I know that the US Navy HA(L) 3 “Seawolves” supported the Mobile Riverine Force and the Army’s 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam in the Mekong Delta. I am looking for other helicopter units, possibly Army helo units, who supported them. I have recently purchased the MasterPiece Models 1/35 ATC(H) (Armored Troop Carrier (Helicopter)) kit and am looking at what helo to put on it.
Any ideas?
Gino, the only photo’s I’ve seen have shown only Army and Navy Huey’s, not saying others weren’t used.
Sorry, yes I meant Hueys. I am looking for markings and such to finish a Huey in something other than a Seawolf scheme.
…or maybe a Cobra. I have learned that 3-5 CAV had an Air Cav Troop there as well.
I found one photo in an old IPMS Journal that shows an Army UH-1D landing on that type of craft. Unfortunately my scanner is not co operating right now. If I can get it to work later I will scan and post the pic. The photo is B&W and the only unit markings are a light triangle with a smaller dark outline triangle inside on the boom just forward of the stabilizers and a number 6 on the tail.
Sounds like this pic:
It is all I have found as well. I think it is a helo from 9th ID AVN BDE, D TRP, 3-5 CAV.
Gino, your link doesn’t work for me. Division Aviation Units (except Cav) during the Vietnam time period were battalion size.
How are things at Ft. Stewart these days, was stationed there for a few months in 1970 before I was sent to Germany
Above should be fixed now.
I found this one too. The page it is on says it is “Blue 2” from 118th AVN Co, “Thunderbirds” of Task Force 116 somewhere in IV Corp.
And a close-up of the tail markings.
Found this one too, no description of where or unit though.
I noticed the Bn vs. BDE size for Div Helo units after I posted too.
Ft Swampy has come a long way. I was here in 2000-03 as well and it has changed a lot since then. Lots of construction and beautification projects. Its not too bad, esp. being close to Savannah.
I liked Savannah, spent a lot of my off-duty time there
Yes, that is the pic. My only guestimate is that would be the chopper is from an “A” company/troop, as the triangle is usually the symbol for them.
Stikpusher,
This Huey is from 336th AHC “Warriors”, 13th Combat Aviation Battalion. 13th CAB units used the white outlined triangle as their designator - 114th AHC color was yellow, 121st AHC color was red, 336th color was white). Judging from the antenna attached to the front skid cross tube it was a C&C bird and likely a company commander’s mount - number 6 was usually reserved for commanders aircraft.
Hope this helps.
Marko
Thanks, it does help.
Hello everybody!
I know Gino is going to build a Huey on top of the ATC(H), but from the movie documentation that I have (bought a DVD from John Carrico - a must have for everybody doing something connected to brown water navy) the most frequent visitor would be a OH-23 Raven. Too bad it’s ungettable in 1:35. Have a nice day
Pawel
Although the OH-23 Raven would look good, I doubt it was the most common helo to land on ATC(H)s. The film footage may focus on the OH-23, but there were not that many OH-23s in Vietnam and exponentially more Hueys there.
I will probably do a Huey for it, but may just rotate out some of my other Vietnam helos on it. I’m sure OH-6s and Cobras landed on them occassionally as well.
I read Brown Water, Black Berets serveral years ago. It had a fairly good sized section on the Mobile Riverine Force which might be good for ideas. Also had a bunch on the swift boats PBRs etc. It was a pretty interesting book even if you didn’t find anything to specifically help with your build.