U.S. Special Operations

Helicopter Gunships

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment's MH-60L equipped for the attack role.

(Photo courtesy of Mr. Richard Marshall. Do not reprint without permission.)

Note: This page is devoted to helicopter gunships and their development over the past 30 years. This page does not include attack helicopters such as the AH-1 Cobra/SuperCobra or AH-64 Apache, as these are attack helicopters most often used in conventional military operations. The helicopters and weapons systems found below are related directly to U.S. special operations and/or air assault missions. As Vietnam was a primary proving ground for the use of helicopters in close support of infantry units and had a direct influence on the use of gunships in special operations today, additional emphasis was placed on this historical information.

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Modern Special Operations Aviation Gunships

MH-60K

MH-60K is the standard special operations version of the Black Hawk. It is capable of providing long-range airlifts far into hostile territory in adverse weather conditions. Modifications include two removable 230 gallon external fuel tanks, two .50 cal. machine guns, an air-to-air refueling probe, and an external hoist. The MH-60K can also be armed with two M134 7.62mm "miniguns". A new avionics suite includes interactive Multi-Function Displays (MFDs), Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR), digital map generator, and terrain avoidance/terrain following multi-mode radar. It has full shipboard operability.

MH-60L

The older UH-60L can be adapted to the attack mission by attaching weapons pylons to both sides of the fuselage. These can then be fitted with Hellfire missiles or other weapon systems. The helicopter's mission is insertion and extraction of special operations troops. The UH-60L is powered by two General Electric T700-GE-701C 1890 shp turboshaft engines.

Photo: MH-60L Side View (Photo courtesy of Mr. Richard Marshall. Do not reprint without permission.)

Photo: MH-60L Right Front View (Photo courtesy of Mr. Richard Marshall. Do not reprint without permission.)

Photo: MH-60L Right Side Pilots Seat (Photo courtesy of Mr. Richard Marshall. Do not reprint without permission.)

Photo: MH-60L Control Panel - left side view (Photo courtesy of Mr. Richard Marshall. Do not reprint without permission.)

Photo: MH-60L Minigun (Photo courtesy of Mr. Richard Marshall. Do not reprint without permission.)

Photo: MH-60L With External Fuel Tanks (Photo courtesy of Mr. Richard Marshall. Do not reprint without permission.)

Photo: MH-60L "Southern Comfort" (Photo courtesy of Mr. Richard Marshall. Do not reprint without permission.)

Photo: MH-60L Crewman with minigun (Photo courtesy of Mr. Richard Marshall. Do not reprint without permission.)

AH/MH-6 "Little Bird"

Two special operations versions of the OH-6A are the "Little Bird" AH-6 armed variant, and the MH-6 transport/utility version, which can carry up to six personnel for quick insertion and extraction missions. The latest versions of these aircraft, the AH-6J attack helicopter and MH-6J insertion and extraction transport, based on the Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) MD-530F, feature a more powerful engine and improved avionics, including an embedded GPS/inertial navigation system and forward-looking infrared (FLIR). A previous version, the EH-6, was used for command, control and radio relay. Check here for more information on the "Little Bird".

The Helicopter Gunship: (1962-1967)

Note: The following was adapted from the ACALA's excellent site.

UH-1A

UH-1As armed with two .30 cal. machine guns and two eight-tube 2.75 inch (70mm) rocket launchers were first used in late 1962. The UH-1A was armed with various combinations of 7.62mm machine guns, 20mm cannon, and a chin-turret mounted 40mm grenade launcher. Some early "Huey" gun ships were armed with quad M60C 7.62 machine guns mounted on the M6 aircraft armament subsystem.

UH-1B/UH-1C "Hueys"

UH-1B/UH-1C "Hueys" were used with moderate success as a gun ship with door mounting M60D 7.62 machine guns on the M23 armament subsystem. They could also be armed with a pod or side-mounting six-barrel "minigun" and seven-tube XM157 or M158 2.75 inch rocket launcher on the Emerson Electric M21 armament subsystem, and the M5 chin-turret mount for a 40mm grenade launcher. The UH-1B was also armed with two fixed-mounting M24A1 20mm cannon on the XM31 armament subsystem. The M60A1 reflex sight was used for sighting guns and rockets on the UH-1B, UH-1C, and UH-1M "Huey".

Aerial Rocket Artillery (ARA)

Aerial Rocket Artillery (ARA) "Hogs" were "Hueys" equipped with side mounting 24 round 2.75 inch rocket launchers on the XM3 armament subsystem. Carrying a total load of 48 Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets (FFARs), the "Hogs" were used effectively in the combat assault role.

UH-1M "Huey"

UH-1M "Huey" was equipped with the AN/AAQ-5 Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) fire control system, a component developed for use on the AH-1G (SMASH) Cobra. The AN/AAQ-5 provided a televised thermal image which enabled the crew to detect, identify, and fire on ground targets during day or night operations. The UH-1M was armed with twin M134 "miniguns" and seven-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers on the M21 armament subsystem. The M21 was integrated with the FLIR in positioning and fire control aspects. The UH-1M could also armed with an M5 40mm grenade launcher and M60D 7.62mm or M213 .50 Cal. pintle-mounted door guns on the M59 armament subsystem.

CH-47A Armed/Armored Chinook

In 1966, several 1st Air Cavalry Division CH-47A Chinook "Go-Go Birds", with a crew of eight, were armed with up to five M2 .50 Cal. or M60D 7.62mm machine guns (four XM32 window and one XM33 ramp mounted), and two fixed-mounted XM34 M24A1 20mm cannon and two M18/M18A1 pod-mounted 7.62mm "miniguns" , or two XM159B/XM159C 19-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers, and a chin-mounted 40mm automatic grenade launcher on the M5 armament subsystem. They also featured added armor protection for the crew. They proved to be effective in the combat assault role, but were involved in several accidents and were difficult to maintain. The experiment was discontinued with the introduction of the AH-1G "Huey" Cobra in August 1967. Chinooks were more valuable for use as troop carriers. The AH-1 Cobra was fast enough to assume the escort mission, had greater loiter time over the target, and presented a much smaller target to small arms fire.

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