loach helicopter vietnam

2023 Smithsonian Magazine Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. Unknown as to mission impact. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) Contact | These helicopters were mostly used for observation, reconnaissance, utility, and for providing combat support. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. A saying among Army aviators was, If you have to crash, do it in a Loach.. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. It was pretty hairy, and we got the hell out of there. But Boucher got a rush from the missions, and stayed six months beyond what was required of a draftee. MD-530MG/Defender: Has a mast-mounted sight, and incorporated upgrades of all previous variants. [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. 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. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. 2 M260 2.75-in Hydra 70 rocket pods (7 or 12 each) Vietnam following a morning mission with the 11th Special Forces (SF) at Long Than North, South Vietnam. Observation Helicopters Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. 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. 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. I had a wingman shot down, pilot John Shafer says. 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods I could tell how old a footprint was by how it looked. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. The US Army subsequently reopened the LOH program to engineering companies, offering a new contract for 2,700 additional airframes. Hughes's price was $19,860 per airframe, without the engine, while Hiller's price was $29,415 per airframe, also without the engine. Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. Total flight hours at this point: 00000265 The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. This was a Combat incident. Units in Vietnam began sending UH-1Bs outfitted with rocket pods and machine guns to circle over the scouts at around 600 feet and attack anything that might interfere with the imminent troop landing. As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships. The task force, which had been designated as Task Force 158, was soon formed into the 160th Aviation Battalion. Adopted after. Vietnam OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. 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. 2 .50 cal MG pods Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail. 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. Since 1968 this helicopter saw combat in Vietnam. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. 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. South Vietnam Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. Mills, who served two tours in Loaches and one in Cobras, was shot down 16 timesall but once in OH-6s. While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0060 feet and 010 knots. Cobras rolled in and blew the downed aircraft uptaking with it about 15 bad guys standing around it.. They were famous for being shot down or crashing in combat. Cobras generally attacked with rockets, preferred for long-range accuracy, switching to the less-accurate chin-mounted machine gun and grenade launcher only if they were far enough away from friendly troops or if the rocketsAH-1s could carry as many as 76 rocketsran out. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! 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. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. 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. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. Books/Magazines By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, MIGHTY NETWORKS, 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Russian soldiers calls back home reveal horrifying experiences in Ukraine, broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen, could carry everything from 7.62mm miniguns to 70mm rockets and anti-tank missiles, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times, modified versions of the helicopter flew with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as the MH-6C Little Bird as late as 2008, 29 of the best politically incorrect Vietnam War slang terms. 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. The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. 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. Armed with guns, Hellfire missiles, and 2.75-inch FFAR, it provides armed helicopter support to both ground and air special operations. On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. The UH, nicknamed Huey is a utility military chopper that was used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and sometimes for military purposes. Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". Accordingly, the U.S. Army's fixed-wing airplane, the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, which was utilized for artillery observation and reconnaissance flights, would be replaced by the incoming OH-6A. I was wounded three times and shot down nine times, Romero reports. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. It was mostly used as a transport chopper, but it could also deliver supplies to troops. RMF3TG12 - Warren Motts, who started the Motts Military Museum, walks with a small child, past helicopters that where used in the Vietnam War. [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. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. The small "egg-shaped" design and simplified rotorhead incorporated four rotor blades of constant chord, made of bonded light alloy. The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine transport and search helicopter. This helicopter was chosen by the US Army over the proposals of a number of other helicopter manufactures, designated the OH-6A Cayuse, and entered service in 1965. Terms of Use Hughes Model OH-6A Cayuse or LOACH The Cobra was fast and deadly. 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. During 1964, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a memorandum directing that all U.S. Army fixed-wing aircraft be transferred to the U.S. Air Force, while the U.S. Army transitioned to solely operating rotor-wing aircraft. 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. 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 pilots dubbed the new helicopter Loach, a word created by pronunciation of the acronym of the program that spawned the aircraft, LOH (light observation helicopter). For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. From the rear cockpit, the pilot fired rockets from launchers fixed to the stub wings on either side; the copilot in the front operated a chin turret that held a minigun and grenade launcher. Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. 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. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. I followed footsteps. That was about it.. I went up in a Loach with an M60 machine gun to get used to firing the weapon. The flames covered my boots and lower legs. [8][9], A total of 387 OH-6/Hughes 369s were produced under license in Japan by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Each time we went out, we got shot at. Warrant officer John Shafer was 21 when he arrived on October 16, 1970, to fly Loaches. The Light Observation Helicopter ( LOH) program was a United States Army program to evaluate, develop and field a light scout helicopter to replace the Army's aging Bell OH-13 Sioux. 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. The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. to voice a complaint about any articles or image on this website, please 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. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 I got shot down on my 22nd birthday, March 27, 1971. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. Can include a combination of the following across two fuselage wingstubs (though some weapons operated from cabin doors): (Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above), Hardpoint Mountings: 2 (if wingstub equipped). The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was the fourth line of tandem rotor helicopters developed by Piasecki Helicopters. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. The United States deployed all types of helicopter, ranging from massive troop transport choppers, to smaller multipurpose and attack helicopters, and even helicopter drones. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. 2 MK19 40-mm grenade launcher Privacy Statement 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 "loach" was the LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) or OH-6A. Lt. Col. The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. [7] The Hiller design, designated OH-5A,[7] had featured a boosted control system, while the Hughes design did not, a difference that accounted for some of the price increase. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. The prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. 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. 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. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In the hunter-killer teams, the Loach would fly low over the jungle, drawing fire and then calling for the Cobra to kill the teams on the ground. . The Mil Mi-8 was developed in the later stage of the Vietnam War to counter the Bell Huey UH1. Possible mast-mounted sight. Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid. I have come home with blood on my windshield. Upon landing, an inspection revealed a damaged pitch link, a rotor head component so critical that had it failed, they too would have crashed. Front left side view of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter; color, Right side view of the Hughes OH-6 Loach in flight; color. The observers and gunners had even less experience. The OH-6A Cayuse was quite effective when teamed with the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter as part of what were known as Pink Teams. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. We got hit by incendiary .51-caliber rounds, and the phosphorus ignited the Cobras hydraulic fluid. It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. 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. The mission training consisted of loading onto C-130 Hercules transport aircraft which would then transport them to forward staging areas over routes as long as 1,000 nautical miles (1,900km). Shop | Moore served as an Army OH-6A Loach scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. The Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. 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. Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. [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. For other AH-6 and MH-6 variants, see MH-6 Little Bird and Boeing AH-6. The Huey descended gingerly into a clearing smaller than its main rotor diameter, the aircrafts rotor blades chopping tree limbs as it descended. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. Cobra Gunship, Huey and Loach OH-6 Members of C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry dedicated an OH-6 Loach Scout helicopter flown by their unit during the Vietnam War Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. On 1 October 1986, to help meet the increasing demands for support, the 1-245th Aviation Battalion from the Oklahoma National Guard, which had 25 AH-6 and 23 UH-1 helicopters, was placed under the operational control of the 160th. The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. The aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. The OH-6 was also exported as the Model 500 Defender. Date: 02/08/1969 [12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. External load capacity was approximately 1,200 Lbs (550 kg), and transport capability 2 or 3 troops or cargo internally. The Kaman SH-2 could extend and increase both shipboard sensor and weapon abilities against different types of enemy units, including submarines, ships, and patrol craft with anti-ship missiles. 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. Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck. While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0020 feet and 050 knots. The Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. Both the Pilot and Observer/Gunner positions were equipped with carbon fiber side panels and seats. This helicopter was UNK Stanley Hiller complained to the U.S. Army that Hughes had used unethical procedures; therefore, the Army opened the contract for rebidding by all parties. 79th Transportation Company: Jun 70 Jul 70 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". Nate Shaffer has restored a Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopter. Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. It was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant during the war. [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. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. Adopted after the company behind its design deceived the US Army, the Loach helicopter, as it was better known, fast became the primary chopper flown in Vietnam. https://warandlifediscussions.weebly.com/Any veteran who served in any combat zone in any capacity is invited to contact Preston Jones: pjones@jbu.edu / (479) 524-7488 [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 US Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) trains and graduates qualified engineering test pilots, flight test officers, and flight test engineers to conduct test and evaluation (T & E) at the Naval Air Warfare Center-Aircraft Division (NAWC-AD) Patuxent River Maryland and other activities. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. (Scouts were known as White Teams and Cobras as Red; the two colors combine to become pink. The Bell H-13 Sioux was developed as a light-weight single-engine and single-rotor helicopter.

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