287:
30:
350:
87:
386:. Approximately 1200 Mk 4 Gun Pods were manufactured by Hughes Tool Company, later Hughes Helicopter, in Culver City, California. While the system was tested and certified for use on the A-4, the A-6, the A-7, the F-4, and the OV-10, it only saw extended use on the A-4, the F-4, and the OV-10. In the case of the OV-10, the unit was used by VAL-4, a Navy squadron assigned to
162:
139:
107:, and fires at a fixed rate of 6,000 rpm. However, for this firing rate to be achieved the aircraft needs to fly over 300 mph (480 km/h), and the pod is designed to be optimal at speeds above 400 mph (640 km/h). Its weight, 1,650 lb (750 kg) loaded, also precludes it from many light aircraft.
176:
The first was the XM18 and SUU-11/A, which featured a standard version of the weapon encased in an aerodynamic pod. This weapon was unmodified and fired at a rate of 6,000 rpm. The fact that the weapon only fed from a drum containing 1,500 rounds of ammunition meant that a slower rate of fire was
180:
The second set of subvariants, designated XM18E1 (and standardized as the M18) and SUU-11A/A, featured an aircraft-to-pod electric connection, allowing aircraft internal power to be used in providing better starting torque, a de-energized solenoid allowing for better round clearing at low rates of
346:, with only four barrels. Podded, the system weights 1,900 lb (860 kg) loaded with 353 rounds of 30 mm ammunition in two helical layers surrounding the gun (for reduction of overall size). The pod is completely self-contained with a rate of fire of 3,000 rpm.
274:
by the US Air Force. This modification allowed its carriage on aircraft that could not meet the speed requirement of the previous unit, and reduced drag by removing the ram-air turbine requirement. This pod was popular for use on the
68:, were likely the first pods used by the United States military. One of its primary tasks was to suppress ground defenses during attack runs while conducting maritime interdiction, and the extra armament provided additional firepower.
286:
313:
20 mm cannon, the unit weighs only 586 lb (266 kg) loaded with 300 rounds of ammunition. It has selectable fire rates of either 700 rpm or 1,500 rpm. The pod is self-contained and powered by a
71:
With the rise of missile usage in the post-WWII period many United States aircraft were produced without internal guns, but it was soon found that guns were still needed both for air-to-air combat and
184:
The last set of subvariants were designated M18A1 (development of the M18E1) and SUU-11B/A. These featured a slightly higher set of selectable rates of fire, either 3,000 rpm or the high 6,000 rpm.
283:. The pod still has a weight restriction, weighing more than its predecessor at 1,730 lb (780 kg) loaded with 1,200 rounds of ammunition, and still has the fixed rate of 6,000 rpm.
150:.50 caliber machine gun. The pod carried 750 rounds of ammunition and provided a pneumatic charging system for the weapon. This system was used on the JOV-1A and UH-1 series of helicopters.
815:
181:
fire, and circuitry that allowed for selectable rates of fire. The options were either 2,000 rpm or 4,000 rpm, both significantly lower than the base rate of fire.
110:
The pod was designated XM12 (possibly standardized as M12) by the US Army and the same pod was designated SUU-16/A by the US Air Force. It was sometimes mounted on
280:
370:
20 mm cannon, along with 750 rounds of ammunition. This pod is said to have been used on a variety of US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft including the
258:. There is no information as to the outcome of these tests, carried out in 1966, which apparently also involved the SUU-11A/A pod mentioned earlier.
318:
rechargeable battery, with sufficient charge to expend three complete loads before needing to be replaced. This weapon has been tested on the
810:
173:
7.62×51mm
Minigun. This weapon was produced in three generations, with separate designations applied by both the US Army and US Air Force.
295:
301:
The pod was designated XM25 (possibly standardized as M25) by the US Army and the same pod was designated SUU-23/A by the US Air Force.
75:. Gun pods offered a simple means of giving aircraft this capability, with no weight penalty on missions where guns were not required.
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The pod was designated XM14 by the US army and the same pod was designated SUU-12/A by the US Air Force.
99:
Developed as a pod for high-speed fighter aircraft which lacked a gun, this pod was fitted with a single
367:
243:
7.62×51mm machine guns. Does not appear to have been standardized, likely in favor of the M18 series.
342:
gun to smaller aircraft. The resulting weapon used a smaller version of the GAU-8/A, designated the
216:
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123:
349:
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Similar to the XM12/SUU-16/A, this pod featured a self-powered variant of the M61A1, designated
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The United States has developed systems for use both on fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
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Perhaps the most widely used gun pod developed by the US military, fitted with a single
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40 mm grenade launcher. Some sources also mention this as a system tested on the
334:
Developed under
Project Pave Claw, the GPU-5/A was designed to adapt the power of the
799:
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45:
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A pod developed for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, fitted with a single
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239:
A pod developed by the US Army, likely primarily for helicopters, fitted with two
673:
Arsenal of
Democracy III: America's War Machine, the Pursuit of Global Dominance
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20 mm cannon and 1,200 rounds of ammunition. This weapon is powered by a
271:
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704:. Ronald T Pretty, Ed. London, UK: Jane's Publishing Company, Ltd, 1986.
161:
60:. "Package gun" installations on US medium and light bombers, such as the
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454:
187:
These pods were used on a wide array of US aircraft, primarily during the
138:
759:
United States. Aeronautical
Systems Division, United States Air Force.
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Of note, however, was the fact that this system was also tested with the
227:
by the US Marine Corps, and were part of standard armament fits for the
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390:, Vietnam, and was used extensively for close air support missions.
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Wright-Patterson, AFB, Ohio: Aeronautical
Systems Division, 1966.
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aircraft as a stopgap until internal-gun models entered service.
122:
A pod developed, likely for helicopters, fitted with a single
733:. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc, 1989.
718:. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc, 1991.
660:. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc, 1974.
645:. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc, 1984.
436:
434:
432:
430:
748:. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc, 2004.
270:(may have been standardized as the M130) by the US Army and
786:
A Photographic
History of NAF & VX-5 at NOTS China Lake
770:
Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 1969.
598:
A Photographic
History of NAF & VX-5 at NOTS China Lake
165:
Main components of the XM18 Gun Pod (less M134 machine gun)
766:
United States. Headquarters, Department of the Army.
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402:
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Developed by the US Navy, this pod is fitted with the
791:
TACOM-RI US Army
Helicopter Weapons Systems Website
761:
Shed Light
Program Package Documentation, Volume II
688:The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Armament
471:U.S. ARMY HELICOPTER WEAPON SYSTEMS (Page 1 of 2)
90:An USAF F-4D Phantom II carrying an SUU-16/A.
8:
675:. New York, NY: Grove Press, Inc, 1984.
33:One of the first American attempts at a
816:Military equipment of the United States
398:
309:A lightweight gun pod fitted with the
690:. New York, NY: Orion Books, 1988.
290:GPU-2/A Gun Pod mounted on a US Navy
56:came into its prime during and after
7:
353:A Mk 4 gun pod mounted on a US Navy
252:US Naval Air Station, Patuxent River
768:FM 1-40 Attack Helicopter Gunnery.
281:British FG.1 and FGR.2 Phantom IIs
25:
250:by the US Naval Air Test Center,
702:Jane's Weapon Systems, 1986–1987
451:Greg Goebel in the Public Domain
746:Walk Around: UH-1 Huey Gunships
552:United States, 1966. p. C2-30-1
1:
716:A-37/T-37 Dragonfly in Action
219:. It was also tested on the
811:Weapons of the United States
611:. Access Date: 3 June 2007.
602:1972 Aircraft Photo Gallery
543:Drendel, 1974. p. 15, 17-9
516:United States, 1969. p. G-3
507:United States, 1969. p. G-1
498:United States, 1969. p. I-2
480:. Access Date: 3 June 2007
457:. Access Date: 3 June 2007
440:United States, 1969. p. B-3
37:was the forward-firing .50-
832:
223:by the US Army and on the
643:F-4 Phantom II in Action
579:Gunston, 1988. p. 196-7
277:F-4C and F-4D Phantom II
781:Designation Systems.Net
561:Davis, 1984. p. 20, 56
455:The Grumman OV-1 Mohawk
157:M18 and SUU-11/A Series
44:"blister" mount on the
629:Gunston, 1988. p. 199
620:Gunston, 1988. p. 192
570:Gervasi, 1984. p. 240
525:Gunston, 1988. p. 189
424:Gunston, 1988. p. 195
412:Gervasi, 1984. p. 239
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221:ACH-47A "Guns A-Go-Go"
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82:Descriptions of models
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731:OV-1 Mohawk in Action
658:Gunslingers in Action
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279:aircraft, as well as
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95:XM12/M12 and SUU-16/A
89:
32:
489:Love, 1989. p. 34-5
231:with both services.
534:Mutza, 2004. p. 47
336:A-10 Thunderbolt II
52:The concept of the
607:2007-09-27 at the
588:Love, 1991. p. 43
476:2010-09-05 at the
469:. 5 October 2005
388:Bình Thủy District
359:
299:
211:and the US Navy's
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50:
600:. 21 May 2006.
262:XM25 and SUU-23/A
134:XM14 and SUU-12/A
73:close air support
16:(Redirected from
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686:Gunston, Bill.
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671:Gervasi, Tom.
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641:Davis, Larry.
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384:OV-10 Bronco
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355:A-4B Skyhawk
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324:OV-10 Bronco
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248:S-2E Tracker
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201:AC-47 Spooky
186:
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142:XM14 Gun Pod
121:
109:
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66:A-26 Invader
58:World War II
51:
26:
372:A-4 Skyhawk
368:Mk 11 Mod 5
209:T-28 Trojan
189:Vietnam War
112:F-4 Phantom
42:machine gun
800:Categories
636:References
362:Mk 4 Mod 0
229:AH-1 Cobra
177:desired.
605:Archived
474:Archived
344:GAU-13/A
338:and its
256:Maryland
340:GAU-8/A
330:GPU-5/A
305:GPU-2/A
272:GAU-4/A
54:gun pod
39:calibre
35:gun pod
752:
737:
722:
708:
694:
679:
664:
649:
382:, and
316:Ni-Cad
207:, the
18:SUU-23
394:Notes
268:XM130
217:AP-2H
213:OP-2E
171:GAU-2
101:M61A1
750:ISBN
735:ISBN
720:ISBN
706:ISBN
692:ISBN
677:ISBN
662:ISBN
647:ISBN
322:and
311:M197
241:M60C
235:XM19
215:and
118:XM13
64:and
294:at
124:M75
802::
429:^
417:^
401:^
378:,
374:,
326:.
254:,
203:,
199:,
195:,
148:M3
130:.
756:.
741:.
726:.
698:.
683:.
668:.
653:.
357:.
48:.
20:)
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