Corps’ oldest helo proves worth in Iraq

Marine Corps News ^ | Nov 18, 2005 | Cpl. James D. Hamel

[SandRat]

CAMP AL QAIM, Iraq (Nov. 18, 2005) -- The UH-1 Huey helicopter is one of the oldest aircraft in the Marine Corps’ war arsenal. Like its counterpart, the AH-1 Cobra, Hueys have been around since the days of Vietnam, and in Iraq, the helicopters named for utility are living up to their title.

At Camp Al Qaim, Iraq, a detachment from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 provides the rotary wing close-air support for the ground forces in the area. They know firsthand the importance of the less glorified cousin of the Cobra.

Hueys fly with crews of four, two pilots and two crew chiefs. In the air, the crew chiefs man the weapons, one pilot serves as a navigator and the other controls the aircraft.

“In a situation like this (urban combat) you need the Huey’s weapons,” said Maj. John B. Barranco, the detachment’s officer-in-charge and Boston, native. “Smaller weapons help minimize collateral damage.”

In addition to rockets controlled by the pilots, Hueys boast two weapons systems manned by the crew chiefs. A .50 caliber machine gun on the helicopter’s left side, and a weapon on the right side that can thousands of .762 millimeter rounds per minute.

In the hands of skilled crew chiefs, the weapons are deadly and extremely accurate. The Cobras, as lethal as they are, can only fire at targets directly in front of them. Their field of fire is nothing like the Huey’s, and in close combat situations, that flexibility is necessary for success.

“The Cobra is an amazing platform to deliver ordnance, and our pilots do it extremely well,” said 1st Lt. Page C. Payne, an Austin native and Huey pilot with the Gunfighters of HML/A-369. “But without Hueys, Cobras are vulnerable in certain situations.”

“We have eyes on the target faster than anyone else,” said Sgt. Joshua D. Gilbow, a Dayton, Ohio, native, and Huey crew chief with HML/A-369. “That raises everyone’s situational awareness.”

The success of the two helicopters’ mission is evidenced by the reaction of the Marines on the ground and the insurgents they fight. Whenever Marines find themselves in firefights, they said what makes the insurgents scatter quickest is the sound of helicopter blades.

“We were ambushed one day with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades,” said Cpl. Josh F. Archer, a scout sniper with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. “The helicopters were there in minutes and the insurgents fled. They (the helicopters) basically saved us.”

While Gilbow concedes close-air support is the Huey’s most important mission, it’s definitely not the only one. The Huey’s three radios allow commanders to use the Hueys while directing their troops on the ground.

The UH-1 also takes part in reconnaissance missions and occasionally in Al Qaim, a helicopter from HML/A-369 evacuates a casualty in the middle of combat to safety, saving Marines’ lives.

In an environment where the mission can always change, having an aircraft that is the best at nothing but very good at everything is invaluable.

“We have a very dynamic role and do a little bit of everything,” said Payne. “We’re the only platform that can shoot, do casualty evacuations, support command and control missions and do escorts for convoys. My roommate is (an infantryman) and as much as he (chides) us, he’ll tell you there’s no better sound than a helicopter coming over the ridge.”

[SandRat]

UH-1 still carries the load and does the job!!!

[Meadow Muffin]

Ever since I can remember the Marine Corps has had to do with "used" gear. Not that the Marines can't handle it, they do and this is one example of them doing an excellent job with older equipment.

While I was in Vietnam, we were using some gear from WW II and Korea. We did our job, but bit**ed all the way like all good marines.

[No Longer Free State]

When I saw the headline I was pretty sure this article wasn't about Murtha. Glad I found out I was right when I read the article.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yep, SSDD. The Marines do more with less than any other military service in the world.

[USNBandit]

The Cobras, as lethal as they are, can only fire at targets directly in front of them

Somebody needs to explain to the corporal how the 20mm gun on the Cobra works.

I was escorting some business people for a dog and pony show being given by the Navy and Marine Reserves at Dobbins JRB. It is a little spooky watching the 20mm on the Cobra track you as it goes by.

[AZRepublican]

Given the choice, I will still prefer being inserted by a slick everytime.

[Kirkwood]

Reading the next sentence, it mentions the field of fire, so clearly the writer knows that the Cobra does have a range over which the weapon can be fired. When comapred to manually operated door guns on the Huey, however, the Huey will have a wider field of coverage.

[A.A. Cunningham]

and a weapon on the right side that can thousands of .762 millimeter rounds per minute.

7.62 millimeter

The Cobras, as lethal as they are, can only fire at targets directly in front of them.

That's not true. The field of fire for the M197 is 220 degrees, 110 degrees left and right of center. April 28, 2005
UH-1Ys to be built new starting in '06
by John Milliman

H-1 PROGRAM PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The UH-1Y Huey light utility helicopter, part of the Marine Corps' H-1 Upgrades program, was approved April 15 by the Defense Department acquisition chief to be built as new helicopters rather than be remanufactured from UH-1Ns currently in use.

Michael Wynne, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, signed the Acquisition Decision Memorandum that will deliver new-built UH-1Ys to the Marine Corps starting in 2008 as part of the third lot of low-rate initial production aircraft.

"A new-build UH-1Y better meets the pressing littoral warfare needs of the Marine Corps," stated Col. Keith Birkholz, the H-1 program manager. "Both in today's battle space and for tomorrow's requirements. This gives us the acquisition strategy to give it to them."

Program officials estimate production costs for building the helicopters new to add approximately $100,000 per aircraft, and non-recurring engineering costs to add approximately $8.1 million, to the program for a total increase of $17.4 million for the 90 UH-1Ys.

Per the President's 2005 budget, the H-1 Upgrades total program cost is estimated to be approximately $5.5 billion.

Although the H-1 Upgrades program originally planned to remanufacture 180 AH-1W Super Cobras and 100 UH-1N Hueys into the 84 percent identical AH-1Z/UH-1Y configuration, the UH-1N fleet has subsequently experienced a surge in operational tempo that is not expected to abate in the near term. Coupled with the average age and attrition rate of the aircraft, as well as the marginal cost difference between a remanufactured UH-1Y and a new-build UH-1Y, the program concluded, and DoD acquisition leadership agreed, that building UH-1Ys new better supports the needs of the Marine Corps.

With the current size and availability of the UH-1N fleet, having a number of them out of the fleet for two years to accommodate the remanufacture process severely and adversely impacts the Marine Corps' speed, persistence, precision and reach in conducting expeditionary maneuver warfare in support of the Global War on Terrorism and other operations around the globe.

Program officials are currently studying the feasibility and cost of also building the AH-1Z's new. A date for that decision is yet to be determined.

Currently, 10 UH-1Y and six AH-1Z aircraft are in production at Bell Helicopter's production facilities in Fort Worth and Amarillo, Texas. By 2014, the Marine Corps will have procured 100 UH-1Y Hueys and 180 AH-1Z Super Cobras.

The H-1 Upgrades program to date has achieved approximately 2,800 flight test hours since Dec. 7, 2000. One of the test AH-1Zs recently flew to Yuma, Ariz., where it is currently testing weapons accuracy. The program is scheduled to begin its final operational evaluation later this year for both the UH-1Y and AH-1Z aircraft.

[Moose4]

Did they ever make a version of the UH-1 with two engines? I know that the Marines and Army upgraded their Cobras with two engines for better survivability and more load, but I wasn't sure if the old Hueys had gotten an upgrade or not.

My brother worked on those things in the Virginia National Guard 1968-1971. Hard to believe they're still in the front lines and giving great service.

}:-)4

[A.A. Cunningham]

The Marines started flying the twin engined UH-1N back in 1971.

[america#1]

my son flew uh-ln's. he was preparing for deployment in 2002 when his helicopter lost its tailrotor. the jag investigation revealed fatigue and improper maintenance caused accident. in addition it revealed that lack of updated crash worthy seats and crew harnesses may have added to the injuries/deaths (improvements not made due to money). two crewmembers were killed, and he and his door gunner have been retired on disability. he really loved what he was doing and is very disappointed that he was not able to continue his career. these aircraft should have been replaced years ago. i really get angry everytime i hear a politician say that we provide our warriors with the best of equipment.

[Trueblackman]

Ahhhh I remember those days and one of my funniest Navy Stories has to do with a Huey, I remember landing one on George Washington while in the Gulf and I asked the crew chief how was I going to park the thing? He smiled took out some pop wheels, wheeled the damn thing, then got out a tow bar and parked the damn thing in the helo hole all in the space of 3 minutes after landing, I kinda stood there with my mouth hanging open.

[Oztrich Boy]

Corps’ oldest helo

Depending on whether you view the Bell-204 and 205 as separate models or not, there is another contender

[FortWorthPatriot]

"Depending on whether you view the Bell-204 and 205 as separate models or not, there is another contender."

The good old "Boeing Body Bag" - gee whiz I remember how those ships used to shimmy!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[gunnyg]

THE LAST FROG PILOT