While im in the unusual huey thread, ive been meaning to ask for a while, But havnt got round to downloading and sorting the picture, its another UH-1D with external armaments, any idea what they are??[%-)]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UH-1_Iroquois
Andy
Andy,
Here are two views of that bird:
[img]http://
[img]http://
T he photo was taken on April 20th, 1965 at Redstone Arsenal in the great state of Alabama (same state as Ft. Rucker). The ship is one of the YUH-1D prototypes. You can see a seam where the tailboom extension was added. Also, notice early style vertical air vents and gloss finish. I think instead of trying to summerize the armament, I will just paste the explanation off of the Redstone site:
"January to March 63 During this quarter, the AMC Aircraft Weaponization Project Office provided MICOM with funds for an in-house research and development project on a rocket weapon system for Army helicopters. Although the 40-mm rocket system (the MICOM-40) concept was not selected by the Aircraft Weaponization PM for advanced development, in May 64 the Ground Support Equipment Laboratory was instructed to plan user demonstrations with the system, which had been renamed the Missile Command Automatic Weapon (MICAW)"
Thus the weapon is a MICAW 40mm rocket.
Does that help?
Ray
PS: Here’s the link to the website: http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/chron4/1963.html
PPS: MICOM is Missle Command
Check this pic out:
[img]http://
That’s right, its a Huey firing a hellfire! The Huey is a Charlie model.
Ray
Thanks Ray.
Rockets!!! Wow, i thought it was some type of gun lol.
Andy
Interesting pic, Ray! That’s not a Hellfire though. The Hellfire didn’t exist until 1974 and the fin configuration is very different. Of course, you’ve completely stumped me as to what it is! I’m gonna have to figure that one out.
I’ve been looking for pictures of the INFANT UH-1Ms, but so far no luck. That’s a weird configuration!
Jon
Jon,
I agree about the fins, but I got the info from the Redstone site. I assume they know what they are talking about. Here is the caption for the pic:
"3 October 72 The HELLFIRE Management Office (Provisional) was established to direct the program for the new HELLFIRE missile system and ancillary equipment."
Here’s the link:
http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/chron4/1972.html
Here’s another on the history of the Hellfire. notice the timeline. once again a Redstone site:
http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/systems/HELLFIRE.html
I really try to authenticate stuff before I post it here. My guess is that it is a very early prototype since it is being fired from a Huey. However, Based on the jargon and military speak in the timeline, I am unclear as to whether a prototype was developed in '72 or whether the first prototype came later. I edited my original post accordingly
Ray
Ray
Thnaks for the picture’s of the YUH-1D, lost them when my computer crashed.
Jon
Believe there are some photo’s of the INFANT in Squadron’s “UH-1 in Action” or one of thier other Huey books. Think the Museum would have some photo’s somewhere
Grandad,
Here is the original YUH-1D before the tailboom extension:
I thought you might like it as well.
Ray
Thanks, Ray
UH-1M INFANT
Gunner’s seat of the INFANT, more more info, see “HUEY” by Lou Drendel. Squadron/Signal, 1983. It was used in Vietnam, photo’s are US Army
UH-1B TOW
“FLIR” equipted UH-1
And we shouldn’t forget the CIA funded “Air America” 204B
Ray,
Not tryin to start a flame war here, but the link you provided from the Redstone Arsenal Hellfire project office says that the funding for the program wasn’t even authorized until December 29 1972. According to the timeline provided there, the bid for prototypes didn’t go out until June of 1974. It didn’t become the Apache’s primary point target weapons system until 1976 and the FIRST Hellfire wasn’t fired until 25 September 1978.
I’m not sure what that missile in the shot above is. Definitely bears looking into, and as I said, you’ve stumped me!
Jon
Jon,
You got me there. I don’t know much about Hellfires. I just saw the pic and the caption and the fact that there are two versions of the same picture labeled Hellfire2.jpg and the Redstone site listed it as such. The date could be off I guess. Could the rocket be a prototype designed to test the engine or some other component? Don’t worry, man, I don’t start wars with military historians who have PhD’s in this stuff!!! Your word is good enough for me. That’s why I changed the post to exclude the date. Tell me what the rocket is and I will change that too.
Thanks,
Ray
PS: The timeline said the first Programmed Hellfire was fired Sept. 25, 1978. Does that mean that there were no test firings of Hellfire prototypes or components before that date.
No worries, Ray!
Comparing the size of that missile to the helicopter and to the size of a Hellfire, its considerably larger. For some reason, I cannot remember the type of missile, but I believe it is some sort of anti-ship missile (not a Penguin, but something like it). I’ll see what I can dig up.
As far as the prototype Hellfires, there were mockups made before the 1978 launching, but the first actual launch was the 1978 one.
Jon
Had a feeling it was some type of anti-ship missile
OK, I admit I don’t know much about missiles, but I can learn. To that end I have been looking around for the Mystery Missile in this pic:
[img]http://
Currently, my favorite candidate is this little guy, the ATM 84A (an air launched version of the Harpoon):
[img]http://
Jon and Grandad both thought it ws an anti-ship missile, the ATM-84 is that. It was first fired in October of 1972. Also, this variant only has two sets of fins unlike the ship launched version seen here:
[img]http://
What I don’t understand, though, is why you would ever launch a Harpoon missile from a Huey. If that really is what the Myster Missile is then it is even more unusual than a hellfire. Anyway, I could still be wrong, but at least I think I’m getting closer.
Ray
Hmmm… good call Ray!
The ATM-84 is the training version of the Harpoon. The live version is the AGM-84. The forward fins on that orange missile look a little different, but not so different that it couldn’t be an early test article. The development period seems right, since the Harpoon hit the fleet in 1977.
My only question is the size of the missile itself. It may be too small to be a Harpoon, but I think we’re on the right track!
Jon
This is a fantastic Thread that I am glad I’m watching. I’m no military expert, as I was unable to serve due to Tourette’s, but I have done a fair bit of research in connection with my model building. I’d like to offer a possibility of the identity of that mystery missile if I may. If you look at the fins with the black line on them, and think of it as a black line painted on, this almost looks like an early Maverick missile. Again, it does look a bit small for a Maverick, but the configuration looks close. Just an idea. I’m certainly curious as to what this missile is as well.
That’s not a Harpoon. Shape is different. Harpoon is too big (12’ 7" long) and too heavy (1,145 pounds). Would through the balance off when fired. Air launched AGM-84s are only cleared for F/A-18, P-3C, S-3B, B-52 and RAAF F-111s.
Trigger,
Good call. A Harpoon would stretch from the back of the cabin door to the front of the nose on a Charlie model Huey! Oh well, back to the drawing board.
Ray
It sure looks like a TOW missile to me. Just being fired without guidance on a test range. Remember the TOW entered combat service being fired from the NUH-1B. The firing aircraft is a UH-1C evidenced by the rotor head and pitot location. Some kind of post Vietnam test of missiles destined for AH-1 use?
Chief Snake
Chief Snake,
Front fin looks totally different from a TOW. Course it also looks differentf rom just about every other missile I can find. Here’s a pic of the TOW family of missiles so others can make their own judgement:
[img]http://
And the pic in question, just so everone doesn’t have to go back up: