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During an attack the gunship performs a pylon turn, flying in a large circle around the target, allowing it to fire at it far longer than a conventional attack aircraft. Īll of the weaponry aboard is mounted to fire from the left (port) side of the non-pressurised aircraft. The gunship squadrons are part of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), a component of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The AC-130s deploy to bases worldwide in support of operations. AC-130Us are based at Hurlburt Field, Florida, while AC-130Hs and AC-130Ws are based at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. Force protection missions include defending air bases and other facilities. Air interdiction missions are conducted against planned targets and targets of opportunity.
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Close air support roles include supporting ground troops, escorting convoys, and flying urban operations. The gunship's sole user is the United States Air Force, which uses AC-130H Spectre, AC-130U Spooky, AC-130J Ghostrider, and AC-130W Stinger II variants for close air support, air interdiction and force protection. The AC-130A Gunship II superseded the AC-47 Gunship I during the Vietnam War. The basic airframe is manufactured by Lockheed, while Boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support. The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed ground-attack aircraft variant of the C-130 Hercules transport plane.