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Gunship

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An AC-130H gunship from the 16th Special Operations Squadron

A gunship (not to be confused with a gunboat) is a military aircraft armed with heavy aircraft guns, primarily intended for attacking ground targets either as airstrike or as close air support.

In modern usage the term "gunship" refers to fixed-wing aircraft having laterally-mounted heavy armaments (i.e. firing to the side) to attack ground or sea targets.[1][2] The term "gunship" originated in the mid-19th century as a synonym for gunboat and also referred to the heavily armed ironclad steamships used during the American Civil War.[3]

The term helicopter gunship is commonly used to describe armed helicopters.

World War II aviation

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The B-25 bomber was heavily armed with 75mm and .50 caliber machine guns.

Attack aircraft

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During World War II, the urgent need for hard-hitting attack aircraft led to the development of the heavily armed gunship versions of the North American B-25 Mitchell.

The B-25 bomber was heavily armed with 75mm and .50 caliber machine guns.

Post–World War II aviation

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Fixed-wing aircraft

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The AC-47 provided CAS with three port side mounted 7.62 mm miniguns.

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.[1][2]

The Douglas AC-47 Spooky was the first notable modern gunship.


Helicopter gunships

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The Mil Mi-24 was one of the first dedicated gunship helicopters.

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 Ballard 1982, p. 9.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Hamlin 1970.
  3. Mystery photo unseen for 30 years may show Civil War gunship, Fox News, February 14, 2015 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)