Gunships - "On
15 December 1964 an entirely new weapons system was introduced
into combat in Vietnam. The first AC-47 gunship took to the air
from Phan Rang Air Base carrying an armament of three 7.62mm General
Electric SUU-11A miniguns, each capable of firing 6,000 rounds
per minute. The 'Spooky' was an instant success in breaking up
enemy attacks on hamlets and other defensive positions, and within
a year substantial numbers of rehabilitated 'Gooney Birds' were
in action throughout the combat area."
