M163 Vulcan Air Defense System - VFW 6602 - Hinesville, GA
N 31° 49.560 W 081° 37.395
17R E 441019 N 3521318
The M163 VADS was used by the US military in the 1980s and 1990s. This vehicle is located at VFW Post 6602 in Hinesville, GA.
Waymark Code: WM3EQ2
Location: Georgia, United States
Date Posted: 03/24/2008
Views: 20
From Wikipedia:
"The Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) used by the United States Army. It is also known as the M163. The M168 gun is a variant of the General Dynamics 20 mm M61 Vulcan rotary cannon—the standard cannon in most US combat aircraft since the 1960s.
The weapon is either mounted on a modified M113 vehicle (the M741 carrier) or on a towed trailer, which is designated the M167. The systems were designed to complement the M48 Chaparral missile system. The M163s uses a small, range-only radar, the AN/VPS-2, and an M61 optical lead-calculating sight. The gun fires at 3,000 rounds per minute in short bursts of 10, 30, 60, or 100 rounds, or it can fire in continuous fire mode at a rate of 1,000 rounds per minute. The system is suitable for night operations with the use of AN-PVS series night vision sights that mount above the sight reticle. Vulcan was slated to be replaced by the M247 Sergeant York DIVADS (Divisional Air Defense System), but that system was cancelled due to cost overruns and technical problems.
Although it was designed primarily as an air defense weapon, it is not very effective against modern fast moving fixed wing aircraft. Consequently the Vulcan gun system was in use throughout the late 80's and early 90's primarily as a ground support weapon. For example, VADS guns were used to support American ground assault troops in Panama in 1989 during Operation Just Cause. One Vulcan of B btry. 2/62 ADA even sank a PDF Vosper PT boat.