Americans continue their Southern Spear operation within which they methodically destroy boats transporting drugs and other contraband to the U.S. Today, Southern Command SOUTHCOM published another strike video.
However, it proved extremely unusual. Specifically, judging by the interface and nature of explosions, the flying artillery battery AC-130J Ghostrider was used for the strike.
Read more: russia Offers India 3 Old Subs for Under $1B Days After Ukraine Sank Newer Version in Novorossiysk
Moreover, what was struck was not an ordinary boat, but a so-called narco-submarine. These are semi-submersible vessels that have a much smaller silhouette above water, which greatly complicates their detection. Interestingly, to strike the target, AC-130J used not just one gun, but all at once.
Specifically, it's armed with a 30mm automatic cannon and 105mm howitzer. The use of both guns at once is indicated by the nature of hits. First, one can see one large explosion several dozen meters from the narco-submarine.
Immediately after this, the 30mm automatic cannon begins working. It proved somewhat more accurate and the entire burst landed in the engine area, causing a fire on board. Just a few seconds later, the 105mm gun reloaded and struck again, and this time hit the central section.
And then AC-130J continued firing at the narco-submarine with all its guns until it completely burned and sank. Overall, this is the first recorded use of AC-130J for strikes during this operation.
It first became known that the U.S. sent AC-130J to the operation zone back in the first half of October. When a photo appeared of AC-130J taking off from an air base in Puerto Rico, armed with AGM-114 Hellfire guided missiles.
It seems they nevertheless decided to destroy targets not with expensive missiles, but with much cheaper guns. Overall, during the entire operation, 28 boats were struck, as well as 2 narco-submarines. More than 100 smugglers who were on board died with them.
Recalling narco-submarines, its worth remembering that Colombian drug traffickers managed to make them unmanned by installing Starlink satellite communication antenna on them, and this truly resembles modern warfare experience.
Read more: After A330 Tankers, MiG-29 Transfer, Poland Considers F-15EX, Korean KF-21 for Air Force Expansion
