Gunship

A gunship is a military aircraft equipped with heavy armaments. These aircraft are primarily designed to attack targets on the ground or at sea. They can provide airstrikes or close air support for troops. In modern aviation, the term specifically describes fixed-wing aircraft with laterally-mounted weapons. This means the guns are mounted to fire out of the side of the plane.

Modern fixed-wing gunships use a specific flight pattern to attack. Instead of flying straight past a target in a strafing run, they circle it. This is known as a pylon turn, or a banking turn. The aircraft's armament is positioned on one side of the plane. These weapons are harmonized to fire at the apex of an imaginary cone. This cone is formed by the aircraft and the ground. By circling the target, the aircraft can maintain a steady position over the area.

During the Vietnam War, the Douglas AC-47 Spooky demonstrated this mechanism. The AC-47 was a modified C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft. It used three side-firing 7.62 mm miniguns. These weapons could fire either 50 or 100 rounds per second. By flying in an overhead left-hand orbit, the aircraft could cover a target the size of a football field. It could do this in less than 10 seconds. The aircraft could loiter over a target for hours as long as it had ammunition and flares. Other aircraft like the Fairchild AC-119 Shadow and Stinger also served in this role.

The history of the term "gunship" dates back to the mid-19th century. It was originally a synonym for a gunboat. It also referred to the heavily armed ironclad steamships used during the American Civil War. During World War II, many aircraft were converted to increase their firepower. The United States experimented with the Boeing YB-40 Flying Fortress and the Consolidated XB-41 Liberator. These were intended to act as "flying destroyer gunships" to escort bombers. While the XB-41 had stability problems, the YB-40 was sometimes called a gunship.

World War II also saw the development of dedicated attack aircraft. The North American B-25 Mitchell was modified into several versions. The B-25G models carried a 75 mm M4 cannon. The B-25H models used a lighter 75 mm T13E1 cannon. The B-25J variant was even more heavily armed. It carried eighteen .50 caliber Browning machine guns. This was more guns than any other American aircraft at the time. Other nations also developed heavy fighters. The British used the de Havilland Mosquito for fighter-bomber roles. German forces used the Ju 87G "Kanonenvogel" as a tankbuster with 37 mm autocannons.

The Lockheed AC-130 became the modern standard for fixed-wing gunships. These large aircraft use many different weapon systems. These include GAU-2/A Miniguns and M61 Vulcan six-barrel rotary cannons. They also use 40 mm Bofors autocannons and even M102 howitzers. Because they are vulnerable, these aircraft usually operate only after air superiority is achieved. Smaller designs were also created, such as the Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker. These were meant to be cheap and easy to maintain for friendly governments. Today, nations like Italy use the C-27J Spartan as a gunship.

Helicopters can also function as gunships. In this context, the term is often synonymous with a heavily armed helicopter. These aircraft use machine guns, rockets, and missiles to attack. The Soviet Mil Mi-24, also known as the Hind, is a famous example. Introduced in the 1970s, it is a large, armored troop transport and gunship. It is designed to withstand .50 caliber machine gun fire. Its armored cockpit and titanium rotor head can even withstand 20 mm cannon hits. The Mi-24 has been operated by more than 30 different nations.