Bell-Huey UH-1 Iroquois

You could say that this helicopter started the whole gunship idea. During it's first services in Viet Nam, this ideal design was mass produced for the soul purpose of air mobility. Moving troops to remote vital areas of dense jungle. It's versitle charactoristics, high speeds, and resistance to FOD (forien object damage) it proved to be an asset to the war. It could carry 10 persons aboard including pilot, mission commander (co-pilot), craft captian/side gunner operator, side gunner, and 6 troops. Medical versions were fitted with 4-5 streachers, and medical compartments. It could carry 2 medical personel, pilot, mission commander (co-pilot), craft captian/side gunner, and 5-6 injured soldiers. Because of NATO requirements these helicopters were unarmed and had the standard red cross with white background. Viet Cong only regarded this as a sign to come out of the brush and get a better shot. The only armament it ever had was the craft captain at the door with his M-16. The attack version was fitted with rockets, bombs, and heavy machine and chain guns. It heaved havoc, but several were shot down with enemy anti-aircraft guns. A very durable craft but easy to be shot at, and be shot. Purely the symbol of the Viet Nam war. Modern day versions are fitted with infra-red, night vision, flares, and modern weaponry. One event in the Gulf war with Iraq reads. Between the thick smoke from the oil rigs aflame, and the acid clowd cover, the cobra gunships couldn't see their ground targets. A Iroquois fitted with FLIR (foreward looking infra-red) led the Cobras into battle. The mission was successful because of the Iroquois. . Specifications Devoloper Bell/Huey Length 15 m Rotor Span 15 m Width 6.3 m Power Plant Lycoming T-53 . Performance Action Data Ceiling 14,220 m Max LIFT 50,800 kg Payload 18,000 kg Top Speed 120 km/h Range 1,300 km . Armament Type Number Placement M-60 2-8 @ 200-400 rounds a piece Manned Single To Quad mounted guns at the slicks or out the doors ROCKETS 100 Fitted in double deep, rocket containers holding 50 each. Mounted on removable mounts out the sides of the sliding doors(this was the maximum rocket capacity used on this helicopter ever)