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The Cobra
Development of the Cobra began in the 1960s when the US Army identified the need for an “Air Cavalry” Brigade that would be equipped with armed helicopters. The armed version of the UH-1 was successful, but it had several shortcomings, notably its speed, length of time it could remain over its target, and its relatively small ordnance load.
In response, Bell designed the Model 209, using the same rotor, drive train, and engine as the UH-1B, but with a sleeker, narrower fuselage.
The Model 209 carried a crew of two in a tandem arrangement with the gunner in front of the pilot. It first flew in 1965, and the Army ordered 110 helicopters, which they designated the AH-1G.
The first Cobras arrived in Vietnam on Aug. 31, 1967.
The helicopter war
The Vietnam War was often dubbed ‘the helicopter war’ because it was the first conflict in which helicopters took a dominant role. As the only dedicated gunship to be fielded by US forces during the conflict, the AH-1 Cobra saw combat against North Vietnamese Army (NVA) tanks, armoured personnel carriers and heavy anti-aircraft weaponry while joining OH-6A ‘Loach’ scout helicopters on ‘Pink Team’ hunter-killer flights. There were more than 700 Cobras operational in Vietnam by 1972, and the helicopter proved such an effective weapon that the NVA often avoided shooting at it, fearing massive and instant retribution.
In his book AH-1 Cobra Gunship vs NVA Armor: Vietnam 1967–73, Vietnam War expert Peter E. Davies examines the development and deployment of the Cobra, its engagements with Soviet- and Chinese-supplied tanks and numerous key clashes – including the Tet Offensive and actions at Loc Ninh and An Loc.
Maj Larry McKay and pilot CW2 Barry McIntyre, in AH 1G “Serpent 6” of F Battery, 79th AFA, were heavily involved in the defense of An Loc on Apr. 13, 1972.
AH-1 Cobra Gunship vs NVA T-54 Tanks
The senior US advisor at An Loc at the time was Col William H. Miller, on his third Vietnam tour. He warned AH 1Gs from F Battery, 79th AFA to stay away from the town due to intense enemy AAA, believing that their rockets would have little impact on the tanks. However, Cobra leader Maj Larry McKay, F Battery commander and gunner for CW2 Barry McIntyre in AH 1G “Serpent 6”, advised him that his helicopters had HEAT in their outboard pods. Miller, who later wrote he wished he had had “Stukas” available to hit the tanks, let McKay and the second helicopter (flown by Capt Billy Causey, with gunner 1Lt Steve Shields) try.
McKay duly asked troops of the 8th Reconnaissance Company to use smoke grenades to mark the tanks that had already been knocked out. The first tank victim for an AH 1G in this phase of the invasion was among six T 54Bs entering the town. Advancing down a fairly narrow road, quite close together with their turrets open and machine gunners standing, they were driving ahead of their infantry, operating as a separate force. Miller asked for minimal collateral damage to An Loc’s citizenry, as he thought the “Serpents’” 152 rockets would have standard 17lb warheads. In fact, HEAT rockets were designed to penetrate a small area of armor and then explode inside the tank. McIntyre also had 17lb rockets inboard.
To focus the attack, McIntyre flew a “wingover” and dived at an angle of around 35 degrees from 5,000ft, firing several HEAT rockets at the leading tank’s engine compartment at relatively close range and pulling out at around 3,000ft. The explosion blew the turret off and caused a conflagration from exploding shells.
US Army AH-1 Cobra Gunship vs NVA T-54 Tanks
AAA was minimal at the time, and the Cobra crews then took out another tank among the leading vehicles and also the last tank, trapping the rest of the group which was part of a 40 strong armored assault on the city. Another, T 54, “954,” was destroyed later in the day using a 17lb warhead, and a tank in the 3rd Ranger Group’s area was knocked out by an F 4 Phantom II. In total, F Battery, 79th AFA destroyed five tanks that day, while Cobras from the 229th AHB rocketed 21 supply vehicles. AAA from 12.7mm, 23mm, and 37mm guns soon became intense.
A T 54 entering the town was wrecked by newly trained teenagers firing an M72 LAW from a second story window. Another was lost to an identical weapon employed by a soldier from the 3rd Ranger Group and a third tank was abandoned by its crew (who were shot) after a hand grenade detonated its fuel tank. Fresh tank formations were quickly assembled outside the town, only to be destroyed by TACAIR. Those that continued to prowl through the streets of An Loc, whose center measured only 3,000ft x 4,500ft, became targets for Cobras, with some risk posed to ARVN and civilian personnel. The helicopter gunships eventually claimed 20 tanks destroyed in total, losing five Cobras and eight crew in the process. Col Miller commented, “The Cobras were the instruments of our salvation.”
AH-1 Cobra Gunship vs NVA Armor: Vietnam 1967–73 is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.
Photo credit: Gareth Hector and U.S. Army
