During the overall restructuring of the United States Army current active Army units began to transform into modular organizations to enhance the capability to perform its mission by making them a quickly deployable, flexible and lethal unit than had been previously structured. Therefore, Combat Aviation Brigades were developed and are multi-functional, allowing for a combination of attack helicopters, reconnaissance helicopters, medium lift helicopters, heavy lift helicopters, and medical evacuation capabilities. It was decided that aviation units will not be a portion of a larger unit such as combat brigades and will continue to reside at the division level due to resource constraints. The various helicopters that are to be …show more content…
On 25 June 1963 its assets were used to form the 119th Aviation Company (Airmobile), and it was re-equipped with turbine powered single rotor UH-1A and UH-1B helicopters. The entire central highlands of Vietnam as well as large areas of Laos and Cambodia were the company’s vast area of operation. The 119th Aviation Company was eventually assigned to the 52nd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade and headquartered in Pleiku at a helicopter base known as Camp Holloway. Also, for a short time during the war, they were based out of an airfield in An Khe. The 119th had helicopters that were equipped with 16 to 20 armed UH-1Ds and approximately eight Huey UH-1C model gunships which were better known as “Crocodiles” or “Crocs”. At one time or another, the company also used the call sign called "Black Dragon" from which the 52nd's "Flying Dragon" call sign evolved. Crew members, pilots, field maintenance and critical support personnel are what the company was mainly composed of; bringing the total strength for the company during this time frame to approximately 225 personnel. Along with flying many classified missions for a multi-service U.S. Special Operations unit known as MACV-SOG, the 119th Aviation Company also provided helicopter support for over eight years in Vietnam for the 1st Cavalry Division, 25th Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 173d Airborne Brigade, United States Marine Corps, United
Centuries before the Korean War, wars were long and painful events that any man could ever go through. Troops would match from countries to countries, crossing mountains, trial through the forest, and wander the desert to meet with their enemy in battle. The only problem with the troops traveling so far for so long is that before the war ever starts, the men were fatigued and casualty rates were higher than they should be. By the Korean War, an amazing machine was introduced to the military ranks, turning the tide in warfighting and troop survivability. UH-1 Huey Helicopter, or Utility Helicopter, was the one machine that was created by Bell that change the concept in warfighting and giving the United States the upper hand in war. On several
UH-1H “Huey,” The Workhorse of Vietnam and the development of Airmobile Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures
The base for TF-116 was a PBR Mobile Base. It moved to Tan Chau then to Tan An in Long An Province. The US launch many surprise attacks on Viet Kong Ports. Then the US severely bombed the Viet Kong by using F-4 Phantoms dropping special illumination bombs. The Viet Kong was unable to recover from such attacks, and the US destroyed many of the Viet Kong’s operations and
The AH-1 Cobra was the first dedicated gunship to engage in frontline battles anywhere in the world. Based on the Bell UH-1 Huey airframe and developed as a private venture, it proved to be a huge success once it entered combat in Vietnam. This was one of the few U.S. Army aircraft to have actual combat experience being put into the design of the airframe. The Cobra successfully provided aerial gun support and fire suppression for the vulnerable transport and airmobile aircraft. The overwhelming success it had in real world battle was the beginning of the armed gunship style helicopters being used by the U.S. Military.
Corporation's H -13 Sioux helicopters for evacuation and movement of the wounded in the Korea War. However, the Army redesigned the concept of medical evacuation by using a larger helicopter that could carry medics and first responders. (Dorland & Nanney, 1982) This larger aircraft, the UH-1 Iroquois, was first used by the 57th Medical Detachment in Vietnam. Once in country, the medical service corps realized the helicopter needed another feature, the hoist. The creation of the hoist was developed through the understanding of the terrain in Vietnam, the trial and error
mission command support. The last element of the CAB that I will discuss is the
The small but agile airframe primarily used for observation or the scout role, gathering Intel about enemy movements across the battlefield. No airframe in the Army's fleet could provide close air support to ground vehicle convoys like the airframe did, sometimes flying within 50 feet of conveys to ensure their protection. This close air support was valuable to providing convoys make it to their destination unharmed, showing teeth to any would-be attacker. In addition, ground troops hailed the aircraft for its quick response in the battle space, apparently saving many American Soldiers lives. Working joint operations with the AH64D/E Apache helicopter Apache missions scrubbed due to maintenance issues causing units with OH-58D to deploy more aircraft to support their mission losses. If any ground troop wanted fast and effective close air support, many would have chosen the OH-58D. Stories often heard was how the OH-58D came flying in and suppressed the threat allowing ground troops to advance and continue the mission. Just having this airframe in the battle space contained many threats before they even evolved; supporting lost capabilities this helicopter has brought to the U.S
Change is an inevitable part of life and in the U.S. Army change can very often be swift and mission altering. Companies, whether they be in the manufacturing, service, or merchandising industry also go through organizational changes, which are in many times uncomfortable. Why is change so uncomfortable? It is because it is so very often unplanned and unmanaged, thereby creating friction and a lack of motivation from leadership and employees to institute the change.
The CH-47 Chinook is manufactured by Boeing, and has been exported to both military and private operators worldwide. It is primarily used as a troop and logistics transporter, as well as providing essential medical evacuation on operations.
It was the first helicopter to use tandem style seating and used small stub wings to attach different types of weapon stores and a nose mounted turret with mini gun or cannon. With all this research and development in place, the US Army now had its own gunship platform they nicknamed the AH-1G Huey Cobra. The helicopter, in desperate need in Vietnam, was entered into combat in September 1967, just a few short years after its initial design. It became obvious that this was what was needed in Vietnam so Army orders ramped up quickly. By mid-1968, 838 AH-1 helicopters had been produced. From then it went through several modifications and upgrades during the course of the war to increase its survivability and effectiveness. Eventually, the US Army dropped the “Huey” name and it was known as the “Cobra” or
The Bell (modal 47) or H-13 Sioux quickly became the most popular helicopter ever built. The H-13 is one of the best known helicopter of the Korean War do to the long running TV series “M*A*S*H,” the bell modal 47 remained continuously produced from 1946 to 1973. The U.S. Army and the Air Force procured there first YR-13 (modal 43B) in December of 1943 and was served throughout
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is one of the most advanced attack helicopters in the world. It has been in service since 1986 in the US Army. It fills multiple combat roles in different configurations, and is commonly used as an anti-armor aircraft, or to support friendly infantry. It was originally designed to replace the AH-1 Cobra, and has since been upgraded and adapted to the Apache Longbow.
The most noticeable improvement was the use of helicopters as a mode of medical evacuation to quickly remove injured soldiers from the battlefield. During the Vietnam War modifications were made for helicopters used to transport wounded soldiers. The helicopters were known as HU-1 or Huey. The Huey contained a large compartment that allowed emergency care while still in the air.
As a young United States Air Force fought the Vietnam War as an independent military branch, strategic airlift became increasingly important. The USAF and other military branches relied on fixed-wing cargo planes for transportation of troops and supplies. Still perfecting airlift, the Vietnam War put their strategies and skills to the test. The well-known airlift operation to evacuate Vietnamese orphans, Operation Babylift, was an example of this. The lesser known operation, Operation Frequent Wind, however, influenced the future of airlift and airpower even more than Operation Babylift. As over 70 helicopters flew to Saigon, Vietnam to evacuate both Americans and Vietnamese, the helicopter’s role in airlift would be challenged and expanded (Washington). Operation Frequent Wind was a very influential event in air mobility history because it advanced both air mobility doctrine and strategy.
Module helicopters come in different sizes and types and they are used as toys, security, geographical photo capturing and military applications. They are also called UAV’s (unmanned air vehicle) or drones. The design of these UAV vary form a simple battery type module controlled be an RC controller to a sophisticated rocket propelled UAV with on board weapon that can fly from one side of the world to another.