User:Thatguy96/UH-1

The Bell Helicopter Textron 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. The "U" stands for utility, in contrast to attack or cargo helicopters.

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 tri-service production in 1962 as the UH-1. The last were produced in 1976 with more than 16,000 made in total, of which about 7,000 saw use during the Vietnam War.

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.

Development
Earlier helicopters had been powered by piston engines. By the early 1950s, however, turbine engines were being used in many fixed-wing aircraft and aircraft designers began to consider using them for rotary-wing use. Turbines, though expensive to build, 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 (Bell company designation was the Model 204). The first XH-40 flew on October 22, 1956. Two more prototypes were built in 1957, and eighteen 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 subsequent HU-1A (redesignated the UH-1A in 1962) was the first turbine-equipped U.S. helicopter to go into production. The original designation 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. In use the UH-1A proved under-powered with their Lycoming T53-L-1 powerplants of just 860 shp and indicted the need for improved follow-on models of the Huey.

The HU-1B was an improved model that was equipped with the Lycoming T53-L-5 engine of 960 shp, revised main rotor blades of 44 foot diameter and 21 inch chord, 13 inch higher rotor mast and a longer cabin that could accommodate seven passengers. This version was redesignated UH-1B in 1962.

The UH-1C was the first model specifically developed as a gunship version until the "interim" attack helicopter, the Bell AH-1G Huey Cobra was available and to correct the deficiencies of the UH-1B when it was used in the armed role. The UH-1C was widely referred to as the "Huey Hog" in US Army service.

Many UH-1Cs were later re-engined with the 1400 shp Lycoming T53-L-13 powerplant. With this engine they were redesignated UH-1M.

The earlier "short-body" Hueys were a success, especially in the gunship role, but lacked the cabin space to be an effective troop transport. The US Army wanted a version that could carry a crew of four (two pilots and two door gunners) and also deliver an infantry section of 8-10 soldiers. Bell's solution was to stretch the UH-1B fuselage by 41 inches (105 cm) and use the extra space to fit four sideways-facing seats next to the transmission. The resulting UH-1D total seating capacity to 15, including crew seats. The enlarged cabin could also accommodate six stretchers, double that of the earlier models, making the "Delta" a good MEDEVAC aircraft.

The first Army unit deliveries of the "Delta" model were on August 9, 1963 when the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) at Fort Benning Georgia received two. This unit was renamed the 1st Cavalry Division and deployed to Vietnam with its "Delta" Hueys.

In 1962 the US Marines held a competition to choose a new assault support helicopter to replace the Cessna O-1 and Kaman OH-43D helicopter. The winner was the UH-1B which was already then in service with the US Army.

The UH-1B was developed into a special model, designated UH-1E, to meet Marine requirements. The major changes included the use of all-aluminum construction for corrosion resistance (earlier UH-1s had some magnesium components), special avionics that were compatible with Marine Corps ground frequencies, a rotor brake to stop the rotor quickly on shutdown for shipboard use and a roof-mounted rescue hoist.

Bell Helicopters was also the winner of a 1963 United States Air Force competition for a support helicopter for use on its missile bases.

Bell had proposed the UH-1B for the competition but the USAF asked Bell to develop a special version of the "Bravo" in using the General Electric T58 turboshaft as a powerplant. The USAF already had a large inventory of these engines for its fleet of Sikorsky HH-3 Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopters and wanted to have commonality between the types. This engine was capable of 1,250 hp (932 kW) compared to the UH-1B's 1,100 hp (820 kW) Lycoming T53-L11.

In response Bell proposed an upgraded version of the UH-1B with the T58 engine installed. The resulting UH-1F had the shorter cabin of the "Bravo" Huey, but with the longer tail boom, rotor and transmission of the UH-1D.

The UH-1H was an improved UH-1D, with the Lycoming T53-L-13 engine of 1400 shp installed, plus the pitot tube relocated from the nose to the roof, to reduce ground damage to it. "Hotel" models were created by upgrading "Deltas" as well as new production. The first YUH-1H flew in 1966 with deliveries of production models starting in September 1967.

Bell was awarded a contract by the US Navy in December 1968 for a new search and rescue helicopter. The aircraft was designated the HH-1K and was basically a UH-1E with different avionics and the Lycoming T53-L-13 powerplant of 1400 shp.

Another Navy variant, the UH-1L, was basically a UH-1E, of the later production type based on the Army's UH-1C, equipped with a rescue hoist and intake particle screen. The “Ls” were delivered without the armour or armament installed and were equipped with the Lycoming T53-L-13 powerplant of 1400 shp.

In April 1965 Bell flew the first twin-engined Huey, calling it the Model 208. It was powered by two Continental Motors engines. The Canadian government provided the incentive for Bell to continue development of the Twin Huey using Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engines. The project attracted orders from the Canadian Forces, US Marine Corps, US Navy and USAF, but not the US Army.

Variants of the Bell UH-1 family continue to be operated around the world, and are license produced in various countries. Subvariants exist for almost every major model, and the type has been used in a myriad of roles.

Service in Vietnam


The UH-1 has long become a symbol of US involvement in Southeast Asia in general and Vietnam in particular, 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.

The first production models, UH-1As, first entered service with the 101st Airborne at Fort Lewis, Washington, the 82nd Airborne Division and the 57th Medical Detachment. Although they were intended for evaluation only, the Army quickly pressed them into operational service and Hueys with the 57th Medical Detachment arrived in Vietnam in March 1962.

The first UH-1As to arrive in Vietnam after the 57th Medical Detachment were with a new test unit, the US Army's Utility Tactical Transport Company (UTTCO). UTTCO had 20 "Alpha" Hueys and deployed to Vietnam in the fall of 1962. These aircraft were used as armed escorts to the existing H-21 Shawnees and H-34 Choctaws troop carriers.

The Army had also been testing the "B" model, starting in November, 1960 with first production aircraft arriving in March, 1961. A total of 1010 "Bravo" models were delivered to the US Army. First deployment was in November 1963 when eleven were sent to Vietnam to join the "Alpha" models already in use by UTTCO.



During service in the Vietnam War, 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 machine guns. These gunship UH-1s were commonly referred to as Hogs if they carried rockets, and Cobras if they had guns. 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-58A Kiowa and the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach).

Towards the end of the conflict, the UH-1 was tested with TOW missiles, 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.

The first YUH-1D prototype flew in August 1960. Seven YUH-1Ds were delivered and tested at Edwards AFB starting in March 1961. A total of 2008 UH-1Ds were delivered to the US Army between 1962 and 1966. 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 ordinance. 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.

During the war 3,305 UH-1 where destroyed. In total 5.086 helicopters where destroyed out of 11,827 total.

The Marines also used the UH-1 (specifically the UH-1E) as both a gunship and troop transport. Many were upgraded to the Lycoming T53-L-13 engine which produced 1400 shp, making these “Echos” similar to the Army “Mike” models. At least 126 UH-1Es survived their Vietnam service and were still in use more than a decade later.

With deliveries of the UH-1E underway to the US Marines the US Navy tested a few and found that the type would suit their uses as a utility helicopter. On May 16 1968 the US Navy ordered eight aircraft under the designation UH-1L.

The first four “Limas” were delivered in November 1969 and sent to Vietnam to equip the US Navy HA(L)-3 detachment assigned to Operation Sealords. In Vietnam the aircraft were modified with weapons and armour and were fitted to carry 500 lb bombs and 500 lb Fuel-Air Explosive munitions.

Deliveries of an HH-1K variant, also related to the UH-1E and UH-1L, to the US Navy started in May 1970 and by November of that year three had been sent to Vietnam to serve with US Navy squadron HA(L)-3. A total of 27 HH-1Ks were produced.

Post-War Service
The UH-1H was produced in larger numbers than any other model, with 4850 delivered to the US Army alone.

USAF
The UH-1F was introduced into the USAF inventory on February 20 1964. The USAF took delivery of 119 with production ending in 1967.

In October 1965 the USAF 20th Special Operations Squadron was formed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in South Vietnam, equipped initially with CH-3C helicopters. By June 1967 the UH-1F and UH-1P were also added to the unit's inventory, and by the end of the year the entire unit had shifted from Tan Son Nhut to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base. On the 1st of August 1968, the unit was redesignated the 20th Special Operations Squadron. The 20th's UH-1s were known as the "Green Hornets," stemming from their color, a primarily green 2-tone camouflage (green and tan) was carried, and radio call-sign "hornet." The main role of these helicopters were to insert and extract reconnaissance teams, provide cover for such operations, conduct pyschological warfare, and other support roles for covert operations especially in Laos during the so-called Secret War.

An unknown number of UH-1Fs were modified to UH-1P configuration by the USAF for use by the their 20th Special Operations Squadron, The Green Hornets, based in southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.

Official USAF sources state that these aircraft were used for a classified psychological warfare role, but this is incorrect. The "Papa" Hueys were in fact modified and employed as gunships armed with machine guns and rocket launchers.

The last UH-1F was retired from the USAF in the early 1980s when it was replaced by the UH-1N. many of these aircraft later served as forest ire fighting aircraft with various US state governments and agencies.

Modern Day
The US Army phased out the UH-1 Huey 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.

The US Marine Corps still relies on the UH-1N variant and is beginning to introduce the latest variant, the UH-1Y Venom.

Foreign Air Forces
The UH-1D was widely exported and served with the armed forces of Australia and South Vietnam among others. A grand total of 2561 UH-1Ds were built, including 352 constructed by Dornier for the West German armed forces. The UH-1H model was also widely exported and was also built under licence in Germany, Italy, Japan and Taiwan.

In Italy, Agusta produced a model similar to the UH-1F by re-engining the Bell's Model 204B with the 1,225 hp (914 kW) Rolls-Royce Gnome turboshaft and later the UH-1F's General Electric engine. The Italian version was exported to the military of the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland. It had a rescue hoist located at the right side of the cabin.

In 1968, ten UH-1H were sold to Canada for use under the designation CUH-1H with the first one delivered on March 6. These were evaluated by the Canadian Forces and found unsuitable for Canadian tactical use, which resulted in the Canadian government sponsoring the development of the twin-engined version of the "Hotel", the UH-1N Twin Huey. The ten CUH-1Hs were re-equipped for search and rescue use, redesignated CH-118 and served until 1995.

Nahr el Bared battle in Lebanon
During the battle of Nahr el-Bared camp in North Lebanon, the Lebanese army, lacking fixed-wing aircraft, modified the UH-1H allowing it to carry 400 lb (250 kg) Mk.82 dumb bombs to strike militant positions. Each Huey was equipped on each side with special mounts engineered by the Lebanese army, to carry the high explosive bombs. (See: Helicopter bombing).

The UH-1 has been widely exported and remains in front-line service in a number of countries.

Aircraft Markings
The UH-1Fs during the Vietnam Conflict 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.

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.

UH-1Hs used for ferrying VIPs into Panmunjom in the DMZ area between North and South Korea used three 12" wide Yellow stripes vertically over the fuselage. It signified unarmed aircraft carrying UNCMAC members.

The U.S. Air Force still operates some Hueys painted in unusual colors like one with blue tail feathers painted on the tail boom. The U.S. Marine Corps Hueys are generally grey with the word Marines painted down the side in a darker grey.

U.S. Military variants

 * XH-40: The initial Bell 204 prototype. Three prototypes were built, equipped with the Lycoming XT-53-L-1 engine of 700 shp.
 * 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.
 * XH-1A: A single UH-1A was redesignated for grenade launcher testing in 1960.
 * HU-1B: Upgraded HU-1A, various external and rotor improvements. Redesignated UH-1B in 1962.
 * NUH-1B: a single test aircraft, serial number 64-1861.
 * UH-1C: UH-1B with improved engine, modified blades and rotor-head 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: Army crash rescue variant of UH-1D.
 * UH-1E: UH-1B/C for USMC with different avionics and equipment.
 * NUH-1E: UH-1E configured for testing.
 * TH-1E: UH-1C configured for Marine Corps training. Twenty were built in 1965.
 * UH-1F: UH-1B/C for USAF with General Electric T-58-GE-3 engine of 1325 shp..
 * TH-1F: Trainer based on the UH-1F for the USAF.
 * UH-1G: UH-1D/H gunships operating with the Cambodia armed forces were locally given the designation UH-1G.
 * UH-1H: Improved UH-1D with a Lycoming T-53-L-13 engine of 1400 shp.
 * CUH-1H: Canadian Forces designation for the UH-1H utility transport helicopter. Redesignated CH-118.
 * EH-1H: Twenty-two aircraft converted by installation of AN/ARQ-33 radio intercept and jamming equipment.
 * HH-1H: SAR variant for the USAF with rescue hoist.
 * JUH-1: Five UH-1Hs converted to SOTAS battlefield surveillance configuration with belly-mounted airborne radar.
 * TH-1H: Recently modified UH-1Hs for use as basic helicopter flight trainers by the USAF.
 * UH-1J: An improved Japanese version of the UH-1H built under license in Japan by Fuji was locally given the designation UH-1J.
 * HH-1K: Purpose built SAR variant of the Model 204 for the US Navy with USN avionics and equipment.
 * TH-1L: Helicopter flight trainer based on the HH-1K for the USN. Forty-five were built.
 * UH-1L: Utility variant of the TH-1L. Eight were built.
 * UH-1M: Gunship specific UH-1C upgrade with Lycoming T-53-L-13 engine of 1400 shp.
 * UH-1N: Initial Bell 212 production model, the Bell "Twin Pac" twin-engined Huey.
 * UH-1P: UH-1F variant for USAF for special operations use and attack operations used soley by the USAF 20th Special Operations Squadron, "the Green Hornets".
 * UH-1U: Single prototype for Counter Mortar/Counter Battery Radar Jamming aircraft. Crashed at Edwards AFB during testing.
 * UH-1V: Aeromedical evacuation, rescue version for the US Army.
 * EH-1X: Ten Electronic warfare UH-1Hs converted by under "Quick Fix IIA".
 * UH-1Y: Upgraded variant developed from existing upgraded late model UH-1Ns, with additional emphasis on commonality with the AH-1Z.

Note: In U.S. service the G, J, Q, R, S, T, W and Z model designations are used by the AH-1. The UH-1 and AH-1 are considered members of the same H-1 series. The military does not use I (India) or O (Oscar) for aircraft designations to avoid confusion with "one" and "zero" respectively.

Other military 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.
 * Agusta-Bell AB 204: 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: 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: Military utility transport helicopter version, initial version based on the UH-1H.
 * Bell 205A-1A: As 205A-1, but with armament hardpoints and military avoinics. Produced specifically for Israeli contract.
 * Agusta-Bell 205: Military utility transport helicopter. Built under licence in Italy by Agusta.
 * Fuji-Bell 205A-1: Military utility transport helicopter. Built under licence in Japan by Fuji. Used by the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force under the designation HU-1H.


 * Bell Huey II: A modified and re-engined UH-1H, significantly upgrading its performance, and its cost-effectiveness. Currently offered by Bell to all current military users of the type.

Former operators
Replaced by the Bell 412 Replaced by the NH-90 Replaced by the Bell 412 Replaced By Sikorsky S-70 series
 * 417 Combat Support Squadron
 * 439 Combat Support Squadron
 * Base Flight Cold Lake
 * Base Flight Bagotville
 * Base Rescue Chatham
 * Base Rescue Moose Jaw
 * Base Rescue Moose Jaw
 * Royal Norwegian Air Force
 * Royal Norwegian Air Force
 * US Army
 * US Air Force
 * US Navy
 * US Navy
 * South Vietnam
 * Vietnam Air Force

Survivors


The UH-1 experienced a production number in the thousands (both short and long-frame types), and invariably a large number exist in flyable condition in nations around the world. A large number of decomissioned and retired aircraft exist as "gate guards" to various military bases, in aviation museums, and other static-display sites. Examples include:


 * The Bell UH-1H "Smokey III" that resides in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center served four tours and over 2,500 hours in Vietnam.
 * UH-1A located at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City, currently under refurbishment.
 * A Huey forms part of the collection in the American Air Force Hangar of the Imperial War Museum at Duxford near Cambridge, England.

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, as well as more modern settings. Author Robert Mason recounts his career as a UH-1 "Slick" pilot in his memoir, Chickenhawk.