Function: Fire support and security for forward and rear area forces, point target/anti-armor, anti-helicopter, armed escort, supporting arms control and coordination, point and limited area air defense from enemy fixed-wing aircraft, armed and visual reconnaissance.







History: The Marine Corps deployed four of six active force squadrons (48 AH-1Ws) to Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. These helicopters destroyed 97 tanks, 104 armored personnel carriers and vehicles, 16 bunkers and two antiaircraft artillery sites without the loss of any aircraft. The deployment required no additional augmentation to squadron support personnel and only one Bell Helicopter technical representative.







Description: The AH-1W Super Cobra is a day/night marginal weather Marine Corps attack helicopter that provides enroute escort for our assault helicopters and their embarked forces. The AH-1W is a two-place, tandem-seat, twin-engine helicopter capable of land- or sea-based operations. The AH-1W provides fire support and fire support coordination to the landing force during amphibious assaults and subsequent operations ashore. The AH-1W is operated in eight composite HMLA squadrons composed of 18 AH-1 and 9 UH-1 aircraft. The AH-1W is curretnly being outfitted with a Night Targeting System/Forward Looking Infrared Radar that provides laser rangefinding/designating and camera capabilities.







?General Characteristics, AH-1W Super Cobra





Manufacturer:

Bell Helicopter Textron







Unit Cost:

$10.7 million







Power Plant:

Two General Electric T700-GE-401 engines







Thrust:

Full: 2082 shaft horsepower for 30 minutes (transmission limited)



Continuous: 1775 shaft horsepower







Length:

58 feet (17.67 meters)







Height:

13.7 feet (4.17 meters)







Rotor Diameter:

48 feet (14.62 meters)







Maximum Take-off Weight:

14,750 pounds (6,696.50 kilograms)







Maximum Speed:

180 knots













Ceiling:

18,700 feet (5703.5 meters) in basic combat attack configuration (limited to 10,000 feet (3050 kilometers) by oxygen requirements)







Range:

256 nautical miles (294.4 miles) in basic combat attack configuration







Crew:

Two officers







Armament:

One 20MM turreted cannon with 750 rounds



Four external wing stations that can fire 2.75"/5.0" rockets and a wide variety of precision guided missiles, including TOW/Hellfire (point target/anti-armor), Sidewinder (anti-air), Sidearm (anti-radar)







Introduction Date:

1986