What happens when U.S. troops in Afghanistan take fire from Taliban fighters, holed up inside a fortified building? It’s pretty simple. Call in the Warthogs to bring on the BRRRRRT.
The distinctive BRRRRRT comes from the A-10’s GAU-8 Avenger cannon, which fires beer-bottle-sized 30-millimeter chunks of aluminum alloy at 3,342 feet per second. This is enough to chew through Soviet armor, so anything going up against the Avenger cannon that is less reinforced than a T-72 tank is going to have a bad time.
It’s not every day that we can share slamcam footage of actual combat operations, especially when it comes to the A-10 and its gian cannon. We presume that the Taliban fighters occupying the structure died, but you can’t see it. Not overtly, anyway.
More than one re-upload on the internet says the attack in the video below is from a Pakistan Air Force F-16, but the distinctive BRRRRRT from the GAU-8 is an unmistakable sound. Also unmistakable are the American voices watching it all go down.
Sorry, F-16. You’ve had your day in the sun. This is about the A-10’s massive cannon.
So whatever this building is made of, be it concrete, cinderblocks—who knows—it just didn’t stand a chance. It’s no wonder everyone who calls in close air support and gets an A-10 gun run has the same reaction to the jaw-dropping power of the GAU.
Listen closely.
Effects of A-10 GAU-8 Cannon on a Structure
Nice.
