No other means of aircraft has been so widely displayed in movies, books, visual accounting, story telling as the UH-1H Iroquois over the skies of Vietnam. The Huey, Loach, helo and many other terms and slangs have been given to this bird over the years. So let’s take a look at what she is and what she has done.
WHAT IS THE HUEY?
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (nicknamed “Huey“) is a utilitymilitary helicopter powered by a single turboshaft engine, with two-blade main and tail rotors. The first member of the prolific Huey family, it was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet a United States Army‘s 1952 requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter, and first flew in 1956. The UH-1 was the first turbine-powered helicopter to enter production in 1960 for the United States military, and more than 16,000 have been built since.[1]
The Iroquois was originally designated HU-1, hence the Huey nickname, which has remained in common use, despite the official redesignation to UH-1 in 1962.[2] The UH-1 first saw service in combat operations during the Vietnam War, with around 7,000 helicopters deployed. (Source – Wikipedia)
THE HUEY IN MOVIES.
Easily argued the scene with the 1st Cav screaming over the skies of Vietnam inbound towards the hooches off the Vietnam coastline strikes many memories as seen in the movie Apocalypse Now. Colonel Kilgore and his quote “I love the smell of Napalm in the morning. It smells like victory!” is synonymous with the Huey and its versatility as a weapons platform and a troops transport.
Charlie Doesn’t Surf!
Every Helicopter Is a Huey
Hollywood invariably produces at least one military movie per year but here are a few things that make the use of the UH-1 a bit funny when you stop to think about it.
It’s true Holly has a fetish when it comes to a Huey and for a variety of reasons. Every time the Hollywood heroes in an action or military movie or TV show have to go somewhere and someway by helicopter, there are big chances they will be doing it in a Huey. This is justified in Vietnam War movies cause well they were there and they were actually used: the UH-1D Iroquois is an icon of United States involvement in Vietnam, with over 7,000 birds seeing service (and many, many more of other military and civilian models since—Bell is still making Hueys today believe it or not). As a dedicated troop transport helicopter, it’s a natural choice for thePlatoon. The Huey looks like the perfect helicopter that conveys a tough, militaristic feel and suggest a military movie in the way that a less easily-recognizable helicopter might not. Maybe its because so many of them have been used they are simply the go to helicopter when it comes to movies. In a gunship, Huey situation, one can expect two heavily-armed attack Hueys flown by nameless pilots in formation (ton of movies that have this) with a Huey carrying a hero. Though the United States military started replacing Hueys with Black Hawks as the general-purpose transport helicopter as long ago as 1979, they still keep a lot of them flying for various odd jobs and things. The same is true of the other branches, except the Marine Corps, who not only still use them in a front-line role but are also currently taking delivery of the new and highly-advanced UH-1Y model. It’s commonly said in the US Military that when the last Blackhawk is deleted from the inventory, it will be slingloaded to the Boneyard by a Huey. In the movies they still show up everywhere even now from movie to movie – even places they have no right to be, in countries that never flew them as funny as that may be. As a general rule:
Hueys have a 50-50 chance of showing up in a fully civilian movie, where Bell JetRangers and other models appear just as often;
A somewhat-military movie, or a movie featuring the military that skimped on research, will almost invariably have Hueys and follow this pattern.
A well-researched military movie will only feature Hueys as appropriate – for instance, when dealing with the Vietnam War era, or for Marine Twin Hueys.
Hollywood characters in action films are particularly prone to stumbling across Hueys all fueled up, ready to fly and very often fully-armed (often as not with weapons no real Huey ever dreamed of carrying).
Rambo 2
It flies, turns, banks and survives against all odds when taking on a Russian MiG
WE WERE SOLDIERS
Col Hal Moore takes his Troopers into the jungle of Vietnam and with the use of the Huey survives against impossible odds. The Huey made the difference.
“We will ride into battle, and this will be our horse.”
NAVOCEANASWCEN Naval Oceanography Antisubmarine Warfare Center Yokosuka Shirt Created
Custom United States Navy shirts are more than just flashy images. They have purpose and a mission and carry a message in the United states Navy! Sinking enemy submarines lies at the heart of this command and its strategic importance. Naval Surface War Fighting!
WHO IS NAVOCEANASWCEN?
Command Mission. The mission of the Naval Oceanography AntiSubmarine Warfare Center Yokosuka, Japan (NAVOCEANASWCEN YOKOSUKA JA, further abbreviated NOAC Yokosuka) is to provide asymmetric warfighting advantage for Antisubmarine (ASW) forces in 7th/5th Fleets through application of oceanographic sciences; and accurate and timely weather forecasts, warnings and recommendations for Commander, Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ) ashore forces to facilitate asset protection responsibilities and risk management. (Source – http://www.usno.navy.mil)
HOW DO YOU KILL A SUBMARINE!
Mk. 54 lightweight torpedo
The U.S. and allied navies have one of the best light torpedoes in the world in the Mk. 54. It has a 96-pound warhead guided by a torpedo that can ignore enemy countermeasures and home in on an enemy sub at 40 knots. It can be launched from ships, helicopters, and planes and reaches deep enough to kill all known subs.
The Littoral Combat Ship
The LCS ASW mission is to conduct ASW operations in support of a carrier strike group (CSG), amphibious readiness group (ARG), LCS surface action group (SAG) or independently. he Littoral Combat Ship is a fast, agile and networked surface combatant optimized for operating in the littorals. The primary missions for the LCS include countering diesel submarine threats, littoral mine threats and surface threats, such as small surface craft attacks, to assure maritime access for joint forces. The underlying strength of the LCS lies in its innovative design approach, applying modularity for operational flexibility. In executing each mission, LCS employs a modular Mine Countermeasures (MCM) MP, Surface Warfare (SUW) MP or Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) MP. (Source – http://www.navy.mil)
Arleigh Burke Destroyers
What could be easily said as the workhorse and the backbone of the United States Navy surface fleet. The Tin Can Sailors have been dropping depth charges since WW2 and fire the Mk. 54 anti-submarine torpedoes.
NAVOCEANASWCEN SHIRTS
When NAVOCEANASWCEN contacted Vision-Strike-Wear.Com they requested a strong American, Japanese custom US Navy design featuring the Torii Gate, Mt Fuji, a Trident skewering an enemy submarine piercing its hull, and their command motto “Maintaining Freedom Of The Seas” which is an important message as world powers work hard to develop their submarine technologies and the US navy effort so keep ahead of that curve.
*artwork is the copyrighted design of Vision-Strike-Wear.Com. Permission to use this design or derivative requires the written permission of Vision-Strike-Wear.Com
Death Before Dismount! The US Army Armor Divisions Don’t Tread Lightly In Combat nor should they when these beasts of steel and blood cut through the enemy like a hot knife through butter along with a 105mm rifled gun.
DEATH BEFORE DISMOUNT –
DBD. Maybe the most quoted phrase among tankers since their inception. Never give up the tank, leave it, abandon it. It is home, it is your life and and it is there to protect and attack as needed, piercing through enemy lines.
ARMOR QUOTES.
The Beast Of War –
“Out of commission, become a pillbox. Out of ammo, become a bunker. Out of time, become heroes.”
“Because You Are Tankers!”
Fury – The Movie
Norman Ellison: I’ve never even seen the inside of a tank. I’m a clerk typist. Was heading to Fifth Corps HQ, and they pulled me off the truck. They sent me here. It’s gotta be a mistake.
Three main versions of the M1 Abrams have been deployed, the M1, M1A1, and M1A2, incorporating improved armament, protection, and electronics. These improvements and other upgrades to in-service tanks have allowed this long-serving vehicle to remain in front-line service. In addition, development for the improved M1A3 version was reported in 2009. (Source – Wikipedia)
OLD IRONSIDES
The 1st Armored Division of the United states Army, headquartered in Fort Bliss, has been for decades looked upon as one of the hardest hitting, elite and downright kick ass Armored Division in the US military. The division was nicknamed “Old Ironsides”, by its first commander, Major General Bruce R. Magruder, after he saw a picture of the frigate USS Constitution, which is also nicknamed “Old Ironsides”. The large “1” at the top represents the numerical designation of the division, and the insignia is used as a basis for most other sub-unit insignias. (Source – Wikipedia)
The 3rd Armored Division (“Spearhead”) was an armoreddivision of the United States Army. Unofficially nicknamed the “Third Herd”, the division was first activated in 1941, and was active in the European Theaterof World War II. The division was stationed in West Germany for much of the Cold War, and participated in the Persian Gulf War. On 17 January 1992, in Germany, the division ceased operations. In October 1992, it was formally inactivated as part of a general drawing down of forces at the end of the Cold War.
US ARMY ARMOUR
The United States Army and its amazing Armor units have been at the heart of the United States Army going back to World War 2. From the development of the Sherman tank tot he M1A1 Abrams the technology and lethal ability of the US Army main battle tank has gained tremendous ground over the years. The courage and commitment of a US Army tanker knows no defeat and above all things it has always been Death Before Dismount!
