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30mm Everywhere
by James Dunnigan
October 1, 2006
Discussion Board on this DLS topic
The U.S. Air Force is spending nearly $10 million to repackage several hundred thousand rounds of 30mm cannon ammo used in it's A-10 aircraft, for use in AC-130 gunships. Last year, the air force began replacing the 25mm and 40mm guns on its AC-130 gunships, with two 30mm cannon. The Mk44 30mm Bushmaster weighs 344 pounds and fires at a rate of 200 or 400 rounds per minute (up to 7 per second). While the 30mm guns used on the A-10 and AC-130 are quite different, they use the same size ammo.
The AC-130 30mm cannon has 160 rounds available, before needing a reload. That means the gunner has 25-50 seconds worth of ammo, depending on rate of fire used. Each 30mm round weighs about 25 ounces (depending on type.) The anti-armor shell weighs about half a pound. The armor piercing round will go through 25mm of steel at 2,000 meters range. This will get through the top armor of most vehicles, and spray the inside with fragments. At that range, time of flight is about 1.7 seconds. Explosive anti-personnel rounds are the most common round used in the Mk44. From higher altitudes (up to 20,000 feet), the AC-130 fire control system and night vision sensors, enable the 30mm gunners to accurately hit targets with high explosive shells.
The existing 25mm and 40mm guns are being phased out of military service, and the new 30mm gun is easier to operate. All 25 of the AC-130s are being converted to use the 30mm guns.
While the A-10 still gets a lot of work in Iraq and Afghanistan, there are still large stocks of 30mm ammo for it, that will never be fired given the current use rates. So it makes sense to repackage it for use on the new 30mm cannon on the AC-103s. The same ammo is being used in Mk46 30mm guns for the new U.S. Marine Corps amphibious vehicle (the AAAV) and for San Antonio-class (LPD 17) amphibious ships.
http://www.strategypage.com/dls/arti...0610105842.asp
Goddamn Spectres must be scary.
The AAAV fires 30 X 173mm rounds?The same ammo is being used in Mk46 30mm guns for the new U.S. Marine Corps amphibious vehicle (the AAAV) and for San Antonio-class (LPD 17) amphibious ships.
"We always have been, we are, and I hope that we always shall be, detested in France."
-Sir Arthur Wellesley
AC-17 with M777 + GAU/8... muhahaha!
A deadly aircraft just got deadlier. The gunships must be one of the best ideas ever for ground support. There should be provision for conversion to 40mm to fire pure HE, where required.
Jonathan
While i certainly embrace the lethality and enhanced range of the 30x173mm cartridge the new guns fire, i must say, removing the rotary cannons is a mistake.
Speaking from first hand experience, what makes the spectre so uniquely terrifying(or completely awe inspiring- depending on your affiliation) is the psychological effect of seeing those continuous streams of tracers pouring down on you from the heavens.
That is an effect that will be lost with the 30mm guns.
Ideally, two GAU-13 30x173mm rotary cannons would've been bettter(there may have been issues that prevented their use, i really dont know)
All gunships seem to be troubled by the rapid build up of the fumes in what used to be the cargo compartment. It is a serious problem and a sensible remedy has yet to be found.
Hmmm, interesting. I never knew about that issue.
They could always conduct ops with the ramp down in the back.
Last edited by Bill; 16 Oct 06, at 06:22.
So what happens to the 25mm and 40mm rounds, do they get "phased out" too?Originally Posted by M21Sniper
Last edited by drkfce; 16 Oct 06, at 01:45.
No idea what they'll do with the 40's. Doesnt the Navy still have some 40mm's in the inventory?
The 25mm's will surely go to the USMC and Army, both of which use quite a lot of 25mm ammo(Bradley, LAV, Harrier, others)
You could always sell the 40mm ammo off to countries like Sweden that use them on a lot of their AFVs and PT Boats.
I think eventually the Marines will upgrade their LAVs to 30mm to give it logistical commonality with the AAAV. Also, I wouldn't be shocked if the Army upgunned it's Bradleys to 30mm guns once FCS fails.
"We always have been, we are, and I hope that we always shall be, detested in France."
-Sir Arthur Wellesley
I guess it's possible, sure would give the Brad a much more capable anti-armor capability with it's gun.
Will it have the room though?
Yes, but you would sacrifice some ammo capacity though.
"We always have been, we are, and I hope that we always shall be, detested in France."
-Sir Arthur Wellesley
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