AH-1 Cobra

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Bell AH-1 Cobra
An AH-1W SuperCobra (USMC) taking off from an amphibious assault ship
Type Attack helicopter
Manufacturer Bell Helicopter Textron
Maiden flight 1965-09-07
Introduced 1967
Status Active service
Primary users United States Marine Corps
Israeli Air Force
Japan Self Defense Forces
Republic of China Army
Produced 1967-present
Number built 1,116
Developed from UH-1 Iroquois

The Bell AH-1 Cobra is an attack helicopter. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the UH-1. It is variously called the "Huey Cobra," "Sea Cobra," "Super Cobra," "Whiskey Cobra," "Zulu Cobra," "Viper," or "Snake", depending on the model.

Once the backbone of the United States Army attack helicopter fleet, the AH-1 has been fully replaced by the AH-64 Apache in service. Upgraded versions continue to fly with the United States Marine Corps, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, the Israeli Air Force, the Japan Self Defense Forces, the Republic of China Army, and several other users.

Contents

[edit] Early history

Closely related with the development of the Bell AH-1 is the story of the Bell UH-1 – predecessor of the modern helicopter, icon of the Vietnam War and still one of the most numerous helicopter types in service today.

Bell's XH-40 prototype first flew on 22 October 1956 and entered production in the same year as the HU-1A. The "HU" designation spawned the famous "Huey" nickname, although the re-alignment of US service designations in 1962 changed it into the familiar UH-1. The UH-1 made the theory of air cavalry practical, as the new tactics called for US forces to be highly mobile across a wide area. Unlike before, they would not stand and fight long battles, and they would not stay and hold positions. Instead, the plan was that the troops carried by fleets of Hueys would range across the country, to fight the enemy at times and places of their own choice.

It soon became clear that the unarmed UH-1 troop helicopters were not able to make unopposed troop drops in the landing zones, but that heavy firepower would be needed to clear the Viet Cong and NVA troops out of the way first.

By 1962 a small number of armed HU-1As (UH-1As) were escorting H-21 (CH-21) troop transports in and out of the landing zones, but the strict rules of engagement at the time prevented the gunships from operating effectively, as they could not fire until fired upon[1].

The massive expansion of American military presence in Vietnam opened a new era of war from the air. The linchpin of US Army tactics were the helicopters, and the protection of those helicopters became a vital role.

[edit] Sioux Scout

In December 1962 Bell had initiated a private venture purpose-built gunship for US forces in Vietnam. The role of this new helicopter was to protect the troopships and to wield a full combat capability of its own. Bell's first design was built around a modified Model 47, leading to the sleek Model 207 Sioux Scout which first flew in July 1963.

The Sioux Scout had all the key features of a modern helicopter gunship – a tandem cockpit, stub wings for weapons, and a chin-mounted gun turret. After evaluating the Sioux Scout in early 1964, the Army was impressed, but also believed the Sioux Scout was too small, underpowered, unsophisticated, and fragile to be of practical use.

[edit] AAFSS

Army's solution to the shortcomings of the Sioux Scout was to launch the Advanced Aerial Fire Support System (AAFSS) competition.

The AAFSS requirement would give birth to the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne – a heavy battlefield helicopter that would prove to be over-ambitious, over-complex and over-budget, before being cancelled 10 years later in 1972. The Cheyenne programme developed future technology and demonstrated some impressive performance, but was never made to work as a functional gunship. It served to underline an important rule of the combat helicopter – survival would be ensured only by the right mix of speed, agility and weapons.

[edit] Model 209

At the same time, despite the Army's preference for the AAFSS – for which Bell Helicopter was not selected to compete – Bell stuck with their own idea of a smaller and lighter gunship. In January 1965 Bell invested $1 million to proceed with a new design.

Mating the proven transmission, rotor system, and the T53 turboshaft engine of the UH-1 with the design philosophy of the Sioux Scout, Bell produced the Model 209.

In Vietnam, events were also advancing in favour of the Model 209. Attacks on US forces were increasing, and by the end of June 1965 there were already 50,000 US ground troops in Vietnam.

1965 was also the deadline for AAFSS selection, but the programme was stuck in technical difficulties and political bickering. The US Army needed an interim gunship for Vietnam and it asked five companies to provide a quick solution. Submissions came in for armed variants of the Boeing-Vertol CH-47A, Kaman UH-2, Piasecki 16H Pathfinder, Sikorsky S-61, and Bell 209.

On 3 September 1965 Bell rolled out the prototype, and four days later she made her maiden flight, only eight months from the go-ahead. After the Model 209 had faced an evaluation against the other rival helicopters, in April 1966 the US Army signed the first production contract for 110 aircraft[1].

[edit] Delivery

By June 1967, the first AH-1G HueyCobras had been delivered. Originally designated as UH-1H, the "A" for attack designation was soon adopted and when the improved UH-1D became the UH-1H, the HueyCobra became the AH-1G[1].

Bell built 1,116 AH-1Gs for the US Army between 1967 and 1973, and the Cobras chalked up over a million operational hours in Vietnam.

[edit] Operations

The Cobra is simpler to maintain than the Apache, and has a smaller shipboard footprint, two main reasons it remains in service with the Marine Corps. Its main usage is against armored targets. The Cobra's narrow front gives it a defensive advantage making it a harder target to acquire.

[edit] Combat Experience

U.S. Marines AH-1W Super Cobra refueling during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Enlarge
U.S. Marines AH-1W Super Cobra refueling during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The AH-1 Cobras were in use by the Army during the Tet offensive in 1968 and through the end of the Vietnam War. During the 1983 invasion of Grenada, the Huey Cobra supported Marine operations on the island.

During Operation Desert Storm, the Cobras and SeaCobras deployed in a support role. Approximately 78 Marine Cobras flew 1,273 sorties with no combat losses and only one noncombat loss.

Cobra helicopter gunships were also used widely by the Israeli Air Force in Operation Peace for Galilee to destroy Syrian armor and fortification. IAF Cobras destroyed dozens of Syrian armored fighting vehicles, including many of the modern Soviet T-72 main battle tanks.

Iranian AH-1J SeaCobras participated in air combat with Iraqi Mi-24s on several separate occasions during the Iran-Iraq War. The results of these engagements are disputed, in a document titled "AH-1W Air Combat Maneuver Training -- Why It Must Be Reinstated" in 1992 by Major R. M. Brady, it is cited that "Iranian AH-1Js engaged Iraqi MI-8 Hip and MI-24 Hind helicopters. Unclassified sources report that the Iranian AH-1 pilots achieved a 10:1 kill ratio over the Iraqi helicopter pilots during these engagements (1:5). Additionally, Iranian AH-1 and Iraqi fixed wing aircraft engagements also occurred." Others claim that in the entire 8-year conflict, 10 Iranian AH-1Js were lost in combat, compared to 6 Iraqi Mi-24. Iranian AH-1Js are still operating today and have undergone indigenous upgrade programs. In 1988, two MiG-23 piloted by the former-USSR pilots shot down two Iranian AH-1Js that strayed into western Afgan airspace after a prolonged aerial engagement.

AH-1 Cobras continue to operate with the US military, most notably in the ongoing conflict in Iraq. The Israeli Air Force also operates the Cobra as the "Tzefa" (צפע), with highly favorable reviews.

[edit] Variants

[edit] Single-engined:

  • Model 209: Original prototype; used retractable skids.
  • AH-1G HueyCobra: Initial 1966 production model gunship for the US Army, with one 1,400shp Avco Lycoming T53-13 turboshaft.
  • JAH-1G HueyCobra: One helicopter for armament testing.
  • TH-1G HueyCobra: Two-seat dual-control trainer.[verification needed]
  • Z.14 HueyCobra: Spanish Navy designation of the AH-1G.
  • AH-1Q HueyCobra: Upgraded version with BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile armament.
  • AH-1R: : Upgraded version powered by a T53-L-703 engine.
  • Improved AH-1S: Upgraded version with one 1,800shp T53-703 turboshaft and TOW armament.
  • Production AH-1S: Upgraded version with square canopy.
  • AH-1P: Upgraded AH-1S with composite rotors, flat plate glass cockpit and TOW armament.
  • AH-1E: Redesignated Step 2 upgraded AH-1S with Enhanced Cobra Armament System featuring M35 armament subsystem with M195 20mm cannon.
  • AH-1F: Redesignated ('Modernised') US Army AH-1S, AH-1P and AH-1E Cobras, incorporating all previous upgrades.
  • Model 249: Experimental version fitted four rotor blades.
  • Model 309 King Cobra: Experimental version powered by one Lycoming T-55-L-7C engine.

[edit] Twin-engined:

  • AH-1J SeaCobra:
  • AH-1J International: Export version of the AH-1J SeaCobra.
  • AH-1T Improved SeaCobra:
  • AH-1W SuperCobra: ("Whiskey Cobra")
  • AH-1Z SuperCobra: ("Zulu Cobra", Viper)
  • Cobra Venom: Proposed version for the United Kingdom.
  • Model 309 King Cobra: Experimental version powered by two engines.
  • Panha 2091: Illegal reverse-engineered and upgraded Iranian copy of the AH-1J International.

[edit] Users Past and Present

  • Bahrain
    • AH-1E (12 in use)
    • TAH-1P combat trainer (6 in use)
  • Chile
    • AH-1F (24 in use)
  • Iran
    • AH-1J (202 delivered)
    • Panha 2091 (illegal reverse engineered copy of AH-1J being manufactured locally.)
  • Israel
    • AH-1S "Tzefa" צפע (approx. 50 in use)
  • Pakistan
    • AH-1S (20 in use)
    • AH-1F (30 in use + 20 on order)
  • South Korea
    • AH-1S (42 delivered)
    • AH-1F (20 delivered)
  • Thailand
    • AH-1F (3 in use, 7 second hand AH-1Fs were ordered; the order, however, was later canceled after the 19th September 2006 Coup.)
  • Turkey
    • AH-1W (9 in use, upgrade pending)
    • AH-1P/S (32 delivered, received avionics upgrade along with Improved self-protection suit and IAIA NTS targeting system)
  • United States
    • United States Marine Corps
      • AH-1W (approx. 269 delivered)
      • AH-1Z (pending delivery)
    • United States Navy
      • AH-1W (7 used for test and evaluation purposes on behalf of the USMC)

[edit] Specifications

[edit] AH-1F Cobra

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 - one pilot, one CPG (co-pilot/gunner)
  • Length: 44 ft 7 in (13.6 m)
  • Rotor diameter: ft (m)
  • Height: 13 ft 5 in (4.1 m)
  • Disc area: ft² (m²)
  • Empty weight: 6,600 lb (2,993 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 10,000 lb (4,500 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1× AVCO Lycoming T53-L-703 turboshaft, 1,800 shp (1,300 kW)

Performance

Armament

  • M197 3-barreled 20mm "Gatling-style" cannon (750 rounds ammo capacity)
  • 2.75mm (70mm) rockets - 14 rockets mounted in M or M launchers
  • TOW Missiles - 4 or 8 missiles mounted in two-missile launchers on each hardpoint

[edit] AH-1W Super Cobra

Data from The International Directiory of Military Aircraft, 2002-2003 [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 - one pilot, one CPG (co-pilot/gunner)
  • Length: 44 ft 7 in (13.6 m)
  • Rotor diameter: 48 ft (m)
  • Height: 13 ft 5 in (4.1 m)
  • Disc area: ft² (m²)
  • Empty weight: 6,600 lb (2,993 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 14,750 lb (4,500 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700 turboshaft, 1,680shp (1,300 kW) each

Performance

Armament

  • M197 3-barreled 20mm "Gatling-style" cannon (750 rounds ammo capacity)
  • 2.75mm (70mm) rockets - 14 rockets mounted in M or M launchers
  • TOW Missiles - 4 or 8 missiles mounted in two-missile launchers on each hardpoint

[edit] Popular culture

The Cobra can be seen in the 1980s hit cartoon G.I. Joe (in which it is designated 'The Dragonfly'), and in movies like Fire Birds, Iron Eagle, G.I. Jane, Con Air, Heartbreak Ridge, Home Fries, Hulk, Courage Under Fire, War of the Worlds (2005), and Mission: Impossible III (2006). It has also made many television appearances, such as in Magnum P.I.; JAG; NCIS; Walker, Texas Ranger and 24.

After the US Army sold AH-1 parts in the surplus market, at least one private interest was able to assemble a flyable AH-1F which was then made available for filming. This explains the Cobra's numerous appearances in both television episodes and movies. (The Army later destroyed key surplus parts to prevent unauthorised assembly of an AH-1.)

The AH-1Z Viper appears in the PC game Battlefield 2 as the USMC attack helicopter.

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c Donald, David: Modern Battlefield Warplanes, page 165. AIRtime Publishing Inc, 2004. ISBN 1-880588-76-5
  2. ^ Frawley, Gerard: The International Directiory of Military Aircraft, page 148. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2
  • Gunston, B., Spick, M. (1986). Modern Fighting Helicopters. New York: Crescent Books, 104-05. ISBN 0-517-61349-2.
  • (2004) International Air Power Review, Volume 12. AIRtime Publishing. ISBN 1-880588-77-3.

[edit] External links

[edit] Related content

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