Gunship ideas

[Weaver]

What did you have in mind Daryl?

It would take quite a few impossibilities together to make this work, but since it's Whiffworld, why not stray a bit from the possible:

Trimotor, early WW-II Atlantic coast USA and Canada patrolling for U-boats.  Gunned up with a gun from the A-10 Warthog (see what I mean  ), strengthened enough to withstand the forces from firing the weapon without dismembering the airframe and enough power to lift it airborne in the first place.    Grey/White/White with roundel Stars.    Wicker seating removed as to protect the crew from grass shrapnel upon firing.    If one gun won't sink a U-boat, then make it two.    That's the gonzo version.

One could also take a Trimotor and outfit it with 4 upward or downward firing schrage-musik style 50 cals depending on whether the machine was on antiaircraft or antipersonnel patrol.   Scab on some armor for the crew.   



Daryl J.

Nothing wrong, in principle, with a 1930s Gatling gun. The first person to put an electric motor on a Gatling was none other than Mr. Gatling himself, in 189-something-or-other. It worked a treat, but he discarded the ideal on the grounds that electrical power was not available on the battlefield. It's always amazed me that it took until 1950ish before someone tried it again, particularly given the various requirements for high volumes of fire (in AAA work especially), and the ready availability of drive power on ships, aircraft and vehicles. How long do you think a kamikazi would have lasted against ships which had replaced their Pom-Poms with 1" calibre, high-velocity twin steam-gatlings.......

[Jschmus]

The laser-armed C-130 is a neat idea, but it would have to be operated in areas where air supremacy was absolute.  I can just see all that laser equipment popping off from AAA hits.   

[jcf]

Nothing wrong, in principle, with a 1930s Gatling gun. The first person to put an electric motor on a Gatling was none other than Mr. Gatling himself, in 189-something-or-other. It worked a treat, but he discarded the ideal on the grounds that electrical power was not available on the battlefield. It's always amazed me that it took until 1950ish before someone tried it again, particularly given the various requirements for high volumes of fire (in AAA work especially), and the ready availability of drive power on ships, aircraft and vehicles. How long do you think a kamikazi would have lasted against ships which had replaced their Pom-Poms with 1" calibre, high-velocity twin steam-gatlings.......

1890 for the Crocker-Wheeler outside electric drive assembly for the US Navy and 1893 for Gatling's patent on an incoporated electric motor version capable of 3,000 rounds per minute.

The modern era began with Springfield Armory tests in 1945 and the Vulcan program began in 1946.

Direct steam drive would be inefficient and dangerous.

Jon

[LemonJello]

Could you replace the steam drive with the mechanical setup of a chain drive/gun?

[jcf]

Could you replace the steam drive with the mechanical setup of a chain drive/gun?

The chain of the chain gun is driven by an outside power source, a DC motor.

Capital ships became electrified in the late 19th century so an electric drive is the most logical.

Jon

[Shasper]

re: Gunship Lite

Been thinking about the armament on this one, possible some light caliber stuff like the 7.62 Minigun or a .50cal version, a M197 20mm covering the mid range & maybe a 25mm Bushmaster or a 30mm at the high end? I dont see anything bigger than the 30mm getting fitted unless some major yaw dampeners are installed.

Shas

[Hammer]

Brazilian manufacturer is coming out with a C-130 sized jet tactical transport called the C-390. In theory it is expected to ad a brand new tactical transport fuselage to tryed and tested Embraer 190 passenger jet wings, tail surfaces and engines. I don't know if the E-190 is available in kit form and if so, has anyone scretch built the C-390 (which would look real fine with the interna Tactical Laser sistem mounted inside. comments?

Regards

Hammer

[Maverick]

That ship reminds me a bit of the Mitsubishi C-1 (which is available in kit form) and the BAe-146 (equally available, altho a smaller scale) both of which would also be interesting additions for a gunship conversion.  I just wish someone would make a 146 in 72nd injection.

Regards,

Mav

[Hammer]

Decades ago I imagined a swing-tail (or swing cockpit, whatever) streched BAe-146 tactical airlifter... Remember the Canadair CL-44?

Regards,

Hammer

[Sauragnmon]

Not sure of much myself, I could have sworn the 30mm trials were counted out as it just didn't have the ballistic performance of the good old swedish born long-toothed 40mm.  Though a 50mm might be amusing as well to see in trials.  I could almost see a 75mm mounted on the side of the Spectre Lite, which in itself might be amusing to behold.

AC-124 or AC-225 would be hilarious to see, or an AC-72.  AC-225, with a side-mounted 152mm gun, a couple of AK-630 chainguns or 2A52's in side mounts.  That'd be kind of interesting.

On the topic of insane ground support whifs... I had a thought come to mind of something akin to an A-10/Hs-129 crossbreed.  Basically making a close air support aircraft with a good old BFG.  Designed for support with infantry primarily, it carries something like a 105mm with a few rounds in an autoloader and internal storage.  Arty, without the waiting for it, in a quick-mobile package.  Maybe even give it a VT Fuse HE round, use it for a doorbuster or what have you.  High accuracy artillery support on short notice in the area.  Mount a couple gun pods on the wings for additional stafing capacity perhaps.  Who knows.  Random rambling ideas here, just a real light draft concept.

[Maverick]

Sauragnmon, I love the idea of Sov gunships.  Just the ticket for their 'inconvenience' in A-stan or even some more topical areas (ooops  ).  With a bunch of Sov transport 'blanks' in the profile stash, I think I'll have to see about some appropriate art.

As for 'arty on call', I think the A-10 already takes that ticket.  With the agility of the platform and the power of the Avenger, I can't see the sense in hefting arty-sized weapons in a tactical aircraft.  The Hog already can do much of anything CAS-wise and the GAU-8 is certainly enough of a door-knocker for much of any occasion.

Regards,

Mav

[Sauragnmon]

Yeah, the look on somebody's face when that AN-124 turns out to NOT be a cargo plane, would be hilarious.  Oh wait, it IS a cargo plane, but not the kind of cargo you WANT to be on the receiving end of!

As for Arty-on-demand, you do have a point with the Hog, but unfortunately, there's a hell of a spray on the Avenger.  That thing scatters rounds like you wouldn't believe.  I figured a modestly stabilized mounting, you could get a pretty accurate right-in-the-window short-notice delivery of devastation for a unit not bringing something like an MGS to the fight.  Hogs are better for hitting things like vehicle convoys, as they've demonstrated, but still, the howie-in-a-bird thought isn't new, the Germans proved it first, hell it's what drove part of the A-10's design.  As big of a tank-killing gun as you can find, and build a damn plane around it.

[Hobbes]

I think at this point you'd be better off with rocket artillery. IIRC, trials are being done with guided HVAR rounds, which would give you explosive power in between an Avenger round and an SDB, with none of the construction issues a large gun has.

[Weaver]

Given that Mauser now make a recoilless 30mm autocannon, how about scaling it up to about 90mm and hanging it under a twin-boom A-10 successor (twin boom to keep the back blast away from the rear fuse skin)? Or, how about a flying wing UCAV?

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Just been working my way thru this thread, and can't seem to find the 'other' obvious British 'could have beens'

SA Twin Pioneer 'A twinpin with attitude' - Malaya/Kenya/Aden ToO

and of course....

The Rotodyne.....  - I'm sure somebody here was prepping a gunship Rotodyne a couple of years back, dont recall it being finished tho.

Ian