Light Attack Helicopters 3. Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. The 1-245 modified infantry night vision goggles and worked to develop the necessary skills for rapid deployment with Little Birds and C-130s.[31]. [22] The remaining H-13s were promptly withdrawn in favour of the OH-6s. Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN The Bell Model 206 is a line of both single and twin-engined helicopters with two primary rotor blades. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. The Mil Mi-8 was developed in the later stage of the Vietnam War to counter the Bell Huey UH1. [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. [10][self-published source][11], Due to price escalations for both the OH-6 and spare components, the U.S. Army opted to reopen bids for the programme in 1967. To remedy this shortcoming, the Army began developing a special aviation task force to prepare for the next attempt to rescue the hostages: Operation Honey Badger. Both the Pilot and Observer/Gunner positions were equipped with carbon fiber side panels and seats. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. History | 2 Hellfire ATGM Vietnam OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. The type was born from the US Army Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program (which provided its "Loach" nickname) and ultimately proved an excellent helicopter system seeing only limited service in the inventories of several American allies worldwide. He is proud of his service, which involved a great deal of combat, but has concluded that U.S. involvement in Vietnam was a mistake. 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. SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. Moses, a 19-year-old draftee, arrived in Vietnam in July 1970 for the first of two year-long tours, and later worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a therapist and administrator. The Cobras high above had a few seconds of warningthey could spot the missiles exhaust plumebut were all the more tempting because at their higher altitudes they were more easily seen than the smaller Loaches. 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. Privacy Statement Following the lead, we got peppered with rounds. The Loach had a bad vibration, but he made it about half a mile before he had to land. The Cayuse had a single articulated four-bladed main rotor, a metal two-bladed tail rotor, and a V-shaped tail. We flew down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, he says of the supply route that wound through Vietnam and neighboring Laos and Cambodia. We got hit by incendiary .51-caliber rounds, and the phosphorus ignited the Cobras hydraulic fluid. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. The high-low hunter-killer combination gave way to uniform-altitude missions, with all helicopters flying nap of the earth. The OH-6A could be armed with the M27 armament subsystem, the port (left) side mounting M134 six-barrel 7.62mm minigun or a 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem. The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. EH-6B, a previous version of the Little Bird, was used for command, control and radio relay. to voice a complaint about any articles or image on this website, please Loach and Cobra were in constant radio communication, and because of the intensity of hunter-killer missions, it wasnt long before pairs in each type knew each other well enough to anticipate the others moves. In August 1967, the AH-1G Cobra arrived in Vietnam. Also: LNOF, 90119, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. (7.62MM) So I engaged the enemy, but didnt make it out of that one. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (nicknamed "Loach", after the requirement acronym LOHLight Observation Helicopter) is a single-engine light helicopter with a four-bladed main rotor used for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. This. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . [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. Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. 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). The Model 369 had a distinctive teardrop-shaped fuselage that had strong crashworthiness properties and provided excellent external visibility. Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. 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". The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. In air mobile teams, a pilot would fly low while an observer would scan the ground for signs of the enemy force. The Cayuse (white) was used alongside the AH-1 Cobra (red) attack helicopters, forming (pink) hunter killer teams. Instead of disbanding Task Force 158, the military opted to turn it into the 160th Aviation Battalion. 2 TOW missile pods (2 each) The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes. I followed footsteps. The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. 60th Assault Helicopter Company: Mar 72 Jun 72, Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam Radiomen in the Vietnam War faced a 5-second life expectancy 5 cringeworthy military slang terms (that we should actually retire) From nursing to newspapers, these were the women of Vietnam 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. It was a joy to fly. Kane, who today sells securities in Richmond, Virginia, flew AH-1s in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. During 1960, the United States Army issued Technical Specification 153 for a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) capable of fulfilling various roles on the battlefield, including personnel transport, escort, casualty evacuation, observation, and attack missions. The United States deployed all types of helicopter, ranging from massive troop transport choppers, to smaller multipurpose and attack helicopters, and even helicopter drones. But the Army decided that it would be more prudent to keep the unit in order to be prepared for future contingencies. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like cabin, improving the survival chances of the crew and passengers. Observation Helicopters 4. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. The Sea Stallion is a variant of the Jolly Green Giant, but its used only for sea transport. 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. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. [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. 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. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. In addition, an M60D 7.62mm machine gun could be mounted in the front port (left) or rear starboard (right) door openings. One of the most dangerous helicopter assignments was a tiny scout helicopter known as the Loach. Officially designated the OH-6 Cayuse, these things were made of thin plexiglass and metal but were expected to fly low over the jungles and grass, looking for enemy forces hiding in the foliage. The OH-6 was developed in response to the United States Army issuing Technical Specification 153 in 1960 to replace its Bell H-13 Sioux fleet. Army headquarters developed doctrine by building on what worked in the field, rather than the other way around, and each unit in-country did things slightly differently. 2 MK19 40-mm grenade launcher During the course of the competition, the Bell submission, the YOH-4, was eliminated as being underpowered (it was powered by the 250shp (186kW) T63-A-5). While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0060 feet and 010 knots. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. Your email address will not be published. Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. 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. Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. US Army Loach OH-6 Helicopter Vietnam War Era Steve1958OR 242 subscribers 14K views 9 years ago A friend came by today with his Vietnam war era Hughs OH-6 Loach helicopter. It had no hydraulic system and its electrical setup was used primarily to start up the enginesimple even by 1960s standards, which for practical purposes meant it was easier to maintain and harder to shoot down than other helicopters. 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. They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. Date: 03/25/1970 All Rights Reserved. Front left side view of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter; color, Right side view of the Hughes OH-6 Loach in flight; color. During 1967, following price escalations for the OH-6, the U.S. Army reopened the programme to bids for as many as 2,700 additional airframes beyond the 1,300 OH-6s already contracted.

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