| snodipous | 23 Apr 2013 11:32 a.m. PST |
When the M102 howitzer on an AC-130 fires, which parts of the gun recoil? There is a sliding carriage holding the tube, which I assume recoils, but does the tube itself slide within that carriage? An hour of looking on Youtube and reading the technical manual for the M102 hasn't answered my question. Thanks in advance! |
| vojvoda | 23 Apr 2013 12:38 p.m. PST |
It has been years since I flew on one doing CAS training but I seem to remember that the entire carriage assembly with the tube recoils on the mount inside of the AC-130. I do know it can move the plane some as the video image centered on the target will jump when the gun is fired. I use to have images of the layout inside but have no idea where they are on my back up drive. Here is one I found on the net showing the mounting:
VR
James Mattes |
| CorpCommander | 23 Apr 2013 12:46 p.m. PST |
James is right, the plane will vector in flight from the recoil. It does so for all the guns but that's just physics. It is mostly noticeable with the main gun.
The red tube is the recoil mechanism. |
 Legion 4  | 23 Apr 2013 1:56 p.m. PST |
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| Cardinal Ximenez | 23 Apr 2013 4:11 p.m. PST |
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| Whitestreak | 23 Apr 2013 9:30 p.m. PST |
BTB, that yellow cage? It's to keep you from getting smacked when the gun recoils. It's tight in there during a fire mission. Busy, noisy and smoky, too. During a fire mission, all 13 crew are busy. |
| Whitestreak | 23 Apr 2013 9:32 p.m. PST |
In the video, you see the guy with his back to the camera? The one not in a flight suit? That's the crew chief. That's what I did for two years, during fire missions. |
| snodipous | 24 Apr 2013 9:49 a.m. PST |
Thanks for the info chaps. Now let's see if the director I'm working with cares about any of this, or if he just wants to make it 'look cool.' I've already had to explain why we shouldn't show one of these guns firing 80 rounds a minute… |
| Whitestreak | 25 Apr 2013 9:01 p.m. PST |
Hmm… Maybe later I'll my story of how the gunner lost a 105 round and it took out power in a large section of NC… |
| LORDGHEE | 25 Apr 2013 9:26 p.m. PST |
Wow 16 rounds a minute
:)
Lord Ghee |
Chortle  | 27 Apr 2013 6:32 a.m. PST |
Firing a Howitzer out of an aircraft is very creative. It sounds more like Orks in W40K than the US Air force. Very interesting. |
