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 Nha Trang 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."