The UH-1 Huey became the symbol of American involvement in the Vietnam War.
Designation: Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey)
Classification Type: Multi-Role / Utility / Attack / Transport Helicopter
Contractor: Bell Helicopter Company - USA / Agusta-Bell - Italy / Fuji-Bell
- Japan / AIDC - Taiwan / Dornier - Germany
Country of Origin: United States
Initial Year of Service: 1959
Number Built: 16,500
The UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" became an important part of American military
actions beginning in 1960 and expanding throughout the latter part of the
Cold War years. The ubiquitous system became synonymous with the American
effort in Vietnam, no doubt due to her inherent capabilities to take on just
about any needed role. Despite her consistent association with that war, her
legacy has rightfully developed into so much more thanks to her use
throughout the modern world in both military and civilian roles encompassing
search and rescue, assault, transport and humanitarian efforts. Despite her
official "Iroquois" name, the nickname of "Huey" stuck thanks to her early
"HU-1" designation (later redesignated to UH-1 in 1962. Hence the Iroquois
name was - and is - seldom used to this day when referencing the UH-1 series
of helicopters.
The Huey developed from advances made in turbine technology throughout the
1950's. Bell produced the turbine-powered Model 47 (XH-13F) in 1954 to which
the United States Army took special interest in. The need for a MedEvac
helicopter was on the US Army wish list and, as such, Bell was tagged with
developing a solution - and the prototype XH-40 (Bell Model 204) was born.
First flight of XH-40 occurred on October 22nd, 1956 and were followed by
two additional XH-40 prototypes, fitting the Lycoming 700 horsepower
XT-53-L-1 engine. A further six developmental models were then ordered as
YH-40 evaluation aircraft. These were essentially the same as the XH-40
prototypes but had their cabin space extended a full 12-inches. One of these
YH-40's was set aside as a test bed featuring turbofan engines and wing
assemblies becoming Bell Model 533. The Model 204 entered production for the
US Army as the HU-1A, becoming the first turbine-powered helicopter in
service with any US military branch. First deliveries would fall to the
101st Airborne Division, the 57th Medical Detachment and the 82nd Airborne
Division. The 57th Medical Detachment would be the first to field the system
in Vietnam beginning in March 1962.
By all respects, design of the Huey was quite utilitarian although more
pleasing to the eye that other rotary-wing offerings developed during the
1950s. Aircraft construction was comprised of the main fuselage housing the
cockpit and passenger cabin (along with their associated systems and
equipment), the engine and rotor mast section and the empennage, or tail
section containing the tail rotor. The pilot and co-pilot were seated at the
extreme forward of the design with a windowed cockpit providing excellent
vision forward, above, to the sides and forward-below. Entry for either
cockpit seating position was made through an automobile-style hinged door.
The cabin featured a large sliding windowed door on either side of the
fuselage for easy access (in most Vietnam-era pictures, these doors are
almost always lest open). The single engine was mounted atop the rear
portion of the crew cabin root with the rotor mast extending upwards forward
of the engine. The rotor blades on initial models were simple two-blade
arrangements with a rotor mast for added stability (the latest Huey version
sports a four-blade rotor system). The engine exhausted rearwards over the
base of the empennage. The tail section itself made up nearly half the
length of the entire fuselage and featured horizontal fins about half-way
down the tail section. The section ended with a single vertical fin adorned
with the two-blade tail rotor system mounted to the portside (the latest
Huey sports a four-blade tail rotor). The undercarriage consisted of a pair
of fixed landing skids - braced in two areas - allowing for landing and
take-off from just about any type of surface making it useful to both land
and sea-based operators. Throughout its production run - with the exception
of the twin-engine Huey - the base UH-1 Huey series would retain this unique
and very identifiable design.
With its transport origins and inherently large cabin space, the Huey was
designed from the outset to serve occupants in quantity. Passenger space was
equivalent to 14 combat-ready troops. This arrangement could be supplanted
by up to 6 medical litters when in the MedEvac role. The base crew could
comprise 1 to 4 personnel as needed and depending on the role and equipment
utilized.
The UH-1 airframe proved highly adaptable throughout its tenure,
particularly when a showcase piece in the Vietnam War as helicopter
gunships. Standard armaments included the use of pintle-mounted M60 7.62mm
machine guns or specialized external mountings for dual 7.62mm miniguns
mounts, 2-, 7-, or 19-shot 2.75" rocket pods and 7.62mm machine guns in
quad-mountings. In the Vietnam War, US Army Hueys were dubbed "Cobras" when
fitted with machine gun armament and "Hogs" when sporting rocket pods while
unarmed Hueys became "Slicks" (similarly, the USN and USMC called their
transports "Dolphins" and their gunships "Sharks"). Many other weapon
arrangements were trialed with the Huey airframe throughout the Vietnam War
resulting in a plethora of experimental systems with a laundry list of
x-type designations. These trials included the use of air-to-surface
missiles, 7.62mm minigun gun pods, 20mm and 30mm cannon armament, mine
dispensers, heavy caliber 12.7mm miniguns and 40mm grenade launchers. In
all, the series was already proving its adaptability to just about any role
imaginable even though many of these impressive armament arrangements were
never accepted into any official role.
Of all conflicts that the Huey has ever been showcased in, no doubt its
involvement in the Vietnam War truly cemented its legacy. The Huey would go
on to become the symbolic icon of the American involvement in the war with
imagery of troops exiting the hovering helicopter displayed across American
televisions on a seemingly nightly basis. Hueys in Vietnam were called upon
to fulfill a variety of roles that most any aircraft of the time could
match. UH-1's were utilized in their intended troop transport roles but were
also featured in the all-important roles of medical evacuation, search and
rescue efforts, general transport, VIP transport, command and control and as
helicopter gunships. Huey use, armaments and tactics generally changed
throughout the course of the war based on battlefield experience and adapted
to needs of the moment. Models showcased in the war covered the UH-1A, B, C,
D and H models. UH-1B and UH-1C Hueys were eventually supplanted in the
gunship role by the dedicated AH-1 Cobra twin-seat attack helicopter
gunships beginning to arrive in August of 1967 (AH-1G). In all, over 3,300
UH-1 Hueys were lost in the conflict along with some 2,200 airmen while a
total of over 5,000 units were introduced to the region.
The production run of UH-1's yielded about a dozen major variants, some with
sub-variants to boot. The initial production variant became the HU-1A,
utilizing the early-form designation system that eventually changed to UH-1A
in 1962 and onwards. Production netted 182 UH-1A's. These systems were
followed by four YUH-1B prototypes leading up to the UH-1B production model,
essentially being "improved" A-models with revised rotors and other subtle
outward changes. The UH-1C arrived with revised blades, improved rotor-head
and new engines, built to a 767 example total.
The first major "departure" from the initial production models became the
UH-1D, of which some 2,008 examples were produced. These were based on the
Bell Model 205 which itself was nothing more than a long-fuselage version of
the Bell Model 204 while increasing rotor diameter, range and power from its
Lycoming T53-L-9A, T53-L-11D 1,100shp engines or the Allied Signal Engines
(ASE) T53-L-13B turboshafts of 1,400shp. The sliding double-windowed side
doors were also made larger in this version. The US Army pressed these into
service as troop transports beginning in 1963 to replace their aging
Sikorsky CH-34 Chocktaw fleet while many were eventually upgraded to the
upcoming UH-1H standard. UH-1D's could be crewed by 2 personnel while
supplying room for up to 13 troops.
UH-1D (as well as UH-1H) production models were armed with the standard
door-mounted M23 M60D 7.62mm machine guns on M23 subsystems to provide cover
fire along the flanks. Early production UH-1D's featured the XM3 23-tube
rocket launchers, the M5 40mm grenade launcher and the M6 quad M60C machine
gun mounts for the gunship role. The large cabin space of D-models
eventually set them apart as primary utility helicopters while the smaller
UH-1B and UH-1C's were therefore utilized as primarily as gunships.
The UH-1E became a USMC product based on the UH-1B and UH-1C models. 192 of
this type were built. Likewise, the UH-1F fell into service with the USAF
and were similarly based on the UH-1B and UH-1C models. F-models were
further differentiated by their use of General Electric T-58-GE-3 turboshaft
engines of 1,325shp. 120 total examples of these Hueys were produced.
The UH-1H was a high quantity version, essentially similar to the UH-1D and
built in some 5,435 total examples, and featured an improved Lycoming
T-53-L-13B turboshaft engine of 1,400shp. H-models had the same basic
armament suite of the UH-1D's - the standard M23 M60D 7.62mm door mounted
machine guns. Likewise, passenger seating equaled space for 13 combat-ready
troops. Additional changes included a revised two-bladed semi-rigid all
metal main rotor system and rigid delta hinged two-bladed tail rotor system.
H-models became the model of quantity of the entire Hueys production line.
Production spanned from 1965 through 1986 and was also undertaken under
license in Turkey and Taiwan. A specialized H-model was developed in the
six-man (2 pilots and 4 gunners) UH-1H "Nighthawk" featuring a Zenon
searchlight system coupled to an M134 7.62mm minigun armament for night
work. Additional armaments included twin M60D 7.62mm machine guns and an
M2HB 12.7mm heavy machine gun.
The USN utilized the purpose-built HH-1K (based on the Bell Model 204) for
Search and Rescue duties. The UH-1M was a dedicated gunship model fitted
with the Lycoming T-53-L-13 engine of 1,400shp.
The UH-1N was a somewhat vast departure from previous Huey offerings in that
this model version sported twin turboshaft engines. These aircraft were
built upon the Bell Model 212 design and also went under the name of "Twin
Pac". The UH-1P was a UH-1F variant utilized by the USAF for use by the 20th
Special Operations Squadron "Green Hornets". The UH-1V became a specialized
US Army MedEvac model with room for six stretchers and one personnel while
the UH-1Y appeared as a new Bell product intended to upgrade operators of
their current UH-1N systems.
As of this writing, the USMC has begun deliveries (beginning early 2009) of
what is expected to be 123 examples of the UH-1V "Venom" helicopter models.
First fight of this variant was achieved on December 20th, 2001 and
production now signals the new generation of Hueys. Despite maintaining a
general external look to her previous incarnations, the Venom is an all-new
modernized Huey complete with an all-composite four-blade main rotor, twin
engine arrangement, four-blade tail rotor, FLIR, all-digital cockpit
sporting multi-function displays and improvements over the base Huey's
maximum speed, range and take-off weight. This modernization will no doubt
extend the life of the Huey for some decades more.
The United States Army have already phased out their fleet of frontline
UH-1's, having replaced them with the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk series while
still retaining some 700 Hueys in for a few years more. The USAF still
utilize Hueys in limited utilitarian roles as needed but overall, the
Sikorsky UH-60 series is poised to become the next workhorse of the American
military.
Beyond Bell's localized production of its Huey line, the helicopter has
undergone license-production in Italy through the Agusta-Bell banner, in
Japan through the Fuji-Bell name, in Germany via Dornier Flugzeugwerke, and
in Taiwan through AIDC. Total production to this date of the Huey in all
forms and for all operators is estimated to be over 16,000 units. Operators
range the world over - from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe - and quite possibly
make the Bell UH-1 Huey the most successful helicopter line of all time.
Major users of the Huey line have been the United States Army, Australian
Army, Philippine Army and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force.
Variants
Bell Model 204 - Company Prototype Designation; covers XH-40, YH-40, UH-1A,
B, C, E, F, HH-1K, UH-1L, P and M production models.
Bell Model 533 - Single Developmental Model based on YH-40BF evaluation
model fitted with turbofan engine and wings.
Bell Model 205 - Company Designation covering UH-1D and UH-1H models;
long-fuselage version based on Model 204.
Bell Model 212 - Becoming UH-1N production models; twin-engine version; also
known as "Twin Pac".
XH-40 - Prototype Designation; fitted with Lycoming XT-53-L-1 engine of 700
shaft horsepower; three examples produced.
YH-40 - Modified XH-40 prototypes for evaluation purposes; increased cabin
space; six examples produced.
HU-1A - Initial Production model; redesignated to UH-1A after 1962; 182
examples produced.
TH-1A - Conversion dual-control trainers based on HU-1A/UH-1A production
models; 14 examples converted in this fashion.
XH-1A - Single developmental UH-1A for use in grenade launcher tests.
YUH-1B - Four Prototype B-model examples.
HU-1B - Improved UH-1A model; 1,014 examples produced.
NUH-1B - Single Test Variant
UH-1C - UH-1B model with improved powerplant, revised blades and rotor-head;
767 examples produced.
YUH-1D - Pre-production UH-1D models; 7 examples produced.
UH-1D - Troop Transport (seating for 13); long fuselage cabin; based on Bell
Model 205; 2,008 examples produced.
HH-1D - US Army rescue model based on UH-1D.
UH-1E - USMC models based on UH-1B and UH-1C production models; varying
systems; 192 examples produced.
NUH-1E - Single UH-1E example for testing.
TH-1E - USMC trainer model converted from UH-1C production models; 20
examples produced.
UH-1F - USAF UH-1B and UH-1C production models; fitted with General Electric
T-58-GE-3 engine of 1,325 shaft horsepower; 120 examples produced.
TH-1F - USAF trainer based on UH-1F production models; 26 examples produced.
UH-1H - Improved UH-1D models; semi-rigid all-metal main rotor and rigid
delta hinged tail rotor; fitted with Lycoming T-53-L-13 engine of 1,400
shaft horserpower; seating for 13 troops; 5,435 examples produced.
UH-1H "Nighthawk" - Special night operations interdiction model; fitted with
Zenon searchlight, M134 7.62mm minigun, 2 x M60D 7.62mm machine guns and 1 x
M2HB 12.7mm machine gun; crew of two pilots and four gunners.
CUH-1H - Canadian UH-1H utility production models; 10 examples produced;
later redesignated to CH-118.
EH-1H - Electronic Warfare conversion aircraft for Project Quick Fix; fitted
with AN/ARQ-33 interception and jamming system; 22 examples modified in this
fashion.
HH-1H - USAF Search and Rescue (SAR) variant; 30 examples produced.
JUH-1 - Battlefield Surveillance Aircraft; fitted with under-fuselage radar
system.
TH-1H - USAF flight trainers modified from UH-1H production models.
UH-1G - Cambodian armed UH-1H; unofficial designation.
UH-1J - Japanese license-production (Fuji) of an improved UH-1H variant;
fitted with Allison T53-L-703 turboshaft engine of 1,800 shaft horsepower;
updates include night vision capability and countermeasures.
HH-1K - USN Search and Rescue Variant; 27 examples produced.
TH-1L - USN Flight Trainer based on the HH-1K; 45 examples produced.
UH-1L - Utility Model based on TH-1L trainer; 8 examples produced.
UH-1M - Gunship model based on UH-1C; fitted with Lycoming T-53-L-13 engine
of 1,400 shaft horsepower.
UH-1N - Twin Engine Variant based on Bell Model 212.
UH-1P - USAF Special Operations and Attack models.
EH-1U - Multiple Target Electronic Warfare System (MULTEWS).
UH-1V - US Army MedEvac Variant.
EH-1X - Electronic Warfare Platforms based on modified UH-1H models; 10
examples converted in this fashion.
UH-1Y - Upgraded UH-1N late production models.
UH-1Y "Venom" - Modern USMC productiom models developed from UH-1N Twin
Huey; four-badem all-composite rotor system; upgraded transmission and
engines; increased MTOW, range and speed; digital cockpit with MFDs;
increased parts commonality with AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopters; a total of
123 on order.
Agusta-Bell AB 204 - Augusta-Bell license-production military transports for
Italy.
Agusta-Bell AB 204AS - Augusta-Bell license-production Anti-Submarine
Warfare (ASW) helicopters for Italy.
Fuji-Bell 204B-2 "Hiyodori" - Fuji Heavy Industries license-production
military transports for use by Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force.
Bell 205A-1 - Military Utility Transport based on UH-1H models.
Bell 205A-1A - Israeli export gunship/transport models based on 205A-1
transports; hardpoints for external armament.
Agusta-Bell AB 205 - Augusta-Bell license-production military utility
transports for Italy.
AIDC UH-1H - Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation license-production
military utility transport models for Taiwan.
Dornier UH-1D - Dornier Flugzeugwerke license-production military utility
transport models for Germany.
Fuji-Bell 205A-1 (HU-1H) - Fuji license-production military utility
transport models for use by Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force.
"Huey II" - Improved and Updated model for military market; based on UH-1H
production models.
UH-1/T700 "Ultra Huey" - Improved and Updated model for commercial market;
fitted with General Electric T700-GE-701C turboshaft engine.
Specifications for the Bell UH-1D Iroquois (Huey)
Dimensions:
Length: 57.09ft (17.40m)
Width: 47.90ft (14.60m)
Height: 14.44ft (4.40m)
Performance: About MACH
Max Speed: 137mph (220kmh; 119kts)
Max Range: 317miles (510km)
Rate-of-Climb:1,755ft/min (535m/min)
Service Ceiling: 19,390ft (5,910m; 3.7miles)
Structure:
Accommodation: 2 + 14
Hardpoints: 0
Empty Weight: 5,214lbs (2,365kg)
MTOW: 9,039lbs (4,100kg)
Powerplant:
Engine(s): 1 x Lycoming T53-L-11 turboshaft engine delivering 1,100shp
driving a two-blade main rotor and two-blade tail rotor.
Armament Suite:
Highly variable depending on role and operator. Can consist of the following
or combinations thereof:
2 x 7.62mm General Purpose machine guns (pintle-mounted in doorway - M60,
MG3).
2 x 7.62mm GUA-17/A miniguns (pintle-mounted in doorway or external
forward-facing).
2 x Mark Mk 44 Torpedoes
2 x Mark Mk 46 Torpedoes
2 x MQ 44 Torpedoes
2 x AS 12 air-to-surface missiles
2 x Sea Killer air-to-surface missiles
2 x 7-tube 2.75" rocket pods
2 x 19-tube 2.75" rocket pods
Conventional Drop Bombs (Lebanon and El Salvador)
EVALUATED:
M60C 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns
M60D 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns
BGM-71 TOW Anti-Tank air-to-surface Missiles
AGM-22/B Air-to-Surface Missiles
M24A1 20mm cannons
XM140 30mm cannons
M2BH 12.7mm heavy machine guns
XM213/M213 12.7mm machine guns
SUU-13D/A mine dispensers
M129 40mm grenade launchers
XM159 2.75" rocket launchers
MA-2/A 2-shot - 2.75" rocket launchers
M157 7-shot 2.75" rocket launchers
M158 7-shot 2.75" rocket launchers
XM3 24-shot 2.75" rocket launchers
GAU-15/A 12.7mm Minigun
GAU-16/A 12.7mm Minigun
GAU-17/A 7.62x51mm Minigun
XM18/M18 Minigun Pods
Smoke Grenade Dispenser (M6, M7 and M8 grenade types tested).
