loach helicopter vietnam loach helicopter vietnam

All Rights Reserved. Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. Built by Hughes Tool Company, it was designed to be a scout helicopter during the Vietnam war. That was about it.. The OH-6A Loach (for "LOH") would find targets by flying low, "trolling for fire", then marking the target with colored smoke to lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine This teamwork was actively encouraged by Army officials, and led to the development of so-called "hunter-killer" tactics that sought to flush out and eliminate hostile ground targets. On the night of 56 December 1972, the remaining helicopter deployed a wiretap near Vinh, Vietnam; useful information provided from this wiretap was acted on by the United States on several occasions, such as during the Linebacker II campaign and Paris Peace Talks. While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter (LOH). [5] Accordingly, the bidding for the LOH contract came down to Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes. These choppers were modified for combat rescue missions and had self-sealing fuel tanks, rescue hoist, and in-flight refueling abilities. Provision for packaged armament on port side, including an XM-27 7.62mm (0.300in) machine-gun with 2,000 - 4,000 rounds of ammunition; or an XM-75 grenade launcher, Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and Task Force 160, List of military aircraft of the United States, Hearings on military posture and H.R. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We got hit by incendiary .51-caliber rounds, and the phosphorus ignited the Cobras hydraulic fluid. AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. (7.62MM) The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. Read the harrowing story of what happened on that tragic mission. The Model 369, with its Allison T63-A-5A series turboshaft engine, took its first flight on February 27, 1963, under the military designation YOH-6A. 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. They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. 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. The LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. The Loach also had its own gunner in the rear and could carry everything from 7.62mm miniguns to 70mm rockets and anti-tank missiles. Helicopter took 2 hits from: Nate Shaffer has restored a Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopter. A shaft ran to the tail and powered the two-blade rotor at the back. 608th Transportation Company (Aircraft Direct Support): Mar 72 Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. We flew down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, he says of the supply route that wound through Vietnam and neighboring Laos and Cambodia. Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability. The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. You can have all the guns, vests, and radios you want, but you need street smarts or youre going to be dead within an hour.. In photo #2 you can see the nice graphics. Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. Hughes Model OH-6A Cayuse or LOACH A sobering statistic: Out of 1,419 Loaches built, 842 were destroyed in Vietnam, most shot down and many others succumbing to crashes resulting from low-level flying. [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 enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. On top of this, Fairchild Hiller lodged a formal complaint over Hughes Tool Companys deceitful tactics to earn the original contract. Other Army pilots, most of whom flew Cobras or Hueys, thought of Loach pilots as a little offbeat. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work. ). The AH-6 and its troop-carrying sibling, the MH-6, are still heavily used by U.S. special-operations forces, as everything from airborne sniper platforms to transports inserting small teams to expeditionary light attack helicopters. [22][23] Prior to the arrival of the AH-1, "hunter-killer" teams often relied on the firepower from armed models of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois utility helicopter. Date: 03/25/1970 The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. It was a joy to fly. Kane, who today sells securities in Richmond, Virginia, flew AH-1s in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . 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. Multi-Mission Helicopters 6. Front left side view of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter; color, Right side view of the Hughes OH-6 Loach in flight; color. | READ MORE. 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. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. The observers and gunners had even less experience. The Army dictated that after 300 hours of flight time, each Loach go through a thorough inspection, but in practice such inspections were rare: Few Loaches survived to reach that mark. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers The hunter-killer tactic worked well for a few years, but by the time the United States left Vietnam, it was obsolete, says Mills. Systems damaged were: FUEL SYS However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. [12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. This aspect was further bolstered by the use of self-sealing fuel tanks that lowered the likelihood of a post-impact fire breaking out. 79th Transportation Company: Jun 70 Jul 70 2 Stinger AAM. Boucher quickly discovered that life as a qualified crewman was extremely dangerous. While they were circling the wreckage, enemy rounds hit their ship. Helicopter took 1 hits from: Cobras rolled in and blew the downed aircraft uptaking with it about 15 bad guys standing around it.. Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 Vietnams mountainous terrain stressed the underpowered, obsolete helicopters to their limits: They could neither fly fast enough to escape enemy fire nor carry enough armament to pose a meaningful threat. The UH, nicknamed Huey is a utility military chopper that was used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and sometimes for military purposes. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. [2] Originally designated as the YHO-6A according to the Army's designation system, the aircraft was redesignated as the YOH-6A in 1962 when the Department of Defense created a joint designation system for all aircraft. 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". Observation Helicopters 4. The Cayuse was Hughes' longest-running helicopter program and, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 and 1970-1972 Hughes bid $56,550 per airframe, while Bell bid $54,200. Books/Magazines Systems damaged were: COMM SYS, STRUCTURE, INSTRUMENTS, PERSONNEL One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. Adopted after. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. A total of five prototypes were built, all of which were powered by a single Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft engine, capable of producing 252shp (188kW). Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. Due to its unique shape, the Loach was given the nickname . By the end of the war, the Loachs replacement was imminent. They would then call in scouts on the ground or infantrymen to hunt for the enemy in the brush while attack helicopters protected everyone. The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. At peak production, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. Even trampled grass was a clue; it meant that enemy troops had passed through the area within eight hours, the time it took for grass to dry upright. If you would like The AH-1 is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Huey Cobra or The Snake. Armament Since 1968 this helicopter saw combat in Vietnam. In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. It had to do with the timbre of your voicehow you talked to other guys on the radio, says Romero, who arrived in Vietnam in 1970, initially as a Huey co-pilot. Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. Rattler One-Seven puts you in the helicopter seat, to see the war in Vietnam through the eyes of an inexperienced pilot as he transforms himself into a seasoned combat veteran. 2 TOW missile pods (2 each) Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. As well, its tough frame made it safer than other helicopters during crashes, as its aluminum skin absorbed the energy and the structure protected the crew. Cobras, nicknamed Snakes, flew circles 1,500 feet above the scouts, waiting to pounce on whatever the Loach found. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. [27], During the early 1970s, Soviet-supplied SA-7 Grail shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles emerged amongst North Vietnamese troops; one hit could down a Loach, potentially dealing fatal damage before its crew were aware that they were under fire. 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. On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. Possible mast-mounted sight. In contrast, of the nearly 1,100 Cobras delivered to the Army, 300 were lost. 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. Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. Its cockpit teems with electronics and sensors, and its stub wings are heavy with heat-seeking Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, laser-guided Hellfires, rockets (like those used in Vietnam), and even fuel-filled drop tanks. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. 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. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. With all these benefits, several variations were developed. During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. 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. It had a distinct teardrop-shaped fuselage, which made it instantly recognizable, and a cockpit for two crew members, along with two removable seats in the passenger cabin. 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. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft were returned to the U.S., where they were dismantled and converted back to a standard configuration; they continued to be operated as such for a time. Scout crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the Cayuse, but scouting flights were changing. The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. The Bell H-13 Sioux was developed as a light-weight single-engine and single-rotor helicopter. Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". Kawasaki Heavy Industries produced 387 OH-6D Cayuses under license in Japan. The Korean War proved the necessity for such rotorcraft, particularly in regard to search and rescue operations. Unknown as to mission impact. 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. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off. 1:00 Jan. 6 will mark 50 years since former Newburgh resident Dave Middleton was shot down in Vietnam while piloting a Loach helicopter on a mission to which he wasn't originally assigned.. In 1965, the concept of helicopter-borne fighting forces was still new and largely untested, and units in Vietnam invented tactics on the spot. which many are taken will be available from our shop to (7.62MM) Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. To hunt for encampments, bunkers, or other signs of the enemy, commanders would deploy a flight of one scouting Loach and one supporting Cobra, called Pink Teams. Its four-bladed full-articulated main rotor made it particularly agile, and it was suitable for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. AH-1G Huey Cobra 'Snake' . 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. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like . SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. But the light aluminum skin could be easily pierced by rifle bullets, and it also crumpled and absorbed energy in a crash, and a strong structural truss protected critical systemslike the people inside. MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. Unit: 173 ABN Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. 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. Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail. The Loach helicopters used to transport personnel were given the designation MH-6, while the armed ones were dubbed the AH-6. [8][9] It was reported that Howard Hughes had directed his company to submit a bid at a price beneath the actual production cost of the helicopter in order to secure this order. The prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. The first Loach arrived in Vietnam in 1966, and a total of 1,434 of the primary . Cookie Policy Army troops called the OH-6As Loaches, a contraction of light observation helicopters. The ship was unusually light and had plenty of power, perfect for flying nap-of-the-earth missions, and its 26-foot-diameter main rotor made getting into tight landing zones a snap. The OH-6 Cayuse was built with a rugged structure covered in light aluminum. They went down in the jungle, and both [members of the crew] survived. Cookie Settings, pilot. [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. 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. Heavy Attack Helicopters 2. Both the Pilot and Observer/Gunner positions were equipped with carbon fiber side panels and seats. s/n 66-07841. Improved versions were issued through the war and included pockets on the chest and back in which large additional plates could be inserted. The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. 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. Worthy, the OH-6 Loach and two other air scout helicopter pilots, all decorated, were in Topeka on Saturday night for an event at Forbes Field Airport designed to increase interest and. This. With US Army evaluations of each prototype ongoing, the underpowered Bell offering was formally dropped from contention and the US Army decision favored the Hughes design over the Fairchild-Hiller. We thought they were ARVNs [Army of the Republic of Vietnam] until they started running. OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. The "OH-6C" was the creation of the Maintenance Section of The Real Cav, B Troop 7/17th Air Cavalry Squadron, which was stationed near Pleiku in early 1972. [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 Cobra was fast and deadly. For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. Hughes's price was $19,860 per airframe, without the engine, while Hiller's price was $29,415 per airframe, also without the engine. Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. 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. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. The killer role persists. When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. After around 10 hours at the controls of a Loach, the pilots were deemed worthy of flying in combat. The task force, which had been designated as Task Force 158, was soon formed into the 160th Aviation Battalion. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to him then and what it means to him now. The AH/MH Little Birds were lifted by a single C-5 Galaxy, and two C-130 Hercules, along with all support kits for the battalion. 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. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. It never flew again. I spent more time with them., Kids Start Forgetting Early Childhood Around Age 7, Archaeologists Discover Wooden Spikes Described by Julius Caesar, Artificial Sweetener Tied to Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds, 5,000-Year-Old Tavern With Food Still Inside Discovered in Iraq, The Surprisingly Scientific Roots of Monkey Bars. 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods Both Loach and Cobra have been in production, on and off, in one form or another ever since. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. We were about ready to call in tactical air support to blow up the wrecked ship when another Cobra took a lot of fire. You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. Some crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the OH-6, however, the transition proceeded while scouting doctrine was changed to emphasis operations from greater distances. purchase. If the OH-6 came under fire, the nearby Cobra would then strike at the revealed enemy. The Little Birds weaponry is a far cry from the M60 machine gun carried aboard a Loach in Vietnam: AH-6s can carry miniguns, rocket pods, grenade launchers, Hellfire missiles, and air-to-air Stinger missiles. This chopper is mostly known for having been used to spot enemy artillery. The Cayuse (white) was used alongside the AH-1 Cobra (red) attack helicopters, forming (pink) hunter killer teams. The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. Casualties = 01 WIA . Stepping away from her academic career, Samantha previously worked as a Heritage Researcher and now writes content for multiple sites covering an array of historical topics. We were combat trackers, says Mills. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. The following two-week mission was to Yuma for night operation training. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 45-4703737We Fly for Our Veterans!. The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. The OH-6 was largely removed from active U.S. Army service in favor of the Kiowa, but modified versions of the helicopter flew with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as the MH-6C Little Bird as late as 2008.