The U.S. Army's main transport was the UH-1 Huey (officially the "Iriquois"), models B thru H. We used the AH-1G Cobra as a gunship, an armed escort in the later years, along with some UH-1Bs and Cs, converted transport models. My recollection is that there were some "Mike" models (UH-1M) entering the inventory in the later years, too. In the scout function, the inimitable OH-6 "Loach" (officially the "Cayuse", but universally THE Loach, from LOH- Light Observation Helicopter) and the OH-58, the military version of the ubiquitous Bell Jet Ranger. The Army also had some CH-54 Skycranes as the big vertical lift machines.
Earlier in the war, the Army used piston-engined H-34s and H-21s as transports, and Oh-13s and OH-23s in the scout role. I believe there was some attempt to use the CH-37 as a transport, but there were very, very few of them.
The Air Force, Navy and Marines also used helicopters. Each of these services had variants of the Huey. The Air Force also had: the H-43 Husky; the HH/CH-3; and the HH-53. These last two were the big Sikorskies, famous as the "Jolly Green Giant" and "Super Jollys", which Navy also used.
The Marines added to the following to the list: the H-34, most famously the D model, the "Dog"; and the H-46, both also used by the Navy.
Yes, they were,
The use of helicopters during the Vietnam War vary, The UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) being the most popular example was used for transport, medevac, recon and some were fabricated with extra guns and rocket pods and became gunships, other examples are heavy lifters like the CH-54 Tarhe Skycrane, the CH-47 Chinook and Search & Rescue helicopters like the HH-43 Huskie.
The evolution of helicopters into what we have today was done here in my opinion, the development of the Cobra AH-1 Gunship wouldn't have come about then if it hadn't been for this war.
The most famous is the UH-1 Iroquois (better known as the Huey), and the AH-1 Cobra.
Other helicopters used in the war were: OH-6 Cayuse (Scout), OH-58 Kiowa (Scout/Command), CH-53 Sea Stallion, HH53 Jolly Green Giant (aircraft recovery), CH-47 Chinook (transport), Sioux (scout/command), CH-34 (transport), CH-21 (transport).
OH=Observation Helicopter/AH=Attack Helicopter/CH=Cargo Helicopter/UH=Utility Helicopter/HH=Heavy Lift Helicopter
1. CH-23 Sea Stallion
2. Sioux
3. Choctow
4. Shawnee
5. CH47 Chinook
6. CH46 Sea Knight
7. UH-1 Iroquois (Huey)
8. AH-1 Cobra (worlds first purpose built attack helicopter used in war)
9. Jolly Green Giant
10. OH-6 Cayuse (replaced the US Army's O-1 Bird Dog airplane)
11. OH-58 Kiowa (Jet Ranger)
The North Vietnamese Air Force used the Soviet (Russian) or Chicom built Mi-4 Hound helicopter.
The primary US Navy bird was the CH53 Sea Stallion, they even used that machine at Khe Sanh.
The US Army's main transport was nicknamed the "S--t-hook" by GIs, the CH47 Chinook. (CH=Cargo Helicopter).
The USAF used the Jolly Green Giant to recover its shot down pilots.
The UH-1 Iroquois (Huey). Most used gunship helicopter was the AH-1 Cobra.
UH=Utility Helicopter
AH=Attack Helicopter
Chinook
Chinook
Without the helicopter, the war might have gone on, for the US, for 20 or 30 years AFTER the Tonkin Gulf incident...or never have been fought at all; it was that important. The helicopter made the Vietnam War. Vietnam was a helicopter war.
There is an old Vietnam War photograph of him near a downed US helicopter, he most likely was wounded during that downing.
Over 2,000 US helicopter crewmen were KIA in the Vietnam War.
Yes. Vietnam was nicknamed the "helicopter war" (among other names). There were more choppers used in the Viet War than any other war in the history of mankind...before, during, or since the Vietnam War.
Specifically designated reconnaissance choppers in the Viet war were the: H-21 Sioux; OH-6 Cayuse; and the OH-58 Kiowa.
The Vietnam War was nicknamed the "Helicopter War." As it was histories first massive use of the helicopter.
Without the helicopter, the war might have gone on, for the US, for 20 or 30 years AFTER the Tonkin Gulf incident...or never have been fought at all; it was that important. The helicopter made the Vietnam War. Vietnam was a helicopter war.
US Army helicopters landed in South Vietnam in 1956. They were used in the Korean War in 1950-53.
In the 1960's helicopters were used for literally everything in the Vietnam War.
Helicopter borne infantry tactics.
AH-1 Cobra; the worlds first designed, built, and fielded in battle attack helicopter in 1966 (Vietnam War).
I believe it was called 'the Slick'
Yes, the Vietnam War was nickname the first "helicopter war." The US Army's first AIRBMOBILE Divisions were created in the Vietnam War: 1st Air Cav Div, 101st Airmoble Div. Just as WWII created the US Army's first "Airborne Divisions." The most famous birds of the war were the "Huey" & "Cobra" (UH-1 Iroquois and AH-1 Attack Helicopter). UH=Utility Helicopter/AH=Attack Helicopter
Ed "Too Tall" Freeman
There is an old Vietnam War photograph of him near a downed US helicopter, he most likely was wounded during that downing.
Airmobile warfare: the helicopter
Nearly 12,000 US helicopters & approximately 40,000 US helicopter pilots served in the Vietnam War. Over 5,000 US helicopters were destroyed and nearly 5,000 US helicopter crewmen were killed in Vietnam. Of those 5000 dead crewmen, about 2,000 were helicopter pilots.