| WINGSPAN: | Rotor Diameter: 26 ft. 4'' |
| LENGTH: | 23 feet |
| MAXIMUM WEIGHT: | 8,404 lb Payload: 2,700 lb |
| PERFORMANCE: | Allison T-63-A-5A turbo shaft |
| TOP SPEED: | 147 mph maximum |
| RANGE: | 413 miles |
| CEILING: | --- |
| RATE OF CLIMB: | --- |
| ARMAMENT: | Can be armed with the M26 armament subsystem mounting a M134 7.62 mini-gun or 40 mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem. An M60D 7.62 mm machine gun could be mounted in the right door opening. |
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Formerly the Hughes model 369, the OH-6A Cayuse (nicknamed "Loach") was designed for use as a military scout during the Vietnam conflict to meet the U.S. Army's need for an extremely maneuverable light observation helicopter. Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Cayuse was employed in command and control; observation and reconnaissance; and target acquisition. The four-passenger teardrop shaped was a small, light, sturdy, highly, maneuverable helicopter, with very low drag. The Cayuse was teamed often with the AH-1G "Cobra" attack helicopter in acquiring and attacking enemy targets. The Cayuse would "troll for fire" across suspected enemy positions; place smoke on the target; and allow the Cobra to attack the positions. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of enemy small arms fire; yet still bring the crew home. |
| WINGSPAN: | — |
| LENGTH: | 53 feet |
| MAXIMUM WEIGHT: | 8,404 lb (Payload: 2,500 lb) |
| PERFORMANCE: | Lycoming T53-L-11 1100 hp engine |
| TOP SPEED: | 138 mph |
| RANGE: | 359 miles |
| CEILING: | — |
| RATE OF CLIMB: | — |
| ARMAMENT: | Varies depending on model. For AH-1G "Snake": 2.75-inch (70mm) Folding Fin Aerial Rockets in M158 7-tube or M200 19- tube rocket launcher; chin-turret mounted M134 7.62 mm "mini-gun" and the m129 40mm grenade launcher. AH1-G could be mounted with the M134 "mini-gun" in fixed-mounted M18/M18A1 gun pod and left-side mounted M195 20 mm automatic gun on M35 armament subsystem. The AH-1G could also mount the XM118 smoke grenade launcher. |
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AH-1 Cobras were in use by the Army during the Tet offensive in 1968 and through to the end of the Vietnam War. Cobras provided fire support for ground forces, escorted transport helicopters and other roles, including aerial rocket artillery (ARA) battalions in the two Airmobile divisions. They also formed "hunter killer" teams by pairing with OH-6A scout helicopters. A team featured one OH-6 flying slow and low to find enemy forces. If the OH-6 drew fire, the Cobra could strike at the then revealed enemy. On 12 September 1968, Capt. Ronald Fogleman was flying an F-100 Super Sabre when the aircraft was shot down and he ejected 200 miles north of Bien Hoa. Fogleman became the only pilot to be rescued by holding on to an Army AH-1G's deployed gun-panel door. Bell built 1,116 AH-1Gs for the U.S. Army between 1967 and 1973, and the Cobras chalked up over a million operational hours in Vietnam; the number of Cobras in service peaked at 1,081. Out of nearly 1,110 AH-1s delivered from 1967 to 1973 approximately 300 were lost to combat and accidents during the war. |
| WINGSPAN: | — |
| LENGTH: | 42 feet, 7 inches (Height: 14 feet, 7 inches) |
| MAXIMUM WEIGHT: | 8,500 lbs Empty: 4,750 lbs Hook Load Limit: 5,000 lbs |
| PERFORMANCE: | Lycoming T53-L-13 1,400-lb turbo-shaft engine |
| TOP SPEED: | 138 mph |
| RANGE: | 212 miles with maximum fuel |
| CEILING: | 16,700 feet |
| RATE OF CLIMB: | — |
| ARMAMENT: | Varied Among Helicopter Attach Light (HAL) "Seawolves" Units): Depending on need, mini-gun on pylon and/or single or dual M-60 machine gun mounts. Some operated air-cooled .50 caliber machine guns. |
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Vietnam: The Sealords were flown in various missions in Vietnam: Logistics, SEAL inserts, SAR, medivac, and others as directed. The Sealords were actively involved with supporting the Seawolves, SEALS, and Riverine forces with their respective missions throughout the Mekong Delta. |
| WINGSPAN: | — |
| LENGTH: | 25 feet |
| MAXIMUM WEIGHT: | 9,150 lbs |
| PERFORMANCE: | Lycoming T53 turboshaft |
| TOP SPEED: | 120 mph |
| RANGE: | 185 miles |
| CEILING: | 25,000 feet |
| RATE OF CLIMB: | — |
| ARMAMENT: | — |
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The Kaman HH-43 Huskie was a helicopter with intermeshing rotors used by the United States Air Force, the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps from the 1950s until the 1970s. It was primarily used for aircraft firefighting and rescue in the close vicinity of air bases, but was later used as a short range overland search and rescue aircraft during the Vietnam War. |