A FIELD COMPARISON OF HELICOPTER ANTIARMOR TACTICS
Abstract
Evaluation of helicopter antiarmor concepts against simulated enemy ground employments is reported. During July 1964 a helicopter antiarmor experiment, designed with Project Advisory Group (PAG) guidance, was conducted. This experiment measured the ability of helicopter antiarmor teams to engage targets assumed to have been acquired by reconnaissance elements of the air cavalry troop. The SS-11/UH-1 crews were found to encounter considerable difficulty in acquiring enemy target vehicles. None of the SS-11/UH-1 teams detected targets on their initial attempts against vehicles in the stationary complexes and only half were able to launch missiles against fluid target vehicles on their initial firing passes. On eight missions involving SS-11/UH-1 teams at least one helicopter was taken under fire by enemy ground personnel prior to the time the first SS-11 missile was launched. Helicopter support of dismounted killer elements did not lead to a noticeable improvement in their performance. Antiarmor teams were markedly more effective in attacking vehicles with a movement mission than in attacking the stationary target complexes; 60% of the target kills expected were scored against fluid vehicles. For the 40 missions observed, helicopters were fired on twice as often on missions against the stationary complexes as on missions against fluid enemy vehicles. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0370638
Entities
People
- Arthur R. Woods
- Barry M. Kibel
- Benny E. Edney
- Harrison N. Hoppes
- Stephen B. Forman