What Makes The A-10 Warthog So Dangerous
Story by Brent M. Eastwood • 36m ago
Yes, the A-10 Warthog is an old plane that has legend status. And yet, there is one thing above all that U.S. military loves about this 'flying tank': one really big gun.
If you are the target of the A-10 Thunderbolt II, better known as the Warthog, you may hear a loud buzzing sound. That’s the 30mm cannon that brings death from above. This gun can rip a hole in a vehicle the size of a volleyball. It’s called the GAU-8/A rotary Gatling-style weapon. It’s perfect for strafing enemy armor. This tank plinker was designed to take out Soviet tanks during the Cold War and later deployed with great effect during Operation Desert Storm. It was used handily for close air support over the skies of Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11.
Rate of Fire Is Impressive
The hydraulically-driven GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling-gun was designed by General Electric and is now overseen by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. It can fire at an unreal rate of 4,200 rounds per minute under the nose of an A-10. It’s also used on some U.S. Navy ships as a close-in weapons system. The gun has seven 91-inch barrels and fires as the barrel revolves.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/what-makes-the-a-10-warthog-so-dangerous/ar-AA16CpW9?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=41b23064524c49ffbc045f702949a34e
