AC-130 gunners training with WWII ammo

[unhappycamper]

AC-130 gunners training with WWII ammo
Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Aug 13, 2008 20:08:52 EDT

It’s a good thing the military is a bit of a pack rat.

Rising ammunition costs have forced AC-130 aircrews to train with World War II production armor-piercing rounds that have been sitting quietly in storage bunkers for 64 years, according to an Air Force news release.

The ammo is plentiful and comparatively cheap — $8 per round in 1940s dollars, compared to about $200 per round for more modern options — but there was one problem: Because the rounds contained no explosives, aircrews firing them couldn’t tell where, or if, they hit their targets.

“If you don’t see it hit, you can’t adjust fire,” retired chief master sergeant Bill Walter said in the release. Walter, a former aerial gunner, now works in the Air Force Special Operations Command Plans and Programs Directorate.

So Air Force weapons specialists were called in to make that damage more visible.


Rest of article at:: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/08/airforce_wwii_ammunition_081308/



uhc comment: At $8 per round, 350,000 (WW II) rounds cost $2,800,000. At $200 per round, 350,000 (modern) rounds cost $70,000,000. Whoever said "War is good for budness" was correct.

[DonP]

1. What caliber round?

I thought about the only round from WWII still in general use was the .50 BMG?

Are they using .50's on the AC-130 now?

But I read the article, and may have missed it, but I didn't see any mention of what round they are using. I have some "vinntage" 7.62 x 54R for my Russian Bolt actions with headstamp dates to 1934 that still shoot just fine. I guess under proper storage it would make sense.

[unhappycamper]

2. I think they're talking about 40mm rounds. n/t

[Angleae]

3. Could be multiple types

20mm, 40mm, & 105mm on AC-130H
25mm, 40mm, & 120mm mortar on AC-130U