David
Tue December 17, 2002 2:46pm
|
Lt. Roberto Guidolin of t
Lt. Roberto Guidolin of the 26th Squadron Group, Giove, pilots his AB205 against a backdrop of Sarajevan tower blocks. The AB205- the Italian version of the UH-1H -can transport up to 13 peope including two pilots. It can carry a mixed armament of two M134, 7.62 cal. machine guns and two M158 A1 2.75 cal. rocket launchers or two MG42/59 machine guns. Photo: Phill Ball.
|
|
David
Tue January 7, 2003 11:12pm
|
AH-1G Cobra 'Snake'
Initially the Cobra mounted a modified chin-turret developed for the Bell Sioux Scout. The XM64 (TAT-102) mounted a single M134 "Minigun". Initial versions of the AH-1G Cobra were fielded with an enlarged, modified chin-turret, designated the XM28 armament subsystem (TAT-141), mounting two 7.62mm "Miniguns" or two 40mm grenade launchers, or one of each.
|
|
David
Tue January 7, 2003 11:35pm
|
OH-58A Kiowa with M27 arm
The Bell (model 206A) OH-58A Kiowa was procured by the U. S. Army when the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program was reopened for an additional buy in March 1968. The OH-58A was first deployed to Vietnam in early Autumn 1969. The Kiowa operated with air cavalry, attack helicopter, and field artillery units. The OH-58A could also be configured as a troop transport, MedEvac, or for external lift missions using an external hook. Kiowas were commonly paired with the AH-1G "Huey" Cobra. The Kiowa would fly low to draw enemy fire, "trolling" for fire, mark the target, and call in the Cobra to attack. The OH-58A Kiowa could be armed with the M27 armament subsystem, the port (left) side mounting M134 six-barrel 7.62mm "Minigun". However the vibration from the "minigun" was too great for the frame until it was rebuilt for the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. The Kiowa could also be armed with the 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem. The Kiowa had a two-bladed semi-rigid seesaw all metal main rotor and a two-bladed rigid delta hinge all metal tail rotor. The OH-58A was powered by a single Allison 250-C18 317 shp turbine engine and has a speed of 132 mph (115 knots).
|
|
David
Tue January 7, 2003 11:35pm
|
OH-58A Kiowa Light Observ
The Bell (model 206A) OH-58A Kiowa was procured by the U. S. Army when the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program was reopened for an additional buy in March 1968. The OH-58A was first deployed to Vietnam in early Autumn 1969. The Kiowa operated with air cavalry, attack helicopter, and field artillery units. The OH-58A could also be configured as a troop transport, MedEvac, or for external lift missions using an external hook. Kiowas were commonly paired with the AH-1G "Huey" Cobra. The Kiowa would fly low to draw enemy fire, "trolling" for fire, mark the target, and call in the Cobra to attack. The OH-58A Kiowa could be armed with the M27 armament subsystem, the port (left) side mounting M134 six-barrel 7.62mm "Minigun". However the vibration from the "minigun" was too great for the frame until it was rebuilt for the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. The Kiowa could also be armed with the 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem. The Kiowa had a two-bladed semi-rigid seesaw all metal main rotor and a two-bladed rigid delta hinge all metal tail rotor. The OH-58A was powered by a single Allison 250-C18 317 shp turbine engine and has a speed of 132 mph (115 knots).
|
|
David
Tue January 7, 2003 11:41pm
|
M21 armament subsystem wi
M21 armament subsystem with M134 "minigun" and M158 seven-tube rocket launcher
|
|
David
Tue January 7, 2003 11:41pm
|
M21 armament subsystem wi
M21 armament subsystem with M134 "minigun" and M158 seven-tube rocket launcher
|
|
David
Tue January 7, 2003 11:41pm
|
XM27E1 armament subsystem
XM27E1 armament subsystem with M134 "Minigun"
|
|
David
Tue January 7, 2003 11:42pm
|
M134 on M21 armament subs
M134 on M21 armament subsystem alongside
|
|
David
Thu January 16, 2003 10:39am
|
AH/MH-6 "Little Bird
Function: Special Operations Attack/Transport helicopter.
Background: The A/MH-6 Little Bird can trace its roots to the McDonnell Douglas OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter introduced during the Vietnam War. There are currently two versions of the Little Bird. The AH-6J attack version is configured as a light attack helicopter while the MH-6J variant is configured as an insertion / extraction / transport platform. Both versions are based on the Boeing MD-530F Defender helicopter.
Both versions of the Little Bird are equipped with a Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) system for day/night, all weather operations as well as an inertial/GPS navigational system and radar altimeter for precision, nap of the earth flying. Both are also equipped with secure satellite capable communications. For self-defense both are equipped with a radar warning receiver (RWR) as well as an IR jamming system and chaff/flare dispenser.
The armed variant is equipped with a lightweight universal mounting platform which can accommodate two M134 7.62mm miniguns, two M260 7-shot Hydra 70 2.75" folding-fin aerial rockets. Alternately, the AH-6 can be armed with Hellfire anti-tank missiles, air-to-air stingers, Mk-19 40mm automatic grenade launchers, or .50 caliber heavy machine guns.
The transport variant can accommodate six passengers, seated externally on detachable "planks" to facilitate the rapid debarkation of the aircraft on arrival. In addition, the transport is equipped with a hoist to insert and extract personnel without landing.
Description: The Little Bird is based on the Boeing MD-530 Defender. The fuselage body is large teardrop design with the pilot and co-pilot seated side by side. Visibility out of the aircraft is excellent as the forward portion of the cabin is glass enclosed and there are large oval windows in each of the four cabin doors. During combat operations the doors may be removed. The single engine is mounted in the rear of the fuselage, below the high mounted tail boom, with the six-bladed main rotor mounted on the forward portion of the transmission housing. The tail assembly is a "T" type with the horizontal stabilizer mounted on top of the vertical stabilizer. The tail rotor is 4 bladed and mounted on the left side of the vertical stabilizer.
?General Characteristics, AH/MH-6 "Little Bird"
Prime Contractor:
Boeing
Power Plant:
Allison 250 C30 gas turbine, 650 shaft horsepower
Rotor Diameter:
26 feet (8 meters)
Length:
29 ft 10 in (9.2 meters)
Height:
8 ft 6 in (2.6 meters)
Width:
6 ft 2 in (1.9 meters)
Speed:
175 mph (280 kph)
Maximum Take-off Weight:
5,207 lbs (2,367 kg)
Max. Infiltration Range:
324 miles (518 km)
Crew:
Two (pilot, co-pilot) up to six passengers (two internal or six external)
Date Deployed:
1975
|
|
David
Sat January 3, 2004 8:43pm
|
AN/GAU-17 7.62mm Machine
Description: With the introduction of helicopters to the modern battlefield, the M61 system was redesigned and scaled down for use as a helicopter weapon system. Designated the M134, this new weapon was similar to the M61A1 but it fired the much smaller 7.62mm percussion primed rifle cartridge. Capable of firing 6,000 rounds per minute, the M134 was used on a number of helicopters, such as the UH-1 Iroquois, OH-6 Cayuse, and AH-1 Cobra, as well as the AC-47 gunship, during the Vietnam War. In these cases the M134 was part of an armament system and fired by either the pilot or co-pilot. The M134 also saw service in the Vietnam War in a number of under wing pods, allowing aircraft such as the AD-1 Sky Raider to deliver tremendous amounts of firepower in CAS missions.
The crew served version of the M134 is the GAU-17. Fired from a pintle mount on the helicopter fuselage, the GAU-17 is very similar to the M134 except that it is equipped with a "high" (4,000 rpm) and "low" (2,000 rpm) selector switch. The GAU-17 is currently in service on the UH-1N, H-3, and H-60 helicopters, as well as a number of American Special Operations aircraft and helicopters.
Background: Soon after the end of the Second World War the newly formed United States Air Force identified a need for an improved gun system for its aircraft. While adequate as an air combat / ground attack weapon during World War Two, the Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun had been rendered obsolete by jet aircraft and needed to be replaced by a weapon with increased range, rate of fire, and projectile lethality. Realizing that singled barreled automatic weapons had essentially reached their design limits, the U.S. Army Ordnance Research and Development Service hit on the idea of re-introducing the multi-barreled rotary weapon invented by Richard J. Gatling in the 1880s. Initial tests proved promising as a vintage Gatling gun, now powered by an electric motor in place of the usual hand crank, was able to achieve rates of fire in excess of 4,000 rounds per minute.
In 1946 the General Electric company received the contract for this new program, code named "Project Vulcan," and was tasked with producing functional prototypes in a number of calibers for further testing. In 1952 GE produced three different guns; .60 caliber, 20mm, and 27mm. After extensive testing, the 20mm version was selected for further testing to determine its suitability as an aircraft mounted weapon. In 1956 the gun was standardized as the M61 20mm cannon and entered service with both the United States Army and Air Force.
|
|
|
The Patriot Files Forums
