jfb@ihlpm.att.com (Joseph F Baugher) (10/26/90)
From: jfb@ihlpm.att.com (Joseph F Baugher)
Its BAAAACK! The series on Persian Gulf combat aircraft continues!
Here's number 27 in the series: the HueyCobra.
Bell AH-1F Cobra
Engine:
One Textron Lycoming T53-L-703 turboshaft, 1800 hp.
Performance:
Maximum speed: 141 mph.
Maximum inclined climb rate: 16,200 ft/min.
Hovering ceiling in ground effect: 12,200 feet
Maximum range: 315 miles.
Weights:
Empty weight: 6600 pounds
Maximum takeoff weight: 10,000 pounds
Armament:
One General Electric universal turret in chin mounting under
nose containing one XM-197 3-barreled 20-mm cannon.
Stub wings on fuselage sides containing four weapons points.
Can carry eight BGM-71A TOW antitank missiles mounted in two
four-packs plus two pods with 7-19 folding fin aircraft
rockets each.
Electronics:
Laser rangefinder
ballistics computer
Heads-up display.
Doppler navigation system
Remarks:
Two seat light anti-armor and attack helicopter
Crew of two (weapons operator and pilot) seated in tandem.
Originally designed as an interim advanced aerial fire support
system (AAFSS), for which Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne was under
long-term development.
Model 209 Was basically a redesign of the Model 204 (UH-1A
Iroquois--the famous Huey) with a new, slender fuselage with
two seats in tandem. The rotor, transmission, and powerplant
were similar to those of UH-1.
The Model 209 was adopted as the interim AAFSS in 1966 and was
assigned the designation AH-1G. The name Cobra was officially
adopted, but the helicopter was almost always known as the
HueyCobra.
The Cheyenne project was eventually canceled, so the Cobra
had to fulfill the role of the long-term AAFSS until the
Apache came on line.
Deliveries of AH-1G began in 1967. Armed with an Emerson
Electric TAT-102A nose turret. At first, the turret carried
a single GAU-2B/A Minigun in the XM-134 system, but the
XM-28 system was later adopted which featured two 7.62 mm
Miniguns, or 2 XM-129 40-mm grenade launchers, or one of each.
On the weapons hardpoints on the stub wings on the fuselage
sides, could carry four XM-159 packs of 19 70-mm rockets, four
XM-157 packs of seven 70-mm rockets, two XM-18 gun pods with
one Minigun each, or six TOW wire-guided missiles.
The AH-1G was powered by the Lycoming T53-L-13 turboshaft of
1250 hp. Maximum speed was 186 mph, and normal loaded weight
was 8620 pounds.
The AH-1G was deployed to Southeast Asia, where it proved
to be effective and deadly in the hands of Assault Helicopter
Companies and Air Cavalry. I think I remember reading that
several tanks were killed by TOW-equipped helicopters during
the initial North Vietnamese assault on the South, this being
the first combat use of this missile. However, I'm not
absolutely certain that it was the Cobra that carried the
TOW during these battles.
As the Vietnam war wound down, most of the Cobra fleet was
transferred to Europe. This called for a conversion of the
Cobra to the antiarmor role. 290 AH-1Gs were converted to
AH-1Q configuration, with the capability of carrying the
Hughes BGM-71 TOW wire-guided antitank missile. A four-TOW
pack was carried on each outboard wing hardpoint, and a Sperry
Rand Univac helmet sight was provided for the gunner.
One AH-1G was fitted with an 1825 hp Lycoming T53-L-703 engine
and was redesignated YAH-1R.
Features of the Q and R models were combined into the AH-1S,
which became the main US Army antitank helicopter until the
advent of the AH-64A Apache.
Progressive improvements were introduced throughout the S
series. The first 755 helicopters in the series were rebuilt
AH-1Gs and AH-1Qs. The first 100 newly-built AH-1S helicopters
(known informally as "Step 1") were later redesignated AH-1P.
The next 98 ("Step 2" or "Up-Gun") introduced the General
Electric universal nose turret which was able to accommodate a
XM-197 multibarreled 20 mm cannon or a 30 mm gun, plus a
Baldwin Electronics XM-138 stores management subsytem. These
were later designated AH-1E. The final production version was
the "Modernized AH-1S" or "Step 3". It was equipped with a
fully modernized fire control system, an infrared suppressor
on the engine exhaust, plus electronics countermeasures
equipment, laser rangefinder and tracker, ballistics computer,
heads-up display, doppler navigation system, plus new composite
blades. This version was later redesignated AH-1F.
The AH-1S is built under license in Japan by Fuji Heavy
Industries.
The Cobra has been supplied to Israel and to Pakistan.
Does anyone have any data on the effectiveness of the Cobra
in Israeli service?
The BGM-71 TOW (Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-
guided) antitank missile weighs 46 pounds and has a warhead
consisting of an 8.6 lb. shaped charge. The missile is
launched from a tube. The boost charge pops the missile out
out of the tube, the four wings and the four tail controls
pop out. The guidance commands are generated by the optical
sensor in the sight, which continually measures the position
of a light source on the missile relative to the line of
sight and sends steering commands along the wires that trail
out behind the missile. The range of the missile is 500-3750
meters.
The TOW first saw service in Vietnam. It was used effectively
by the Israelis in the Yom Kippur War of 1973.
The TOW 2 has an improved warhead which is triggered by a long
probe which gives improved standoff distance for greater armor
penetration. It is designed to defeat tanks equipped with
reactive armor.
The AH-1J SeaCobra was a US Marine Corps version powered by a
1800 hp P & W T400-CP-400 coupled free-turbine turboshaft,
a three-barrel 20-mm cannon in the chin turret, a stronger
tail rotor pylon, and a maximum takeoff weight of 10,000 lb.
AH-1J was ordered in quantity by Iran. I don't know how many
of these were actually delivered before the regime of the
Shah fell. Presumably the AH-1J served in combat during the
Iran-Iraq war. Anyone have any details?
The AH-1W Supercobra is an enhanced derivative of the AH-1T of
the US Marine Corps. The primary mission of the AH-1W is the
armed escort of troop-carrying helicopters. Two 1690 hp
General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshafts. Maximum speed of
175 mph at sea level. Maximum takeoff weight of 14,750 lbs.
Triple-barreled 20 mm cannon in nose barbette. In escort role,
carries a pair of AIM-9L Sidewinder AAMs. In antiarmor role,
can carry 8 TOW or Hellfire antitank missiles.. For landing
zone suppression and close-in fire support can carry 76 2.75 in
FFARs, 16 Zuni 5-inch rockets, or two GPU-2A 20-mm cannon pods.
Joe Baugher **************************************
AT&T Bell Laboratories * "I've got a trig midterm tomorrow *
200 Park Plaza * and I'm being chased by Guido, *
Naperville, Illinois 60566-7050 * the killer pimp." *
(708) 713 4548 **************************************
ihlpm!jfb
jfb200@cbnewsd.att.com
Who, me? Speak for AT&T? Surely you jest! elec140@canterbury (10/29/90)
From: elec140@canterbury In article <1990Oct26.015329.24935@cbnews.att.com>, jfb@ihlpm.att.com (Joseph F Baugher) writes: > From: jfb@ihlpm.att.com (Joseph F Baugher) > > Its BAAAACK! The series on Persian Gulf combat aircraft continues! > > Here's number 27 in the series: the HueyCobra. > > Bell AH-1F Cobra > > Performance: > Maximum speed: 141 mph. > Maximum inclined climb rate: 16,200 ft/min. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Is this for real? According to my mental maths :-? this is about 3 miles/min, which is 180 mph! Does this mean that the Cobra can climb faster than it can fly? Or did the ol fingers slip on the keyboard? I'm genuinely interested as the HueyCobra has always been my favourite helicopter - it's one mean looking machine! ********************************************************* Chris Kaiser Postgrad - Elec Eng Dept Canterbury University Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND E.MAIL: c.kaiser@elec.canterbury.ac.nz *********************************************************
jfb@ihlpm.att.com (Joseph F Baugher) (10/30/90)
From: jfb@ihlpm.att.com (Joseph F Baugher) In article <1990Oct29.025550.6682@cbnews.att.com>, elec140@canterbury writes: > In article <1990Oct26.015329.24935@cbnews.att.com>, jfb@ihlpm.att.com (Joseph F Baugher) writes: > > Bell AH-1F Cobra > > > > Performance: > > Maximum speed: 141 mph. > > Maximum inclined climb rate: 16,200 ft/min. > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > Is this for real? Nope, it's not for real (unfortunately). The correct number is 1620 feet per minute. Slip of the ole fingers on the keyboard! Sorry. Thanks for pointing out the mistake! Joe Baugher ************************************** AT&T Bell Laboratories * "What we have here is.....Failure * 200 Park Plaza * to communicate!" * Naperville, Illinois 60566-7050 ************************************** (708) 713 4548 ihlpm!jfb jfb200@cbnewsd.att.com Who, me? Speak for AT&T? Surely you jest!