The AC-130A Gunship II superseded the AC-47 Gunship I in the Vietnam War. This is the 1/32 Scale UH-1D Huey Gunship Plastic Model Kit from Revell. Air Force finally got its new AC-130J gunship into combat. More model information. Transport helicopters would eventually be nicknamed “slicks” for their general lack of protruding armament. Their main purpose was to escort these two other units and rain firepower down on whoever. Submit your writingAn indication that gunships have maintained their relevance even in the modern tactical airspace alongside RPAs, A-10 Thunderbolt II jets and the F-35 joint strike fighter is the use of the. forces were using the UH-1 Iroquois for a variety of missions. The Fairchild AC-119K Stinger, updated version of the previous AC-119G Shadow, has been used as gunships during the Vietnam War. Bell 214. After their initial stint as strictly medevac birds, Hueys were modified with . One came within 100 yards of the USS Firebolt and forced it to change course. XH-40 and YH-40 A Bell XH-40, a prototype of the UH-1. In most units, the slick platoons were designated the 1st and 2nd platoons and the gun platoon was designated the 3rd platoon. Until it arrived, UH-1 variants acted as gunships. Gunships and a slick attempted to extract the crew. The US Army, with a small unit deployed in Da Nang, had Bell UH-1B ( at that time known as HU-1B ) aircraft configured as gunships and would serve as escorts when there own commitments allowed. Praise poured in. The gunships also carried flares that were manually dropped to illuminate the area. The Huey IIs which just arrived in Sarajevo combine a modernized UH-1H airframe with Bell 212 components. reconnaissance, command and control, gunships, firefighters, electronic recon, search and rescue, and flying hospitals. Vietnam’s high humidity would necessitate continual improvements to the engine as the Huey became the taxi of the new “air mobility” school of warfare, with gunships escorting troop carriers. For more information, see: Vietnam War. These aircraft have not had to slow up as previously was the case with slower moving gunships in the escort role. 21 Oct 69 . Two models served as ground support gunships in Vietnam as the Air Force moved from the AC-47 through the AC-130 in its search for the best aircraft to fill this vital need in special operations. Returning to base, flight became separated in heavy rain. Large ships in…By Will Dabbs, MD As with many military innovations, the Huey Hog came to be during war. The 30 mm gun will eventually replace both the 40 mm cannon and 25 mm gun on U-model gunships. A/C was 1 of 2 gunships escorting 5 slicks to LZ that was missed because of wx. My recollection is that at least 4 of the slicks came from my troop, D/17:ex D/1/1, slicks from F/8 and another troop, which must have been F/4. Army visionaries created the world’s first operational helicopter gunships. William Walter’s Ghostriders 1968–1975 is an excellent history of AC-130 gunships and the combat operations conducted in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. AC seen slowing down and entering trees. At least 1,033 UH-1Bs and Model 204s were built in all. The Bell UH-1B Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. We have tested Hellfire missiles on earlier model gunships. Approximately 7,000 Huey’s saw service during Vietnam. The F-class escort ships were a multi-purpose class of 10 fleet escorts (Flottenbegleiter) built for the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) in the 1930s. The AC-119 program (Project Gunship III) came after the AC-130, not before. The 175th fielded two platoons of UH-1 Huey D-model transports, the slicks, and one platoon of older Huey B-model gunships. 1] MODEL 204: ARMY HU-1A (UH-1A), HU-1B (UH-1B), UH-1C * Although Bell had enjoyed little success with any of the company's piston helicopter designs besides the popular Model 47, the firm found another winner on 23 February 1955, when Bell was awarded the contract for a new US Army medical evacuation ("medevac") helicopter, with the company designation of "Model 204" and the initial. Jobs. Though smaller than the Stormraven, the Stormtalon gunship is incredibly fast and agile, and makes a superb air-interceptor and ground-attack craft. This clearance would require a redesign of the landing gear to provide ground clearance when not airborne. A pair of gunships escort a convoy across a moon's surface. Troop transport versions were nicknamed "Slicks" — a reference to their slick sides that held no weapons stations. When i first arrived in-country in January 1966 (I went over with my unit) I was assigned to the 2nd platoon 'slicks'. 75-inch rockets and . U. Initially, the C-130 had a maximum speed of 384 mph and an un-refueled range of 2,450 miles with maximum load. The AC-130 gunship has earned its stripes in a range of conflicts in the past few decades—from Vietnam up to recent operations against insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq. Two UH-1B Huey gunships from HAL-3 “Seawolf” sit on the deck of the USS Garrett County in Mekong Delta, South Vietnam. Vietnam War Ground Technology is not limited to U. The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport, fixed-wing aircraft. CORA is an AI-enabled growth advisor powered by a decision intelligence engine. Model 412: Model. U. The hard-pressed U. Vietnam Helicopter Flight Crew Network (VHFCN) (make sure you send me the url) Americal Division Under the Southern Cross B Co. Later style "Spade" nose art on B Company C model gunships. Forward air. Browse Getty Images' premium collection of high-quality, authentic Huey Helicopter Vietnam. Ghostriders 1968–1975: “Mors de Caelis” Combat History of the AC-130 Spectre Gunship, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia by William Walter, 2022, 352 pp. Renumbered 130th RSQ. The XB-40 and XB-41 were secret, little-known experimental modifications of. He was born January 22, 1946. Known as a ‘slick’, the Huey’s primary mission was to insert and extract combat troops. The initial designation of HU-1 (helicopter utility) led to its nickname, “Huey. Lots of closeup. Every weapons configuration I have been able to find that was used in Vietnam is here. 22 Like. The UH-1E, F, L, N and P were typically non-Army. It didn’t take long for the troops to request a dedicated attack platform. The A-model gunship was the first AC-130 model. The 170th flew the UH-1D/H Huey slicks and the UH-1B/C and Mike model. 1st Aviation Brigade First in Vietnam HHC,1st. THE AC-130 GUNSHIP AND ITS VARIANTS. The use of dedicated helicopter gunships to escort Slicks or "Dustoffs" (as medevac Hueys were known) led to a demonstrable drop in combat damage. Sidewinders Gunships flew escort sorties to Bong Son and Tuy Hoa and had gunships at Dong Ha supporting the Marines. Gunships Become De Rigueur. D. The doctrine emphasized the use of Army artillery fires and Air Force close air support, and later the use of helicopter gunships, to limit the enemy’s ability to threaten the airmobile forces. 30 caliber machine guns, began flying in Vietnam. It is our commitment to deliver best-in-class, creative solutions that give your business a competitive edge. The first escort was flown by the "Night Owls" of the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) also stationed at Ubon. On previous occasions the Caribou flying the mission had received fire. Tactics []. Gabreski Air National Guard Base on February 2, 2023. The tables are in. The high-wing design of this aircraft and its large capacity made it especially suited as a GUNSHIP. The UH-1 evolved from a 1955 US Army competition for a new utility helicopter. Download: free Website: tinkercad. During the drop, enemy action was negligible, but the problem was chasing the fast Caribou with the slower Hueys. Army photo. S. With the press of a trigger rune, the Stormtalon's Techmarine pilot. The doctrine emphasized the use of Army artillery fires and Air Force close air support, and later the use of helicopter gunships, to limit the enemy’s ability to threaten the airmobile forces. The aircraft is 97 feet 9 inches long and 38 feet 3 inches tall. Hogs. The Bell Helicopter Company won the contract with their XH-40 model. The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a single-engined attack helicopter developed and manufactured by the American rotorcraft manufacturer Bell Helicopter. helicopters when tanks don't. I was a crew chief on "B" and "C" model gunships with the 282nd (alley cats) and 281st (wolfpack) Assault. Aircraft 64-13149, "Easy Money", in the Republic of Vietnam: 64-13151, Boeing build number B-123, was an ACH-47A helicopter. Originally designated the HU-1 it become known by the nickname “Huey. and to keep them on alert. The aircraft is 97 feet 9 inches long and 38 feet 3 inches tall. Close air support roles include supporting ground troops, escorting convoys, and flying urban operations. Over the years the gunships have provided armed reconnaissance, interdiction and direct support of ground troops engaged with enemy forces. The first Bell helicopter to use a turbine engine was a modified Model 47 (designated XH-13F), which had its initial flight in October 1954. Where served: navy gunship platform in S. The AC-119 replaced the obsolete Douglas AC-47 and it was used for close support missions and offensive recognition duties. UH-1's tasked with a ground attack or armed escort role were outfitted with rocket launchers, grenade launchers, and machine guns. Pretty much all UH-1D and H model slicks (after about '65) mounted the M23 Doorgun mount on both sides. One of the major outcomes of Lam Son 719, Feb 8, 1971 – Mar 25, 1971, was the AH-1Gs ability to get in fast and low and the Cobra as a result fared better than the Charlie model gunships which suffered more losses. I had them all at one time too with a focus on 3rd Platoon, The Buccaneers who flew the gunships. “The Stryker program is healthy,” offers Col. , since there are comparisons to examine (e. U. The A-model gunship was the first AC-130 model. They were still flying the Huey gunships, supposedly the last unit in VN to do so, as well as UH-1H slicks. The first truly effective helicopter gunships were Mike-model Hueys. 62mm General Electric SUU-11A miniguns for the role. standby the rest of the night, the second team flew 5 min. The latest M-model gunships used the same 1,400-shaft horsepower Lycoming engine of the larger H-model Hueys and had the same 9,500-pound max gross weight. Jan. Joker "Charlie Model" Gunships. USAF Air National Guard. I felt stupid for being a youth and always loving the 1/32 Revell UH-1D with gunship weapons config until being told otherwise. Hunter-killer tactics evolved from the sorties flown by scouts and their escorts to assess landing zones in the minutes before “slick” UH-1s (seen here in 1969 near Lai Khe) filled with troops. Helicopter Nose Art in Vietnam. " The A-model gunship was the first AC-130 model. I flew B and C model gunships for about 8 months then stayed at L Z English with 5-6 other guys while the rest of the unit moved back to our basecamp at Lane Army Airfield. Returning to base, flight became separated in heavy rain. It deals with Army aviation, both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, organic to ground units. Once rendered obsolete, these old Huey gunships were seconded to National Guard units, gifted to civilian government agencies, or simply scrapped. S. An AC-130H gunship from the 16th Special Operations Squadron. 62mm miniguns, Spooky gunships dropped flares and. A gunship is a military aircraft armed with heavy aircraft guns, primarily intended for attacking ground targets either as airstrike or as close air support. When Aircraft 89-0512, an. 18 in) M230 chain gun under its forward fuselage and four hardpoints on stub-wing pylons. The “Huey” nickname stuck thanks to her early “HU-1” designation (it was later redesignated to UH-1 with the normalization of 1962). The AH-IG has greater flexibility in that it may utilize its greater speed to dash for-48th Assault Helicopter Company Blue Star Slicks Joker Guns. D Troop 1/1 Cav Dragoons. The first two types of gunships developed by the US were the twin-engine piston powered Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, but the final leap was made relying on the size. The AC-130J Ghostrider represents the 5th generation of fixed wing gunships and will continue the legacy of the gunship fleet of AC-130H Spectre, AC-130U Spooky, and AC-130W Stinger gunships. standby all night (lots of med. Literature. UH-1Bs were upgraded to UH-1Cs then some to UH-1Ms. Revealed exclusively on StarWars. In 2005 it. Spooky is about to get a little scarier. 28, 2016: An IRGC patrol boat trained its weapon on a U. Photo Courtesy of John-Al Skimbo. helicopter, four UH1-C gunships and ten troop lift aircraft (the latter being known as ‘slicks’). Advance elements of 18th Special Operations Squadron in place at Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. First six (6) AC -119K gunships departed Lockbourne for Phan Rang, RVN. " But the speech at George Washington University wasn't the only time Clinton told of a dangerous trip to. Still, the work done on armed helicopters by Vanderpool’s experimental unit, quickly nicknamed “Vanderpool’s Fools,” did look at self-defense. It has a wingspan of 132 feet 7 inches and a wing area of 1,745 sq. The remaining two were fitted with the XM-5 40mm grenade launcher system, rockets and machine guns. As of 1 January 2002, this aircraft was 36. Puff, The Magic Dragon was eventually replaced first with the AC-130A Spectre, then the AC-119G Shadow, AC-119K Stinger, and finally with the AC-130E Pave Spectre. shoot up, down, behind and way in front, and underneath. The Bell UH-1 “Iroquois” was developed from 1955 US Army trials with the Bell Model 204. e. Find. The “Mike” model Huey was a conversion of the existing UH-1C by re-engining it with the 1,400 shp (1,000 kW) Lycoming T53-L-13 powerplant used in the UH-1H. Gunship pilots like Drury flew a variety of missions, including visual reconnaissance, fire support for ground operations, and escort for troop-carrying slicks and Dustoffs. We flew in support of the 173 Airborne, N co. Armed versions of the UH1 and later dedicated AH1 Cobra gunships offered responsive and overwhelming aerial. S. In 1955, the US Army asked for a new utility helicopter for use as an aerial ambulance with the Medical Service Corps. The Huey IIs which just arrived in Sarajevo combine a modernized UH-1H airframe with Bell 212 components. The use of dedicated helicopter gunships to escort Slicks or "Dustoffs" (as medevac Hueys were known) led to a demonstrable drop in combat damage. Army UH-1B gunships escort Marine UH-34Ds over South Vietnam, circa 1964. In the beginning, God created Slicks giving them the mission of Medivac, rescue, resupply, and transport and he said this is good. This particular helicopter is a “Slick. This occurred in Afghanistan during mid-2019. (1970 to 1971) (Photos Courtesy of James Jackson) Updated January 10, 2017. The 30 mm gun will eventually replace both the 40 mm cannon and 25 mm gun on U-model gunships. All AC-130Hs started out as AC-130Es, but in the 1970s received upgraded engines, and other modifications, that led to their redesignation as AC-130Hs. Oh well. Each F-4 carried 11 canisters containing about 60 bomblets. I like armoured cars. 74. Finally the gunships placed fire fifty meters from the downed aircraft and the slick was able to extract the injured crew. C. This air time was spent carrying out 218 sorties. The Bell Helicopter Company won the contract with their XH-40 model. The Model 204B was rolled out in September 1960 and certified in April 1963.