jfb@ihlpm.att.com (Joseph F Baugher) (12/21/90)
From: jfb@ihlpm.att.com (Joseph F Baugher) Number 30 in the series--the Aerospatiale Gazelle light attack helicopter, which could be fighting on both sides should war break out in the Persian Gulf: Aerospatiale (Westland) SA-342L Gazelle Engine: One Turbomeca Astazou XIVM coupled three-stage axial turboshaft, 858 shp. The engine air intake is provided with a particle separation screen. Sand filters and anti-icing shields can alternatively be used. Performance: Maximum speed: 161 mph. Maximum inclined climb rate: 2010 ft/min. Service ceiling: 13,450 feet Maximum range: 440 miles. Weights: Empty weight: 2180 pounds Maximum takeoff weight: 4188 pounds Accommodation: Two (pilot plus observer). There are bench seats in the rear which can accommodate up to three people when the helicopter is operating in the liaison role. Armament: Can carry up to six HOT antitank missiles contained in individual tubes mounted on stubby pylons attached to the fuselage sides. Alternatively, a single GIAT M-621 20-mm cannon can be carried. Electronics: Crouzet Nadir self-contained navigation system. SFIM PA 85G autopilot Decca 80 Doppler tactical air navigation system. HOT-equipped Gazelles carry a SPIM APX M397 optical sight atop the cockpit above the gunner's seat on the port side. The sight is gyro-stablilzed and has a magnification of 2.5x and 10x. Remarks: Originated by Sud Aviation as replacement for the Alouette helicopter. SA-340 prototype flew April 7, 1967. One of the most obvious features is the presence of the inset fan which replaces the more traditional tail rotor. It was designed to provide for directional stability at crusing speed without the need for a balancing moment at the tail. It was anticipated that the inset fan would be needed only on takeoff and hover, and could actually be disengaged when in cruising flight It was expected that the tail fin alone would provide adequate directional stability at cruising speed, and since the auxiliary rotor would not be in the airflow when the helicopter was at cruising speed, it could therefore be disengaged. However, this expectation proved overly optimistic, and the fan is now powered in cruising flight, although it does provide for some power savings over more conventional tail rotors. The Gazelle had originally planned on using a rigid rotor design. However, this was abandoned early in the development stage, and the Gazelle ended up with a compromise system, with a semi-articulated head which has flap hinges but no drag hinges. Exported to a large variety of foreign air arms (Abu Dhabi, Angola, Burundi, Cameroun, Chad, Egypt, Eire, Gabon, Guinea, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Qatar, Rwanda, Senegambia, Syria, and Yugoslavia) From 1973 to 1984, was produced by Westland in England for used by the British armed forces. However, most of the export versions came from the French production lines. SA-341 was initial pre-production version with an enlarged cabin, semi-articulated rotors, and 590 shp Astazou III engine. SA-341B is version for British Army Corps. (Gazelle AH. Mk 1). SA-341C is version for Royal Navy (Gazelle HT. Mk. 2) SA-341D is version for Royal Air Force (Gazelle HCC. Mk. 3). SA-341E is VIP transport version for Royal Air Force. SA-341F is initial light aviation model for French Army. 170 built. Entered service in 1973, replacing Alouette II in the observation, liaison, and training role. 40 were later converted to SA-341M configuration with capability of carrying four HOT antitank missiles on outrigger pylons. However, the limited takeoff weight was a disadvantage, and this was regarded as only an interim solution until the more powerful definitive SA-341M could be made available. 63 were converted to SA-341F/Canon configuration, in which a 20-mm M-621 cannon was mounted on the starboard side of the fuselage for armed escort duties. SA-341G was a civilian model with Astazou III. SA-341H was the initial military export model, with Astazou III. SA-342J was an uprated civilian model with 858 shp Astazou XIVH. SA-342K was an uprated military export model. SA-342L was a military export model with improved tail fan, and Astazou XIVM of 858 shp. SA-342M is the current production model for the French Army. The engine has automatic start-up capability. Can carry four Euromissile HOT antitank missiles. French Army Gazelles have seen service in Chad in the fighting against Libyan-backed anti-government guerillas. Iraq had received 40 HOT-armed SA-342Ls by the end of 1977, followed by 20 more in 1980-81. The Iraqi Gazelles were used extensively in the war with Iran, but there are no details available on their service. Kuwait acquired 24 SA-342K delivered between 1974 and 1976. Further batches of SA-342Ls followed in 1977 and 1983. It seems likely that some of these have fallen into Iraqi hands. Syria acquired 50 HOT-armed SA-342Ls starting in 1976, and ordered 15 more at a later time to replace losses. Syria lost several Gazelles in her 1982 encounter with Israel in the Bekka Valley. At least one was captured and painted in Israeli markings. Egypt has four SA-342Ks and 50 SA-342Ls, including 24 armed with HOT missiles, 12 armed with 20-mm cannon, and 12 armed with the older Aerospatiale AS-12 air to surface missile for anti-shipping operations. It is possible that some Egyptian Gazelles have been modified to carry the Hughes BGM-71 TOW antitank missile. I don't know how many Egyptian Gazelles are presently in Saudi Arabia. The Gazelle is produced under license in Egypt. Morocco received 24 SA-342Ls in 1982, and these have been used in the battle against Polisario guerillas in the Western Sahara. Yugoslavia builds the Gazelle under license. They can be fitted with two Soviet-designed AT-3 Sagger antitank missiles on each outrigger. Some have been seen with an SA-7 Grail infantry SAM mounted between each Sagger pair for anti-helicopter combat. Similar modification may have been made to Iraqi Gazelles. In British service, saw some action in the Falklands/Malvinas war of 1982. They were hastily provided with a Matral SNEB 68-mm unguided rocket pack on each outrigger. In addition, a general purpose machine gun was mounted in the cabin door. Three were lost, two of them to small arms fire. This led to some criticism that the Gazelle is not sufficiently robust for modern battlefield conditions. The exhaust pipe on operational versions of the Gazelle deflects the hot gases upwards and to the rear, presenting a weaker infrared signature for ground-launched infrared homing missiles. The Euromissile HOT antitank missile is a high subsonic, optically-guided, tube-launched, wire guided missile with a range of 4400 yards and which can penetrate up to 31.5 inches of armor. "HOT" is a French acronym: "Haut subsonique Optiquement teleguide tire d'un Tube". It weighs about 55 pounds at launch, and has a hollow-charge warhead weighing 13.2 pounds. Maximum speed is 560 mph. The gunner steers the missile by peering through the optical roof sight, and directs the missile to its target by issuing guidance commands which are relayed to the missile by means of the trailing wire. A flare attached to the rear of the missile aids the gunner in directing the missile to its target. I think that the Iraqi Gazelles have only day antitank missile capability. However, it is always possible that Iraq has been able to acquire night vision equipment in order to upgrade the roof-mounted optical sighting system on its Gazelles in order to give them a night capability. Sources: Modern Air Combat, Bill Gunston, Mike Spick The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Armament, Bill Gunston The World's Great Military Helicopters, Gallery Books, 1990. Joe Baugher ****************************************** AT&T Bell Laboratories * "Patch me through to McGarrett." * 200 Park Plaza ****************************************** Naperville, Illinois 60566-7050 (708) 713 4548 ihlpm!jfb jfb200@cbnewsd.att.com Who, me? Speak for AT&T? Surely you jest!