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START WITH THE BASICS

Before you plan an air assault you have to know the basics. To misunderstand the pieces of the puzzle is to almost guarantee their misuse. This happens more often than one might expect. It happens when planners launch missions under weather conditions that reduce airlift capacity or when equipment is dropped in a clearing that the crews can’t get to. It also happens when the air assault lifts off in full view of enemy surveillance and heads to an obvious landing zone that can easily be targeted.

Air Assault is complex: the systems technical and sensitive; the distances are great; the potential points of failure are more numerous; timing is critical; and failure can be catastrophic. Light, mechanized, and armored operations are more forgiving; the troops usually not too far from their support. Only airborne operations are more tenuous.

THE HELICOPTER

The air assault is built on the back of the helicopter. The first bird in the air is the observation helicopter (OH). These are the hunters—the rotary wing scouts that recon the route, its flanks, the landing zones, and the areas around them. They find obstacles and enemy positions enroute and artillery and reserves that can respond to the landing. Right behind the scouts are the attack helicopters (AH). These are the killers that destroy the targets uncovered by the scouts. They clear the path for the main body, maintain overhead cover, and provide fire support during the assault on the objective. Next come the utility helicopters (UH). These are the backbone of the mission. They carry the men and equipment to the objective. They evacuate the wounded and bring in the supplies that allow the mission to continue. The utility helicopters move in the reserves, emplace supporting artillery, and deliver heavy systems to the field. Heavy equipment can also make the mission given the lift and capacity of the cargo helicopters (CH).

Below we will provide some thumbnail sketches of these helicopters.

OH-58 Kiowa Scout – This two man scout bird is the eyes and the ears of the air assault. It is an agile low flying aircraft that is amply equipped with high-speed reconnaissance gear. It can also carry a threatening array of weaponry and can engage targets in defense or as part of the clearing operations although it is not recommended. Ideally, Kiowa’s operate in two bird teams or in partnership with an attack bird.

The OH-58 mission is reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence gathering. The latest incarnation of the Kiowa in the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, which adds, target acquisition and laser designation to its capability list. The Kiowa can fly day and night and in adverse weather. The Kiowa has a two-man crew, weighs 2.8 tons fully loaded, has a top speed of 149 mph, and a range of 288 miles. The Kiowa weapons configuration is tailored to the mission. The menu includes: Stinger missiles, Hellfire missiles, Hydra 70 rockets, 50 cal and 7.62 guns.

UH-1H Iroquois – The Iroquois is more commonly referred to as the ‘Huey’. The Huey was the original utility bird of the experimental air assault division and was the workhorse of Vietnam. Although the Huey is being phased out of the US Army: it still flies in the guard and reserves and is in use all around the world. The primary mission of the Huey is general support, troop and cargo transport, aero-medical evacuation, search and rescue, and electronic warfare. As you can see, this is a versatile aircraft.

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