AH-1E Cobra gunship.
This kind of armed helicopter appeared in the 1960s. After all, it is the Army’s dream to put wings on the Army.
In 55 years, during the Vietnam War, helicopters participated directly in combat for the first time. The U.S. Army equipped Bell UH-1 "Huey" transport helicopters with weapons and used them for attack missions, thus becoming the first in Army history to directly participate in combat. Helicopter.
However, the problem of existence was only solved at that time. After all, even if the engine power is increased, this kind of aircraft is not specially used for combat. Its speed is slow, the firepower is not strong, and it has no armor protection, and its survivability is obvious. insufficient. Therefore, the U.S. Army urgently requires the rapid provision of a high-speed, heavy-armored, heavy-fire armed helicopter, which can be used to provide escort for troop carrier helicopters or provide air suppression firepower for infantry in advance.
This is the origin of the armed helicopter. After some selection, the US Army chose Lockheed's AH-56 "Cheyenne". However, the accuracy of this aircraft is very slow, and the U.S. Army has begun a transitional bid for Wuhan. In the end, Bell won and submitted the Model 209 plan to the Army.
It is improved from UH-1, and uses a large number of UH-1 systems, including T-58 turbo engine, transmission system, balanced two-blade main and tail rotor system, etc., which reduces risks and costs. However, there are also special gunship features, such as a long and narrow fuselage, a tandem double cockpit, a nose cannon, short wings for weapons on both sides of the fuselage, a single engine, and a fixed landing skid. This kind of aircraft was finalized and put into military use. This is the current AH-1 Cobra gunship.
(The U.S. Army is weird. The Air Force firmly opposes the Army’s ability to fly and restricts all kinds of restrictions to the Army. In memory, the Army even used a propeller plane to support the ground to avoid the Air Force’s restrictions.)
After this type of armed helicopter was finalized, it began to be widely used and exported, and the island country now bought the first one at the beginning of the year.
Yes, the action of the island country is late.
The gunship is a tank killer. This is the conclusion of later generations. Now, how much role the gunship can play on the battlefield, no one knows, especially when two powerful armored groups are facing each other, can the gunship be able to perform.
The island country is suspicious of this, so it hasn't made any action until now, it is considered to have bought one.
This is for testing. If appropriate, the island country will decide to produce. In later generations, after the island country has been evaluated, Fuji Heavy Industries produced 89 AH-1Fs under license and installed Kawasaki Heavy Industries under license T53-K-703 turboshaft engine. Compared with other equipment, this kind of armed helicopter is definitely a small amount.
However, just today, after midnight, the first armed helicopter of the Island Self-Defense Force completely saved the fate of the entire Hokkaido being occupied by the Soviets.
Saburo Matsushita sat in the position of the weapon operator in front, and behind him was the pilot Ozawa. Different from the deployment of fighters, for armed helicopters, the rear seat is the pilot, the seat is raised, the front seat is the weapon operator, and the front view is the best, so as to ensure good results when operating weapons.
At about ten midnight, they received an order from their superiors. The superiors analyzed that the Soviets might use armored forces to cross the Snow Mountain National Park and attack the Chitose base.
They didn't take this judgment seriously. Are the Soviets crazy? How can you go deep alone, and cross the snowy mountains? Was that what the tank troops did? The transport plane is pretty much the same.
Although they disagreed, the situation in Hokkaido is now quite dangerous, so they set out. They flew around the snowy mountains in the dark for several hours, and now they are about to return due to fuel problems.
"We are running out of fuel." Ozawa said in the rear cabin: "We have to go back, let the land crew come here to investigate."
Of course, you can't just rely on their helicopter and the ground personnel searching here. Now, it's time for them to return.
"Wait, what's in front?" At this moment, Saburo Matsushita's tone was surprised: "In front, there is a tank unit there!"
In this era, there is no advanced infrared imaging device. The night vision device is just an ordinary low-light night vision device, but in this clear night sky, the effect of the low-light night vision device is quite good.
In his night vision, Saburo Matsushita saw that there were tanks moving on the mountainside in front of him, but he hadn't noticed it just now because they came from the valley. The helicopter was afraid of encountering mountain turbulence and was in the dark. Zhong didn't dare to fly into the valley, and now, the other party actually appeared in this position, and he was about to cross the snowy mountains!
It was terrible. Almost at the same time as the discovery, Saburo Matsushita's hand quickly flipped the switches one by one to activate the Tao-type anti-tank missiles mounted under the short wings on both sides.
As an armed helicopter, of course, it needs a variety of weapon systems. For any armed helicopter, the first fixed weapon is the cannon under the nose.
The current AH-1E is equipped with the AH-1J general-purpose turret, equipped with a 20mm M197 cannon. This cannon, even if it uses tungsten alloy armor-piercing shells, may not be able to penetrate the opponent's tank from the top.
Therefore, the only weapons they can use are the pylons on both sides.
Helicopters don't need wings. They rely on the large plate on the top to provide lift, but gunships need them because this short wing is used to hang weapons.
A common weapon is a multi-tube rocket launching nest. The most common of the Cobra helicopter is a 70mm rocket launching nest. At the same time, as a specialized anti-tank weapon, it can also mount anti-tank missiles.
For this takeoff, their task was very arduous. They had to search for the target and strike after they were discovered. However, considering the complex conditions in the mountainous area, they did not hang them according to the maximum mount. Now, there are only four pottery anti-tanks on each side. missile.
The maximum load is eight on each side, but the power system of the helicopter will be greatly affected.
Although this helicopter is used for testing, it has a complete weapon system. The two crew members have conducted special target shooting. They started weapon testing a month ago.
At that time, there were more than a dozen missiles in their hands, and the results were not bad. Now, they will come in handy so soon! (End of this chapter)