UH-1 Iroquois
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| Bell UH-1 Iroquois | |
|---|---|
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| Bell UH-1D Huey of the United States Army | |
| Type | Multipurpose utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Bell Helicopter Textron |
| Maiden flight | October 22, 1956 |
| Introduced | 1959 |
| Primary users | United States Army United States Marine Corps |
| Number built | 10,000 |
| Variants | Bell UH-1F AH-1 Cobra Bell 212 Bell 214 |
The Bell Helicopter UH-1 Iroquois, commonly (or officially in the United States Marine Corps) known as the "Huey", is a multipurpose military helicopter, famous for its use in the Vietnam War.
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[edit] Overview
The UH-1 was developed from 1955 US Army trials with the Bell Model 204. The initial designation of HU-1 (helicopter utility) led to its nickname, Huey. It was first used by the military in 1959 and went into triservice production in 1962 as the UH-1. The last were produced in 1976 with more than 10,000 made in total, of which the majority (7,000 or so) were deployed in Vietnam. In Vietnam, 2,202 Huey pilots were killed and approximately 2,500 aircraft were lost, roughly half to combat and the rest to operational accidents.
[edit] Development
Earlier helicopters had been powered by piston engines. However, by the early 1950s, turbine engines were being used in many fixed-wing aircraft, and aircraft designers began to consider using them for rotary-wing use. Though expensive to build, turbines were long-lived, durable, and extremely light for their power output in comparison to piston-powered engines.
The first Bell helicopter to use a turbine engine was a modified Model 47 (designated the XH-13F), first flown in October 1954. In 1955, anxious to obtain a powerful medical evacuation helicopter, the U.S. Army awarded Bell a contract to develop the next generation turbine-powered helicopter, designated the XH-40 (renamed the Model 204). The first XH-40 flew on October 22, 1956. Two more prototypes were built in 1957, and eighteen more YH-40 prototypes were tested in 1958. Bell believed the YH-40 was ideal for troop transport and cargo carrying as well as the medevac role, a view soon adopted by the Army, who found the pre-production aircraft so much better in service than previous piston-powered helicopters they soon ordered more of them.
The HU-1A (later redesignated the UH-1 Iroquois) was the first turbine-equipped U.S. helicopter to go into production, and production models first entered service with the 101st Airborne at Fort Lewis, Washington. Although they were intended for evaluation only, the Army quickly pressed them into operational service.
The helicopter was originally designated the HU-1A, which is where it received its nickname - "Huey." The official U.S. Army designation Iroquois (Army helicopters are traditionally given Native American names) was almost never used in practice. The HU-1B was equipped with revised main rotor blades and could carry seven passengers. These versions were redesignated UH-1A and UH-1B respectively, in 1962. A UH-1C gunship version with a more powerful engine was later built, along with search and rescue (SAR) and training variants.
[edit] Service in Vietnam
The UH-1 has long become a symbol of US involvement in South East Asia and Vietnam, and as a result of that conflict, has become one of the world's most recognized helicopters.
In Vietnam primary missions included general support, air assault, cargo transport, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, electronic warfare, and later, ground attack. During the conflict, the craft was upgraded, notably to a larger version based on the Model 205. This version was initially designated the UH-1D and flew operationally from 1963.
During service in Vietnam, the UH-1 was used for various purposes and various terms for each task abounded. UH-1s tasked with a ground attack or armed escort role were outfitted with rocket launchers, grenade launchers, and/or machine guns. These 'gunship' UH-1s were commonly referred to as Hogs or Frogs, while UH-1s tasked for troop transport were often called Slicks (due to an absence of weapons pods). Slicks did have door gunners, but for the most part they were strictly troop carriers and medevacs. In the US Navy and USMC the difference between gunships were referred to as Sharks, troop transport aircraft, Dolphins.
UH-1s also flew hunter-killer teams with observation helicopters, namely the Bell OH-58 Kiowa and the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach).[verification needed] Towards the end of the conflict, the UH-1 was tested with TOW missiles,[verification needed] and two UH-1B helicopters equipped with the XM26 Armament Subsystem were deployed to help counter the 1972 Easter Invasion. USAF Lieutenant James P. Fleming piloted a UH-1F on a 26 November 1968 mission that won him the Medal of Honor.
UH-1 troop transports were designated by Blue teams, hence the nickname for troops carried in by these Hueys as the Blues. The reconnaissance or observation teams were White teams. The attack ships were called Red teams. Over the duration of the conflict the tactics used by the military evolved and teams were mixed for more effective results. Purple teams with one or two Blue slicks dropping off the troops, while a Red attack team provided protection until the troops could defend themselves. Another highly effective team was the Pink Recon/Attack team, which offered the capability of carrying out assaults upon areas where the enemy was known to be present but could not be pinpointed.
During the course of the war, the UH-1 went through several upgrades. The UH-1A, B, and C models (short fuselage, Bell 204) and the UH-1D and H models (stretched-fuselage, Bell 205) each had improved performance and load-carrying capabilities. The UH-1B and C performed the gunship and some of the transport duties until 1967, when the new AH-1 Cobra arrived on the scene. The newer Cobra, a purpose-built attack helicopter based on the UH-1 was faster, sleeker, harder to hit, and could carry more ordnance. The increasing intensity and sophistication of NVA anti-aircraft defenses made continued use of gunships based on the UH-1 impractical, and after Vietnam the Cobra was adopted as the Army's main attack helicopter. Devotees of the UH-1 in the gunship role cite its ability to act as an impromptu dustoff if the need arose, as well as the superior observational capabilities of the larger Huey cockpit, which allowed return fire from door gunners to the rear and sides of the aircraft.
The UH-1 Huey was phased out with the introduction of the UH-60 Black Hawk, although the Army UH-1 Residual Fleet has around 700 UH-1s that were supposed to be retained until 2015. Army support for the craft was intended to end in 2004. Modern twin-engine versions of the aircraft continue in service for the US Marine Corps.
The UH-1 has been widely exported and remains in front-line service in a number of countries.
[edit] Special models for the USAF
[edit] UH-1F
The UH-1F was designed in response to a United States Air Force specification for a support helicopter for use on its missiles bases.
In 1962, the USAF asked Bell to develop a special version of the UH-1D using the General Electric T-58 turboshaft as a powerplant (the same engine in the Sikorsky S-61 Sea King). This engine was capable of 1,250 hp (932 kW) rather than the UH-1D's Lycoming 1,100 hp (820 kW) T53-L11.
Bell proposed a developed version of the Bell model 204 which had been used by the US Army as the UH-1B. Bell proposed to use the shorter cabin of the model 204B but with the longer tail boom and rotor-transmission of the Bell model 205. As a result, Bell had to put the T-58 engine backwards in order to connect with the rotor system (opposite to the original S-61 position where the engine is located in front of the rotor system and above of the main cabin). In addition, Bell had to develop a side exhaust that goes parallel of the engine's block and turn to the right side. The UH-1F was introduced in 1963 in the US Air Force, who ordered 25. Externally, the only visible differences from UH-1B were the engine exhaust, which exited to the right side of the engine, and the longer tail boom.
The last UH-1F was retired from the USAF in the early 1980s, probably in 1982.
Total production of the UH-1F was 150 units. In Italy, Agusta produced a similar model by re-engining the 204B with the 1,225 hp (914 kW) Rolls-Royce Gnome turboshaft, later the UH-1F's General Electric engine. The Italian version was exported to the military of the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, and Switzerland. It had a rescue hoist located at the right side of the cabin.
[edit] Operational history
At the outbreak of the Vietnam War, the 20th and 21st Special Operations Squadrons were deployed there equipped with the Bell UH-1F, becoming known as the "Green Hornets". At the beginning they played transport and communications roles, but by late 1960s, when the CIA discovered that the Viet Cong was infiltrating South Vietnam through Cambodia and Laos, the Green Hornets started to fly secret missions to infiltrate and extract agents and commandos in the "Communist sanctuaries" of Cambodia and Laos. These were risky missions since the UH-1F didn't have night equipment and or any kind of weather radar.
[edit] Markings
The UH-1Fs in Vietnam were painted in 4 tone-camouflage that consisted in dark and medium green and dark tan on the upper surfaces and light gray was used under the lower surface. No national insignia were carried, only a serial number on the tail and a dark green hornet on the middle of the tail boom.
The UH-1Fs used at the same time in the United States were painted in light gray overall with black "United States Air Force" painted along the tail boom and a yellow band with black borders at the end of the boom with a "Danger" marking. A typical black serial was painted on the tail. Other UH-1Fs used the same colors but with the roof painted in gloss white. At least one aircraft was painted in overall gloss blue, with "U.S. AIR FORCE" painted on the boom in white, and the tail serial in the same color.
[edit] UH-1P
Around 1969 a number of UH-1Fs were modified for a still-classified psychological warfare role and redesignated UH-1P. The "P" version was the only armed version of the UH-1F, carrying machine guns and rocket launchers. Even unarmed, they can be distinguished from standard UH-1Fs by their two UHF antennas (the F carried only one)
[edit] Variant overview
[edit] Military variants
- XH-40 - The initial Bell 204 prototype. Three prototypes were built.
- YH-40 - Six pre-production aircraft.
- Bell Model 533 - One YH-40BF rebuilt as a flight test bed with turbofan engines and wings.
- HU-1A - Initial Bell 204 production model, redesignated as the UH-1A in 1962.
- HU-1B - Upgraded HU-1A, various external and rotor improvements. Redesignated UH-1B in 1962.
- UH-1C - UH-1B with improved engine for better performance in the gunship role.
- YUH-1D - Seven pre-production prototypes of the UH-1D.
- UH-1D - Initial Bell 205 production model (long fuselage version of the 204). Designed as a troop carrier to replace the CH-34 then in US Army service
- HH-1D - Search Air Rescue (SAR) variant of UH-1D.
- UH-1E - UH-1B/C for USMC with different avionics and equipment. Initial models were also fitted with a retractable rescue hoist.
- TH-1E - Trainer based on the UH-1E for USMC.
- UH-1F - UH-1B/C for USAF with different engine.
- TH-1F - Trainer based on the UH-1F for the USAF.
- UH-1G - Skipped to prevent confusion with AH-1G, which had initially been designated as a variant of the H-1 line. Interestingly enough UH-1D/H gunships operating in Cambodia were locally given the designation UH-1G.
- UH-1H - Improved UH-1D with the same engine as the UH-1C, which had actually been developed after the UH-1D.
- CUH-1H - Canadian Armed Forces designation for the UH-1H utility transport helicopter. Redesignated CH-118.
- EH-1H - Twenty-two aircraft converted by installation of AN/ARQ-33 (4 aircraft) and ARQ-33A Radio Receiving Sets. Capable of HF/VHF Intercept and VHF jamming. Initial aircraft were fielded to 82 AB and 2 AD. 82 AB used them during invasion of Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury) in 1983. Replaced by EH-60A.
- HH-1H - Based off of medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) conversions of the UH-1H, SAR variant to USAF with rescue hoist.
- JUH-1H - Five UH-1Hs converted to SOTAS battlefield surveillance configuration, designed to simulate the Russian Hind.
- TH-1H - Recently modified UH-1H troop carriers for use as basic helicopter flight trainers by the USAF.
- UH-1J - Improved Japanese version of the UH-1H. UH-1H variant built under licence in Japan by Fuji.
- HH-1K - Purpose built SAR variant for the US Navy with USN avionics and equipment.
- UH-1L - Utility variant of the HH-1K.
- TH-1L - Helicopter flight trainer based off of the UH-1L for the USN.
- UH-1M - Gunship specific UH-1C upgrade with new engine. Often confused as a dedicated "night-fighter" because the first three UH-1Ms were delivered to the South East Asia Night Operations (SEA NITEOPS) office to be used in the Iroqouis Night Fighter and Night Tracker (INFANT) program.
- UH-1N - Initial Bell 212 production model, the Bell 'Twin Pac' twin engined Huey. Over the years the primary operators, the USMC have developed a number of upgrades for the aircraft including improved avionics, defenses, and a FLIR turret.
- VH-1N - VIP transport configuration
- HH-1N - SAR variant.
- CUH-1N - Canadian Armed Forces designation for the UN-1N utility transport helicopter. Redesignated CH-135 Twin Huey.
- UH-1P - UH-1F variant for USAF for special operations use including psychological warfare and covert insertion/extraction, and attack operations.
- UH-1V - Aeromedical evacuation, rescue version for the US Army.
- UH-1U - Single prototype for Counter Mortar/Counter Battery Radar Jamming aircraft. Crashed at Edwards AFB during testing.
- EH-1X - Ten aircraft built by ESL. AN/ALQ-151 Mission Equipment. Capable of HF/VHF intercept, VHF Direction Finding/jamming. Replaced by EH-60A
- UH-1Y - Essentially a massive UH-1N replacement/upgrade for the USMC, designed to coincide with a similar upgrade for the AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter.
- Huey II - A modified and re-engined UH-1H, significantly upgrading its performance,and its cost-effectiveness. Currently offered by Bell to all present users of the type.
[edit] Civilian variants
- Bell 204 - Bell Helicopters company designation, covering aircraft from the XH-40, YH-40 prototypes to the UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1C, UH-1E, UH-1F, HH-1K, UH-1L, UH-1P and UH-1M production aircraft.
- Bell 204B - Civil or military utility transport helicopter, derived from the UH-1B.
- Agusta-Bell AB 204 - Civil or military utility transport helicopter. Built under licence in Italy by Agusta.
- Agusta-Bell AB 204AS - Anti-submarine warfare, anti-shipping version of the AB 204 helicopter.
- Fuji-Bell 204B-2 - Civil or military utility transport helicopter. Built under licence in Japan by Fuji Heavy Industries. Used by the Japan Ground Self Defence Force under the name Hiyodori.
- Bell 205 - Bell Helicopters company designation of the UH-1D and UH-1H helicopters.
- Bell 205A-1 - Civil or military utility transport helicopter version, initial version based on the UH-1H.
- Agusta-Bell 205 - Civil or military utility transport helicopter. Built under licence in Italy by Agusta.
- Agusta-Bell 205A-1 - Modified version of the AB 205.
- Agusta-Bell 205BG - Prototype fitted with two Gnome H 1200 turboshaft engines.
- Agusta-Bell 205TA - Prototype fitted with two Turbomeca Astazous turboshaft engines.
- Fuji-Bell 205A-1 - Civil or military utility transport helicopter. Built under licence in Japan by Fuji. Used by the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force under the designation HU-1H.[citation needed]
- Bell 205B- Bell's early version of the 210 built back in the late 70's, only 5 were built and sold. Had 212 nose, up-rated T53-17 engine, K-Flex drive-shaft, 212 main rotor blades, tail-rotor blades.
- Bell 210 - Bell Helicopters designation for a UH-1H remanufactured and sold to civilian operators.
- Bell 212 - Bell Helicopters company designation for the UH-1N.
- Bell 214 Huey Plus - Strengthened development of the Bell 205 airframe with a larger engine; optimized for "hot and high" conditions. Later developed into the larger, twin-engined Bell 214ST.
- Bell 412 - Bell 212 with a four-bladed semi-rigid rotor system.
[edit] Operators
The Iroquois was widely sold abroad. Users include:
- Argentina, as a tri-service aircraft
- Austria
- The Royal Australian Air Force (though now operated by the Australian Army). Australian Iroquois pilots have served in Vietnam and East Timor.
- Royal Australian Navy, Fleet Air Arm (RAN)
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bolivia
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Burma/Myanmar
- Cambodia
- Canadian Forces
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Ecuador
- Ethiopia
- The Italian Army (Aviation) (Iroquois were license produced in Italy by Agusta, known as AB205B ),
- Italian Navy
- The Royal New Zealand Air Force No. 3 Squadron RNZAF, (New Zealand Iroquois pilots served in Vietnam the Sinai and East Timor).
- The Royal Norwegian Air Force, until replaced by the Bell 412 in 1989.
- The Philippine Air Force has used its UH-1H helicopters to fight Communist insurgents and Muslim separatists in various parts of the country. It has now undertaken the Huey II upgrade program in order to extend the operational life and capability of its Hueys.
- The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has used UH-1B and UH-1Hs produced under license by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., who made original improvements to create the UH-1J version. These are now being replaced by the UH-60JA Black Hawk.
- The German Army and Airforce still use some UH-1D for transport and special duties. They are going to be replaced by the NHIndustries NH90.
- Greek Air Force
- Georgia
- Greek Army They are going to be replaced by NHIndustries NH90.
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Indonesia
- Iran (Air Force)
- Iran (Army)
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- The Lebanese Air Force has a fleet of around thirty UH-1H helicopters which are used for rescue missions, fire fighting, and fighting drug-smuggling.
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Royal Netherlands Navy
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Royal Saudi Air Force
- Singapore
- Somalia
- South Korea
- South Vietnam
- Spain
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Turkish Army
- Turkish Gendarmerie
- Turkish Navy
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom Army Air Corps Belize & Brunei
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Yugoslavia
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
[edit] Specifications (UH-1D)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1-4
- Capacity: 3,880 lb including 14 troops, or 6 stretchers, or equivalent cargo
- Length: 57 ft 1 in with rotors (17.4 m)
- Fuselage width: 8 ft 7 in (2.6 m))
- Rotor diameter: 48 ft 0 in (14.6 m)
- Height: 14 ft 5 in (4.4 m)
- Empty weight: 5,215 lb (2,365 kg)
- Loaded weight: 9,040 lb (4,100 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 9,500 lb (4,310 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 1,400 lb (840 kg))
- Powerplant: 1× Lycoming T53-L-13B turboshaft, 1,400 shp (1,045 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 135 mph (220 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 125 mph (205 km/h)
- Range: 315 mi (510 km)
- Service ceiling: 19,390 ft (Dependent on environmental factors such as weight, outside temp., etc) (5,910 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,755 ft/min (8.9 m/s)
- Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (0.25 kW/kg)
Armament
- 2x 7.62 mm M240 machine gun, or 2x 7.62 mm GAU-17 machine gun
- 2x 7-shot or 19-shot 2.75 in (70 mm) rocket pods
[edit] Popular culture
The image of American troops disembarking from a Huey has become a fixture in depictions of the Vietnam War, and can be seen in practically every movie, video game, and television show on the subject.
[edit] References
- Chant, Christopher, Fighting Helicopters of the 20th Century, Graham Beehag Books, Christchurch, Dorset, England (1996).
- Debay, Yves, Combat Helicopters, France: Histoire & Collections (1996)
- Francillon, Rene, J. Vietnam: The War in the Air New York: Arch Cape Press (1987)
- Mesko, Jim, Airmobile: The Helicopter War in Vietnam, Squadron Signal Publications (1984).
- Specifications for 204, 205 and 214 Huey Plus
- UH-1 in Action by Lou Drendel, Squadron Signal Publishers. ISBN 0-89747-179-2
- UH-1 Huey in Colors Squadron Signal publishers. ISBN 0-89747-279-9
[edit] External links
- The Bell UH-1 Huey at Greg Goebel's AIR VECTORS
- FAS.org Huey profile
- UH-1B history on Mojojets.com
- UH-1H history on Mojojets.com
- Philippine Air Force Huey II Project
- Bell Helicopter Official Huey II site
- An account of a Medal of Honor rescue flying a Green Hornet
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