Photos: From airborne ops to laser gunship
Although it's primarily a cargo transport plane, the C-130 can be configured as a gunship (giving it the designation AC-130 ) to provide close air support of ground troops and air defense of bases. Weapons in the H and U variants have been 40mm and 105mm cannons, along with a 25mm gatling gun in the U model. (U models are being retrofitted with a 30mm Bushmaster cannon in place of the 40mm and the gatling gun.)
The call sign for the H is "Spectre," and for the U, "Spooky." During the Vietnam War, troops often referred to the C-130 gunship as "Puff the Magic Dragon."
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