JDN

http://vampirebat.com/war/gatlinggun.wmv

IrishEyes

Is that real? Wouldn't like to be under that. I'd like to see what it would do to an armoured secure 7-series. Looks like star wars light sabre.

I kow they had a C47 gunship during Vietnam which they called Puff the magic dragon. Didn't think it would have been quite as suitable for a chopper but looks like time and technology cured that one.

JDN

I believe that helichopper is equipped with something like this 30 mm gatlin gun:

Movie Clip

skaffa

YEAH!! Minigun... max 6000 rpm .308 or .223. But to suply that You need truck load of ammo.

Skaffa

IrishEyes

Hope it is as smooth as a BMW In-line 6 at 6000 rpm

For something that fires off rounds at such as rate, they only seem to carry between 12-15K rounds or 2-3 minutes worth. I'm sure that in itself will take up a lot of spave and weight.

Can anyone tell me what a 'Depleated Uranium' round is and what it's advantage over a non-DU round?

garehaan

Judging to the damage it does this is certainly not a .223,or even .308 these would be like an air rifle compared to what that heli throws out.

mrbelk

Depleted Uranium (DU, for short) comes from the spent fuel rods of nuclear reactors. It is one of the densest materials on earth and, as such, it makes for one hell of a projectile weapon. Since the kinetic energy equation is KE = 1/2 mv^2, the more "m," the better.

Most of the NATO armies use DU or Tungsten projectiles as main battle tank ammunition since at the speeds at which those rounds travel, they can penetrate several _feet_ of steel/composite armor or concrete. The heat generated by the impact is enough to push a "plug" of vehicle armor into the crew (or engine or ammunition) compartment where it ricochet's all over, shredding everything in its path.

The A10 "Warhog" tank killer also uses DU ammunitition in its 30mm GAU-8 nose mounted rotary cannon.

DU isn't nearly as useful against "soft" targets like infantry (exploding cannon shells are way more effective) or thin-skinned vehicles, since it just goes right through and keeps going.

-MrB

mrbelk

I think that minigun was too small for 30mm; it was probably only 7.62mm. The 20 and 30mm rotary cannon (and ammunition) are way too big to use as a door gun in a Huey or on the roof of a Humm-Vee.

-MrB

IrishEyes

WOW. Thanks for the explaination. Would u reckon the test firings in the movie clip were using DU rounds? I know there are environmental/health issues re the use of DU rounds because of the radiation. Is the concern about the spent cartridges? What about the poor bas&^$d firing them in the first place. And they must cost a bomb (no pun intended). As u seem to know a lot about this subject, would you be also involved in the DoD arena? Just curious.

kigerka

A-10 30mm rounds use DU shell casings. As of now there is no problem handling the shells. 30mm is frickin big so I doubt that is what is being used. I haven't seen the videos yet. Plus the 30mm GAU-8 slows down the aircraft as it fires. A helicopter couldn't handle it. Very havy as well. I play with them all the time