20mm M61 Vulcan Spring for SUU-23/A Gun Pod
$75.00
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20mm M61 Vulcan Spring for SUU-23/A Gun Pod
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This new old stock 20mm M61 Vulcan spring for the SUU-23/A gun pod is an original U.S. military surplus component associated with the 20mm Vulcan gun system used in the SUU-23/A external gun pod. Preserved as unissued new old stock, this is the kind of specialized aircraft armament hardware that is increasingly difficult to find, especially when still identified by its original military stock number.
The SUU-23/A was one of the best-known U.S. 20mm external gun pods of the Vietnam and Cold War era. Built around the M61-series Vulcan cannon, it gave aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom II a self-contained 20mm gun installation when an internal cannon was not available or when additional gun armament was desired. Unlike the earlier SUU-16/A, which relied on a ram-air turbine, the SUU-23/A was the improved self-powered pod, making it a more practical and effective gun-pod system for tactical aircraft service.
This item is identified as an spring for the SUU-23/A gun pod. While publicly available references do not clearly break out the exact internal location or subassembly position of this specific spring, its nomenclature and stock number place it directly within the M61 / SUU-23/A hardware family. For collectors and restorers, that matters. Correctly identified internal components are often much harder to locate than the larger, more recognizable pod assemblies, and they are essential for accurate restoration, technical reference, and historical documentation.
Condition
This item is offered as new old stock. It was manufactured for military use but remained unissued in storage. As with most long-stored military surplus parts, minor storage wear, preservative residue, or age-related finish variation may be present. That is typical of original surplus condition and part of what confirms the item’s authenticity.
Product Specifications:
Condition: New old stock
Item: 20mm M61 Vulcan spring
Application: SUU-23/A gun pod
Associated weapon system: M61-series Vulcan 20mm cannon
Federal Stock Number: 1005-907-7948
Historical Significance:
The SUU-23/A represents an important phase in U.S. aircraft armament history. It was part of the effort to restore effective gun capability to missile-era fighters and became one of the signature external gun pods of the Vietnam period. Because it was tied to the M61 Vulcan family, parts associated with the SUU-23/A are also part of the broader history of one of the most recognizable American aircraft cannon systems ever fielded. Small original components like this help document how those pods were built, maintained, and supported.
Why This Part Matters:
Large pod assemblies attract the attention, but the smaller internal parts are usually the first to disappear. A correctly identified original spring like this is useful for:
- SUU-23/A restoration projects
- M61 Vulcan reference collections
- Museum displays focused on Vietnam-era aircraft armament
- Spare-parts inventories for Cold War gun pod systems
- Collectors seeking original, properly marked U.S. military aviation ordnance parts
Ideal For:
SUU-23/A gun pod restoration and reference projects
M61 Vulcan-related collections
Aviation museums and static display restoration
Collectors of U.S. military aircraft armament
Technical parts-reference collections and educational displays
Approx length 3", Approx width 3", Approx height .5", Approx weight .1lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our inventory. Unless otherwise noted, you will not be receiving the exact item shown in the pictures. The pictures are representative of the item's general condition. The item you receive might be slightly better, or worse, condition than was shown in the pictures.
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