What was the Huey used for in Vietnam?

Bell developed the powerful helicopter in the mid-1950s and produced more than 16,000 units between 1955 and 1976, over 7,000 of which served in Vietnam. The aircraft were used primarily for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuations, and aerial attack.

Why is the Huey so good?

Among the Huey's greatest strengths was its versatility. It was used as a troop transporter, for close air support and for medical evacuation. Medevac missions, known as “dustoffs”, were by far the most dangerous job for a Huey crew.

How many soldiers could a Huey carry?

These birds could carry eight fully armed soldiers on their way to battle the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army, but they were next to defenseless and many were shot down before reaching their destination. The need for an armed Huey was presented — and so the gunship was born.

Are Huey helicopters still used?

With 51 Hueys still operating as late as 2011, most would be replaced by the twin-engine UH-72A Lakota utility helicopter. But the US Marine Corps has kept the Huey in military service.

Did the Marines use Hueys in Vietnam?

In 1962 the Marine Corps adopted the UH-1E version of the Huey, which was modified to their specifications. Once employed in Vietnam, the Huey served in every conceivable role. It performed troop transport duties, general support, MEDEVAC, and search and rescue. It was also loaded with weapons and used as a gunship.

Deconstructing History: Huey Helicopters in Vietnam | History

Why is it called a Huey?

Nicknamed the "Huey" after the phonetic sound of its original designation, HU-1, the UH-1 "Iroquois" helicopter was the work horse of the Army during the Vietnam War.

Why do the Marines still use Hueys?

And, as both the UH-1Y and the AH-1Z constitute a single acquisitions program, it saves a lot of time and costs trying to begin another weapons procurement program for the Corps. This is also the reason the Huey Cobra even came into existence in the first place.

How many Hueys were shot down in Vietnam?

The Huey remains a legend as the most successful rotorcraft in Aviation History. There are specific tail numbers for 11,827 total helicopters that served in the Vietnam War from all branches of the service. 1,925 Hueys were lost in combat, while 1,380 were lost in operational accidents.

How many Hueys are left?

The last of some 10,000 UH-1 Hueys built for the U.S. Army has now left operational service, ending a four-decade run as the “workhorse” of U.S. Army Aviation and solidifying forever the role of the helicopter in military operations.

How much does a Huey cost?

Huey civilian helicopters cost anywhere between $150,000 to $3 million, depending on its variant, production date, and variant.

Can a Huey lift a car?

A helicopter can lift a car providing the car weighs less than the lifting capacity of the helicopter. A Ford Explorer weighs around 4,100 lbs which can be easily lifted by any Blackhawk, Chinook or large twin-engine helicopter.

How much fuel does a Huey burn per hour?

This helicopter burns on average around: 180 Litres per hour. 47 US Gallons per hour. 315 Pounds per hour.

What kind of fuel does a Huey use?

In 1964, the Huey would use JP-4 or JP-5 . When fitted with models T53-L-5 or T53-L9, the Huey would burn JP-4. With engine variety engine T53-L11 it would burn either JP-4 or JP-5. The JP-5 type fuel was mainly used for Navy operations.

How much can a Huey lift?

An external load up to 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) can be carried.

What was the most common helicopter used in Vietnam?

The American Bell UH-1 Huey is the most famous of the Vietnam helicopter types and proved a workhorse for air cavalry units throughout the war. The attack helicopter - embodied by the HueyCobra, was also used for the first timein warfare.

Do Marines still use Hueys?

The UH-1N Twin Huey was retired by the Marines in August 2014, making the UH-1Y the Marine Corps' standard utility helicopter.

What is Purple Heart in military?

Currently, the Purple Heart, per regulation is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after April 5, 1917 has been wounded, killed, or has died after ...

How far can a Huey fly on a tank of fuel?

It could carry up to 1,814 kg (4,000 lb) on its cargo hook or an equal load internally. A 833.8-liter (220-gallon) fuel tank gave the Huey a range of 459 km (285 miles) with an extended range of 1,094 km (680 statute miles) with auxiliary tanks installed.

What was the deadliest job in Vietnam?

Overall, the U.S. military used nearly 12,000 helicopters in Vietnam, of which more than 5,000 were destroyed. To be a helicopter pilot or crew member was among the most dangerous jobs in the war.

Did helicopters fly at night in Vietnam?

Heavily-armed helicopter gunships became a fixture of America's war in Vietnam. But the U.S. Army's low-flying attack choppers were pretty terrible at spotting the Viet Cong at night.

What was the average lifespan of a helicopter pilot in Vietnam?

“They were short of gunners on helicopters, because the life expectancy was somewhere between 13 and 30 days,” he said. “I had no experience behind a . 60 caliber machine gun.”

Why did the Huey have 2 blades?

Helicopters have between 2 and 8 main rotor blades. The larger the helicopter, the heavier it weighs and needs more lift to be produced. By using more blades, designers can increase the entire rotor system surface area while keeping the size of each rotor blade as small as possible.

Why do the Marines use the Viper?

The AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter provides rotary wing close air support, anti-armor, anti-air, armed escort, armed/visual reconnaissance and fire support coordination capabilities under day/night and adverse weather conditions for the USMC.