loach helicopter vietnamloach helicopter vietnam

His three tours to Vietnam included death-defying scouting missions piloting his Hughes OH-6 light observation helicopter (or Loach) as well as gunship runs inside his AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter.. Cozzalio was also involved in nine aircraft mishaps; he was shot down six times and suffered three hard landings. About Us | Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. The Mil Mi-8 was developed in the later stage of the Vietnam War to counter the Bell Huey UH1. Contact | At peak production, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. On 27 February 1963, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. The helicopter was inducted as the OH-6 "Cayuse" and would eventually take on the in-the-field nickname of "Loach" in reference to its "LOH" origins. Following a contentious selection process that included allegations of industrial espionage and political favoritism, the first Hughes OH-6A observation helicopters arrived in Vietnam in December 1967. The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. 2 Hellfire ATGM Four troop-carrying Hueys (called a Blue Team) often sat idle somewhere nearby, ready to insert troops if the Pink Team discovered an interesting targetor were shot down and needed rescuing. The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. [22] Its straightforward design made it easier to maintain than most other helicopters, while its relatively compact 26-foot main rotor made it easier to use tight landing zones. Light Attack Helicopters 3. The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam Logan Nye Updated December 07, 2022 09:30:25 While barely any American helicopters served in World War II and few flew in Korea, Vietnam was a proving ground for many airframes everything from the venerable Huey to Chinooks sporting huge guns. The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse, was designed for use as a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) nicknamed LOACH, military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the U.S. Armys need for an extremely maneuverable observation helicopter. article/image or apply full credit information. These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. Despite having been designed for anti-submarine combat, the Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly used for conducting reconnaissance of enemy vessels in the Vietnam war, instead of actual combat. These hunter-killer missions, among the most hazardous of the Vietnam War, tested the resolve of the OH-6 pilots and the aerial observers sitting beside them. The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. Hughes, without informing Real, raised the bid by $3,000, and thus lost the contract to Bell. The Mojave is a large heavy-lift helicopter that was deployed in the Vietnam War in 1965 to assist in recovery of downed US aircraft, but it proved ineffective. Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 A shaft ran to the tail and powered the two-blade rotor at the back. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes. . One time we ran into hundreds of enemy troops. Pilots called this helicopter as the Loach. Table of Contents 1. Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. Despite a strong outcry from crews in Vietnam, the Bell OH-58A Kiowa, powered by the same Allison T-63 engine as the OH-6, was being distributed to Army units. Kanes commanding officer flew his command-and-control Huey to the ravine where Kane and Casher huddled. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. The OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 Hughes Tool Company, Aircraft Division - USA, (View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers), Dominican Republic; Denmark; Japan; Spain; Taiwan; United States, (OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable), Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout, X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator), (Showcased structural values pertain to the base Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) production variant), RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030, (Showcased performance specifications pertain to the. Your email address will not be published. The OH-6A was powered by a single Allison T63-A-5A 285 shp turboshaft engine, and had a cruising speed of 144 mph (125 knots). Total flight hours at this point: 00000496 Also: LNOF, 90119, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Anthony is our resident military expert who uses his experience to write about all aspects of flying in the military, including what it takes to become a pilot and serve your country. A saying among Army aviators was, If you have to crash, do it in a Loach.. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. Hughes Tool Company Aircraft Division submitted their Model 369 to fill a US Army requirement for a Light Observation Helicopter capable of performing a number of secondary duties including escort, attack and casualty evacuation duties. to voice a complaint about any articles or image on this website, please While barely any American helicopters served in World War II and few flew in Korea, Vietnam was a proving ground for many airframes everything from the venerable Huey to Chinooks sporting huge guns. [22], Following the April 1980 failure of Operation Eagle Claw (the attempted rescue of American hostages in Tehran), it was determined that the military lacked aircraft and crews who were trained and prepared to perform special operations missions. [2] Twelve companies opted to participate in the competition, Hughes Tool Company's Aircraft Division being one of them, submitted the Model 369 as its response. The Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. Since units were all but permanently assigned to particular areas, they came to know the local geography intimately and could spot anything out of the ordinary. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. Unlike its troop-carrying ancestors, a Cobra was like a World War II fighter, says Jim Kane, who arrived in Vietnam fresh out of Purdue University. Books/Magazines Required fields are marked *. In terms of its basic configuration, the Model 369 had an atypical teardrop-shaped fuselage, a feature that led to personnel sometimes referring to it as the "flying egg". Pilot sold separately. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the US Army were destroyed in the Vietnam theatre, the majority of these losses being a result of hostile action, typically ground fire. That was about it.. Development included test and training flights in Culver City, California (Hughes Airport) and at Area 51 in 1971. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. It was used prolifically because of its unique hovering abilities. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. On 1 October 1986, to help meet the increasing demands for support, the 1-245th Aviation Battalion from the Oklahoma National Guard, which had 25 AH-6 and 23 UH-1 helicopters, was placed under the operational control of the 160th. The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. Improved versions were issued through the war and included pockets on the chest and back in which large additional plates could be inserted. But the Vietnam War was unlike any previous American conflict; there were few real definable frontlines, and combatants needed to know what was happening all around them, all the time. The Bell Model 206 is a line of both single and twin-engined helicopters with two primary rotor blades. Armed with guns, Hellfire missiles, and 2.75-inch FFAR, it provides armed helicopter support to both ground and air special operations. . From the rear cockpit, the pilot fired rockets from launchers fixed to the stub wings on either side; the copilot in the front operated a chin turret that held a minigun and grenade launcher. The Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 and 1970-1972 Armed with a 40mm grenade launcher in a nose turret, and two 19-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers, the "OH-6C" was ready to take on anything. They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard. However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. Onboard UH1 Huey helicopter (SN 66-163-56) was Aircraft Commander, WO William H. Seaborn Jr., myself as . Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. Fewer than 2,000 of the type were produced though the original went on to spawn a plethora of viable performers including the Hughes 500 "Defender" and the special forces-minded MH-6 "Little Bird". Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. and Images on this page are gathered from various sources. Multi-Mission Helicopters 6. The Aircraft Division of Hughes Tool Company came up with the Model 369, which became one of three finalists, alongside designs from Bell Helicopter Company and Fairchild Hiller. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. The U.S. Army began to use Bell OH-13 Sioux and Hiller OH-23 Raven helicopters, once artillery spotters, to scout ahead of UH-1D Huey formations in the moments before air assaults to gather information about landing zones and enemy locations. The Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. A.J. The OH-6A helicopters used for transporting personnel became the MH-6 aircraft of the Light Assault Company and the armed OH-6As became the AH-6 aircraft of the Light Attack Company. [17] On 26 March 1966, Jack Schwiebold set the closed circuit distance record in a YOH-6A at Edwards Air Force Base, California, flying without landing for 1,739.96mi (2,800.20km). The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. Several Kawasaki-built Loach helicopters were also flown by civilian customers for a variety of reasons, including emergency medical services, law enforcement tasks and for work in the agricultural sector. Nate Shaffer has restored a Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopter. Each could be equipped with any number of armaments, including grenade launchers, 7.62 mm miniguns, Hydra 70 mm unguided rockets, and TOW and Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles. This aspect was further bolstered by the use of self-sealing fuel tanks that lowered the likelihood of a post-impact fire breaking out. [2] This shaping, combined with the provision of internal bulkheads, has been attributed as giving the rotorcraft its uncommonly strong crashworthiness properties. The Sea Stallion is a line of heavy-lift transport helicopters. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. Disclaimer Photographs Both the Pilot and Observer/Gunner positions were equipped with carbon fiber side panels and seats. On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. [12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. Loaches, usually with a pilot and observer and sometimes a door gunner aboard, flew as little as 10 feet above the treetops at between about 45 and 60 mph, scouting for signs of the enemy. Systems damaged were: COMM SYS, STRUCTURE, INSTRUMENTS, PERSONNEL They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. With all these benefits, several variations were developed. Accordingly, this tactic had resulted in substantial losses being incurred on the contract with the U.S. Army; the company had allegedly anticipated that an extended production cycle would eventually make the rotorcraft financially viable.

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