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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. Kane and Casher were pulled aboard and returned to Khe Sanh, but the Huey barely made it back; slicing trees had left its blades shredded, and the tail section had almost separated. Kawasaki Heavy Industries produced 387 OH-6D Cayuses under license in Japan. When the 1980 hostage situation of Operation Eagle Claw was deemed a disaster, the US military realized there was a lack of aircraft and personnel trained for such special operations. The Mil Mi-8 was developed in the later stage of the Vietnam War to counter the Bell Huey UH1. FAQ | 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. Possible mast-mounted sight. NVA troops shot down a Cobra, killing the crew. For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. 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. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. The following two-week mission was to Yuma for night operation training. If you would like The Sea Stallion is a variant of the Jolly Green Giant, but its used only for sea transport. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! This chopper is mostly known for having been used to spot enemy artillery. Observation Helicopters 4. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. 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. Table of Contents 1. 79th Transportation Company: Jun 70 Jul 70 The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. The OH-6A could be armed with the M27 armament subsystem, the M134 six-barrel 7.62mm minigun or the M129 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem. [22] Its straightforward design made it easier to maintain than most other helicopters, while its relatively compact 26-foot main rotor made it easier to use tight landing zones. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. 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. A.J. The CH-34 Choctaw was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for transport purposes to carry personnel and deliver supplies. | The following text is exclusive to this site. Contact | Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. I was just out of flight school when I went to Vietnam. He flew Loaches for the next 11 months, and today is an accountant in Seattle. It was deemed, based on Hughes' estimates, his units would be most cost effective in the long run. Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. While its light aluminum skin could be easily penetrated by small arms fire, it also crumpled and absorbed energy in a crash while the rugged structure protected key systems and its crew; even though the OH-6 was relatively difficult to shoot down, its occupants would often survive forced landings that would have likely been fatal onboard other rotorcraft. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 and 1970-1972 Unknown as to mission impact. Click on the hotlinks for more information. You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. Vietnam OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. The Bell UH-1B/C was modified from the UH-1A Cobra to include a set of machine guns for attacking ground targets. [12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. Army headquarters developed doctrine by building on what worked in the field, rather than the other way around, and each unit in-country did things slightly differently. Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. It was used prolifically because of its unique hovering abilities. As the reserve units have continued to move away from the OH-6 as their primary scout aircraft, military technical support of the aircraft has dwindled. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. 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 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. 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. Book A Flight | Casualties = 01 WIA . I spent more time with them.. This was a Combat incident. The hunter-killer tactic worked well for a few years, but by the time the United States left Vietnam, it was obsolete, says Mills. In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. Following the Second World War, significant advancements were made in the field of rotary-wing flight. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. 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. In addition, an M60D 7.62mm machine gun could be mounted in the front port (left) or rear starboard (right) door openings. 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. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. OH-6 Loach - Light Observation Helicopter - Brickmania Toys Armed with a 40mm grenade launcher in a nose turret, and two 19-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers, the "OH-6C" was ready to take on anything. 2 M260 2.75-in Hydra 70 rocket pods (7 or 12 each) The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. 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. In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. 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. 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. 60th Assault Helicopter Company: Mar 72 Jun 72, Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER The CH-53 Tarhe was another heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport and recover downed aircraft. South Vietnam ). (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. Its four-bladed full-articulated main rotor made it particularly agile, and it was suitable for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. Warrant officer John Shafer was 21 when he arrived on October 16, 1970, to fly Loaches. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. Mills, who served two tours in Loaches and one in Cobras, was shot down 16 timesall but once in OH-6s. Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. Following the lead, we got peppered with rounds. The Loach had a bad vibration, but he made it about half a mile before he had to land. Its first overseas deployment, as well as into frontline combat, was the Vietnam War. [16], Early on in the OH-6's career, the type demonstrated its performance in a particularly prominent manner via the setting of 23 individual world records for helicopters during 1966 in the categories of speed, endurance and time to climb. 608th Transportation Company (Aircraft Direct Support): Mar 72 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. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 66-07841 Both the Pilot and Observer/Gunner positions were equipped with carbon fiber side panels and seats. 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. Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off. I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid. Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse | Military Wiki | Fandom Towards the end of the conflict, the replacement of the OH-6 by the Bell OH-58 Kiowa was imminent across nearly all US Army units. The UH-1B/C was used sparingly during the Vietnam War. 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. During the Vietnam War the OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers [23][22] Such a team would have normally comprised a single OH-6 that would fly relatively slow and at a low altitude while attempting to spot the presence of enemies. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter (LOH). About Us | contact us here and we will remove the Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the US Army were destroyed in the Vietnam theatre, the majority of these losses being a result of hostile action, typically ground fire. 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. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. Built by Hughes Tool Company, it was designed to be a scout helicopter during the Vietnam war. 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. While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. 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. While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0060 feet and 010 knots. Books/Magazines I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. See Also: How Much Does a Huey Helicopter Cost? Missions began every day at dawn, when crews were briefed on where to fly and what to look for. 13456, "History of Rotorcraft World Records, List of records established by the 'YOH-6A'. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. Hughes's price was $19,860 per airframe, without the engine, while Hiller's price was $29,415 per airframe, also without the engine. To counter the US, the Vietnamese employed their helicopter fleets of mostly Soviet-made aircraft. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck. The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. 24 Helicopters Used in Vietnam (And Their Purpose) The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. [5] Accordingly, the bidding for the LOH contract came down to Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes. Search and Rescue Helicopters 5. 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. purchase. Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. During the course of the competition, the Bell submission, the YOH-4, was eliminated as being underpowered (it was powered by the 250shp (186kW) T63-A-5). The Seasprite was an anti-submarine and anti-surface helicopter that had over-the-horizon targeting facilities. | READ MORE. The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. 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 It was used to look for and find the VC/NVA troops in Vietnam. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. They would then call in scouts on the ground or infantrymen to hunt for the enemy in the brush while attack helicopters protected everyone. Helicopter took 2 hits from: The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam Moore served as an Army OH-6A "Loach" scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) - Military Factory Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam - YouTube Typically missions were flown during the daylight, starting at dawn; common roles included the clearance of landing zones and general intelligence/observation flights. Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. The prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. [14][15], During 1966, the OH-1 entered service with the U.S. Army. Shop | In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. But the Hueys proved too slow to do the job properly, and the need to replace both scouts and protectors was immediately evident. We flew down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, he says of the supply route that wound through Vietnam and neighboring Laos and Cambodia. 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.