Cobras soar through skies of Iraq, support Marines on ground

Marine Corps News ^ | Nov 25, 2005 | Cpl. Cullen J. Tiernan

[SandRat]

photos at source

[SandRat]

Marine Cobras Strike!!

[Past Your Eyes]

I have a nephew who pilots one of those things. He's recently back from Iraq and will be going again in a few months. I'm some proud of that boy. Went NROTC at UMaine and took a commission in MY USMC.

[SevenMinusOne]

AH-1W Super Cobras have saved a lot of lives - Without a doubt - Along with the Apaches - They have been used excellently in Iraq (and Stan were available).

[kromike]

After reading inspiring stories such as this, it's awfully, awfully difficult to justify defending bat-faced pacifists such as Cindy Sheehan.

[dennisw]

Israeli Cobra. Is it carrying Hellfire missiles?

[FReepaholic]

...Israeli Cobra. Is it carrying Hellfire missiles?...

No. Here's what Hellfires look like (on an Apache)

[ExcursionGuy84]

Somebody better pull out AC/DC's "ThunderStruck"...

..or better yet, go to www.grouchymedia.com and look for the video with helicopters.

[2111USMC]

BTTT

Thanks SandRat!

[Chode]

almost look like TOW's

[Starwolf]

If your think the AH-1W is good, wait until the new ones (AH-1Z) get out there...

[dennisw]

Thanks ... I don't know much about such missiles

[Lancer_N3502A]

For the AGM-114 Hellfire go here: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/agm-114.htm

[Chode]

this looks like an older picture, the inside cluster are 2.75" and prolly full of nails, but the outer two look like TOW: Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-guided missiles spooling out a fiber-optic cable behind them and controlled by the gunner.

[mcshot]

I always suspected our Marines were hindered by having to use old helo designs but sounds like they've just improved upon good platforms i.e., huey and cobra.
Can you tell us more?

mc

[American in Singapore]

Thanks a lot, SandRat...

I would like to see good news like this in my face wherever I turned.

[rmlew]

Israeli Cobra. Is it carrying Hellfire missiles?
No. These are either TOW's or Israeli missles. The launch tubes look like those of the Spike-ER.
Israe makes its own anti-tank missles including the Gill/ SPIKE-ER.

A Spike-ER launcher has been developed for helicopters. The four-round launcher requires no modifications to the helicopter, other than software integration. It can be fitted to a variety of helicopters, including AH-64 Apache (which can carry 16 missiles), AH-1S Cobra, A-129, MD-500, Mi-24 and others.

Israel-Weapons.com has additional information on the fire-and-forget system, including pictures of aerial launches.

[VOA]

bump

[Starwolf]

Check out http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com/en/aircraft/military/bellAH-1Z.cfm

and

http://www.helis.com/Since80s/h_ah1z.php

While everyone focuses on the Cobra, the upgrade to the Huey (UH-1Y) are much more striking and its performance is is close to the Blackjack at a marked lower cost and more importantly logistical tail (fewer mechs, maintenance per flight hour, unique parts).
http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/aircraft/military/bellUH-1Y.cfm and http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/uh_1y/

One major change is that they are now 4 blade rotor systems. Gone are the days of whopti-whopti noises as they fly overhead.

[Calpernia]

A Gunfighter with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 coordinates with the pilots of an AH-1W Super Cobra as the aircraft departs from Al Qaim, Iraq,