U.S. Air Force Gunship Sinks Decommissioned U.S. Navy Warship During RIMPAC Drill

The United States Air Force has released footage of an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship targeting a decommissioned US Navy amphibious transport dock, the USS Dubuque, during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercise last month.

The exercise, held from June 27 to August 1, demonstrated the firepower of the Air Force’s gunship as part of a larger worldwide event involving 29 countries, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft, and 25,000 soldiers.

The video shows the AC-130J Ghostrider, operated by the New Mexico-based 27th Special Operations Wing, launching a continuous attack of cannon fire on the USS Dubuque.

The 1967-built vessel served in the Vietnam War and was decommissioned in 2011, is now 15,000 feet underwater after the drill. The footage shows impacts from the gunship’s 30mm and 105mm cannons, as well as smoke blowing from the vessel’s surface.

The Dubuque was also targeted by U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters and Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers.

The AC-130J’s participation was a highlight of this year’s sinking exercises, which also included the sinking of a larger flat-deck amphibious assault ship, the USS Tarawa, on July 19.

Video Credits: Cannon Air Force Base/Facebook

The Tarawa was chosen because it is similar to China’s Type 075 amphibious assault ship, a potential target in Taiwan Strait conflicts.

During the RIMPAC exercises, both vessels were used as live weaponry training targets. The USS Dubuque was sunk on July 11, followed by the Tarawa, which was hit with a Quicksink-guided bomb from a B-2 strategic bomber later that month.

The Quicksink bomb, designed to explode a high explosive charge underneath a vessel’s hull, was said to have led to the Tarawa’s sinking, though the damage details were not released.

The exercise provided a platform for US and Allied forces to assess their skills in a real-world scenario.

Vice Admiral John Wade of the United States Navy emphasized that the choice of warships ensured that they could withstand multiple hits while also providing extensive training opportunities.

The Rim of the Pacific exercise remains the largest international maritime exercise, serving as a testing ground for advanced weaponry and coordination with multinational forces.

Per Environmental Protection Agency regulations, the ships used in the exercise are completely free from toxic substances and must sink at least 6,000 feet underwater, 50 nautical miles from land.

Reference: Air Force Times, Newsweek

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