Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. Although most combat aircraft in Vietnam aimed for altitudes and speeds that helped them avoid anti-aircraft weapons, U.S. Army crews flying Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopters flew low and drew fireto set up the shots for the Bell AH-1G Cobras circling above. The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. A.J. Most of our engagements [we] were 25 to 50 feet [away] when we opened up on [the Viet Cong], Mills continues. 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. During the Vietnam War the OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 66-07841 Warrant officer John Shafer was 21 when he arrived on October 16, 1970, to fly Loaches. An inventive Bell Helicopter engineer was already at work on the worlds first attack helicopter, and Bells decision to keep the project hidden until complete let the model slip into service as a Huey derivative (see The Birth of the Cobra, Aug. 2017). OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. Shop | Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck. The Loach helicopter was pitted against what was then known as the Bell Model 206. During 1966, the OH-6 entered service with the U.S. Army, it promptly arrived into active combat in the Vietnam War. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. 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 Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine transport and search helicopter. They went down in the jungle, and both [members of the crew] survived. 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. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. The shelf life of a scout pilot was probably six months. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. 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. The Model 206 was mostly employed as a general utility helicopter, but at times it was also used for transporting troops and high command, in addition to serving observational and reconnaissance roles during the Vietnam war. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. 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. purchase. AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. It later turned out that Howard Hughes purposely undervalued his estimate and deceptively won out against Fairchild-Hiller - his reasoning being that a long-term US Army commitment to his helicopter would, over time, make the deal profitable at some point. The task force, which had been designated as Task Force 158, was soon formed into the 160th Aviation Battalion. Cobras, nicknamed Snakes, flew circles 1,500 feet above the scouts, waiting to pounce on whatever the Loach found. Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/18/2017 | Content www.MilitaryFactory.com The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. 605th transportation Company (Direct Support): Nov . Your email address will not be published. Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was the fourth line of tandem rotor helicopters developed by Piasecki Helicopters. A recontoured nose allowed for greater leg and head room. Following the Second World War, significant advancements were made in the field of rotary-wing flight. Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam - YouTube 0:00 / 5:15 Intro Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam Chopperguy 15.4K subscribers Subscribe 1.1K 53K views 1 year ago We fly with Low Level. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like . The UH, nicknamed Huey is a utility military chopper that was used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and sometimes for military purposes. 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. 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. Click on the hotlinks for more information. 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. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon 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. Heavy Attack Helicopters 2. They were famous for being shot down or crashing in combat. Adopted after. The CH-53 Tarhe was another heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport and recover downed aircraft. Its first overseas deployment, as well as into frontline combat, was the Vietnam War. The Sea Stallion is a line of heavy-lift transport helicopters. [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). Observation Helicopters 4. During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 and 1970-1972 The Loach could be terrifying since it was often used with the AH-1 Cobra in hunter-killer missions, where the Loach would go out and find the enemy positions and the Cobra would go in for the kill with rocket, grenade, and minigun fire. 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. s/n 67-16304 The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. 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. 2 MK19 40-mm grenade launcher A shaft ran to the tail and powered the two-blade rotor at the back. Development included test and training flights in Culver City, California (Hughes Airport) and at Area 51 in 1971. s/n 66-07841. Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. Scout pilots were a different breed of cat, says Cobra pilot Jim Kane, who likens his former colleagues to the airborne equivalent of the Tunnel Rats, soldiers who crawled head-first into Viet Cong-built tunnels without any idea what awaited them there. The small "egg-shaped" design and simplified rotorhead incorporated four rotor blades of constant chord, made of bonded light alloy. [2] This shaping, combined with the provision of internal bulkheads, has been attributed as giving the rotorcraft its uncommonly strong crashworthiness properties. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. 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. The Bell UH-1B/C was modified from the UH-1A Cobra to include a set of machine guns for attacking ground targets. Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. US Army Loach OH-6 Helicopter Vietnam War Era - YouTube [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. Following a competitive fly-off and a sealed bidding process, Hughes lost the contract to Bell, resulting in the competing Bell OH-58 Kiowa being produced. Its formal name is derived from the Cayuse people while its "Loach" nickname comes from the acronym for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) programme that it was procured under. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. The AH-1 is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Huey Cobra or The Snake. It served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . Two of these designs, those submitted by Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, were selected as finalists by the Army-Navy design competition board. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. 2 TOW missile pods (2 each) 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. I tried to move the stuck controls and prayed for a place to set down. It took all of Kanes strength to pull out of a steep dive, and they crash-landed with a horrific thud. 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. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. 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. 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. For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. In 1965, the concept of helicopter-borne fighting forces was still new and largely untested, and units in Vietnam invented tactics on the spot. OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. | READ MORE. See Also: How Much Does a Huey Helicopter Cost? While Loachs were vulnerable to enemy fire, they were famous for surviving crashes like John did. However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. Hunter-killer team - Wikipedia More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. Loach crews were equipped with small arms and returned fire as they fled. Both Loach and Cobra have been in production, on and off, in one form or another ever since. The UH-1B/C was used sparingly during the Vietnam War. Date: 02/08/1969 This was a Combat incident. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter (LOH). The Bell H-13 Sioux was developed as a light-weight single-engine and single-rotor helicopter. Operation Honey Badger was canceled after the hostages were released on 20 January 1981, and for a short while, it looked as if the task force would be disbanded and the personnel returned to their former units. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. 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. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. 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. 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. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 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. Ultimate Soldier Air Cavalry OH-6 "Loach" Helicopter 1/6 Scale That was about it.. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. 2 .50 cal MG pods The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. [6], During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded a production contract to Hughes; this initial order for 714 rotorcraft was subsequently increased to 1,300 along with an option for another 114. Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 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. He recalls: 360 degrees around you was enemy territory, and the ability to work with American and [South Vietnamese] units on the ground really required aviation to be able to look eye to eye to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Loach-Cobra pairings were sent out more and more frequently, until their main role was to gather general intelligence rather than prepare landing zones. This eventually gave way to the loach nickname, and was intended to provide the US military with a light-class, rotary-wing craft that could fulfill a number of purposes: search and rescue, close air support, MEDEVAC, observation, transport, reconnaissance and attack roles. In contrast, of the nearly 1,100 Cobras delivered to the Army, 300 were lost. 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. During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. Cookie Policy [3], On 27 February 1963, the first Model 369 prototype performed its maiden flight. Helicopter took 1 hits from: A.J. You were right in the enemys face with a helicopter and had to know what you were doing, recalls warrant officer Clyde Romero of his 1,100 hours flying scout missions over South Vietnam in 1971. After evaluation, three designs were selected and 5 of each: the Bell OH-4A; the Hiller OH-5 and the Hughes OH-6, were ordered for trials by the U.S.Army Aviation Board. It gained impetus with the advent of the Vietnam War, and was aided by advances in helicopter technology, specifically the development of the turboshaft engine. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) - Military Factory A Troop, 7th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug 70 Feb 72 For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). 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 Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. The 1-245th AVN BN enlisted were sent to the Mississippi Army National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) at Gulfport, Mississippi, for two weeks of qualification training in the aircraft. [13][3] Beginning in 2001, the JGSDF OH-6s were supplemented by the indigenously-developed Kawasaki OH-1, a more advanced observation helicopter. The Huskie was used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. Thats why the majority of pilots who served in Vietnam shared the opinion that, if you were going to crash, it was best to do it in a Loach. The killer role persists. 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. Light Attack Helicopters 3. It was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant during the war. 2 M260 2.75-in Hydra 70 rocket pods (7 or 12 each) Armament OH-6A Cayuse / AH-6J Little Bird - Military Aircraft The United States deployed all types of helicopter, ranging from massive troop transport choppers, to smaller multipurpose and attack helicopters, and even helicopter drones. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit 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. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. It was barely used in the Vietnam War because it was replaced by the more advanced Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw. Loach and Cobra crews lived together, and schedulers generally paired the teams with the partners they requested, though given the high turnover rate, that wasnt always possible. You were killed, shot down, or got scared and quit. 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. (7.62MM) The Cayuse (white) was used alongside the AH-1 Cobra (red) attack helicopters, forming (pink) hunter killer teams. Almost as soon as production began, however, it was replaced by a competitors model. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. Robert Davis Travel Management Consultant, 2023 Executive Flyers +1 (512) 241-0795. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. [22] The remaining H-13s were promptly withdrawn in favour of the OH-6s. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. Each time we went out, we got shot at. Helicopter took 2 hits from: Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. 29 of the best politically incorrect Vietnam War slang terms It was deemed, based on Hughes' estimates, his units would be most cost effective in the long run. contact us here and we will remove the document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Vietnam Helicopters Museum. To counter the US, the Vietnamese employed their helicopter fleets of mostly Soviet-made aircraft. 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]. 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. So I engaged the enemy, but didnt make it out of that one. Vietnam OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. We thought they were ARVNs [Army of the Republic of Vietnam] until they started running. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By Books/Magazines a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 45-4703737We Fly for Our Veterans!. The Cayuse was organic to division, brigade, and battalion size units. Cartas de Lee: La historia de un hombre de Vietnam por Larayne M. Topp 10 Types of Helicopters in Vietnam (Vietnam Era Helicopters) - Aero Corner The guidance systems on newer attack helicoptersoften working with or even controlling the cameras of reconnaissance droneshave relegated to history the hunter role in the hunter-killer missions. Disclaimer Photographs See his memoir Warpath: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60299643-warpath Posted as part of the \"War \u0026 Life: Discussions with Veterans\" project. Armed with guns, Hellfire missiles, and 2.75-inch FFAR, it provides armed helicopter support to both ground and air special 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. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. 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. 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. It was mostly used as a transport chopper, but it could also deliver supplies to troops. Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. . Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . 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 "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. For other AH-6 and MH-6 variants, see MH-6 Little Bird and Boeing AH-6. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. This was a Combat incident. These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft.
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