will trouble those who have never seriously considered how the application of air power is influenced by factors far beyond the battlefield. Wether or not the reader agrees with Mrozek, the quality of his research and analysis makes his conclusions impossible to ignore. John C. Fryer, Jr. Brigadier General, United States Air Force Commander, Center for Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education

Night Hunters

Night Hunters PDF Author: William P. Head
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Air warfare
Languages : en
Pages : 688

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Book Description