The Helicopter WarVietnam

Lesson Objectives Describe the tactical and geographic considerations that supported the introduction of airmobile operations in Vietnam.

Understand the technical and logistic advantages and limitations of the helicopter in war.

Describe and analyze the role of helicopters in the American execution of the Vietnam War.

Major IssuesThe Helicopter WarWhy was the helicopter particularly valuable in Southeast Asia?What is the air mobility concept of the US Army?What were some of the operational and logistic concerns of the use of helicopters in Southeast Asia?Generally describe the use of helicopters in the Battle of Ia Drang Valley (November 1965) Why was it originally developed? In what ways were helicopters used?

The Helicopter War "What would we do [in Vietnam] without helicopters? We would be fighting a different war, for a smaller area, at a greater cost, with less effectiveness.

We might as well-have asked: 'What would General Patton have done without his tanks?'"General William WestmorelandQuoted by Lieutenant General John J. Tolson, USAAirmobility 1961-1971, Chapter 13

The Helicopter War... the growth of the airmobile concept did not take place in the framework of guerrilla warfare. It was conceived out of the necessity to disperse on the modern battlefield under the threat of nuclear weapons and still retain the ability to mass quickly for decisive actions, then disperse again. The actualities of Vietnam have since obscured these origins and have led many people to the assumption that airmobility was designed for and limited to counter-guerrilla contingencies. The very nature of the terrain in Vietnam with its jungles and mountains has led many to connect helicopter operations to this type of terrain. Indeed, the opposite is true. Airmobility worked in Vietnam in spite of the tremendous problems of working in the jungles and the mountains of an undeveloped country. The helicopter overcame the obstacles of limited landing zones, primitive road nets, restricted observation, and high density altitudes as no other vehicle could. But, in the open countryside of Europe or a desert in the Middle East, the airmobile force has far greater flexibility and many more options than even the armored forces of Rommel in North Africa. Vietnam represented only a fraction of the possibilities for airmobile tactics.

"Conclusions"Airmobility 1961-1971, Chapter 13Lieutenant General John J. Tolson, USAVietnam Studies series, CMH Pub 90-4Washington: Department of the Army, 1989

The Helicopter WarThe average infantryman in the South Pacific during World War II saw about 40 days of combat in four years. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter.

The Helicopter WarThe problem in Vietnam is terrain jungles, mountains, rivers. Maneuver's a nightmare. That's why we came up with a plan to use helicopters. Leap in and out of battle.Dialogue from the movie We Were Soldiers (2002)Source

Helicopters in VietnamEarlyH-34 Choctaw H-21 Shawnee

Helicopters in VietnamMedium HelicoptersCH-46 Sea KnightCH-3

Helicopters in VietnamHeavy HelicoptersCH-47 ChinookCH-53 Sea Stallion

Helicopters in VietnamUsesTroop Transport

Helicopters in VietnamUsesMedical Evacuation (MedEvac)

Helicopters in VietnamUsesLong Range Patrol (LRP) Extraction

Helicopters in VietnamUsesAircraft Recovery

Helicopters in VietnamUsesRescue

Helicopters in VietnamUsesCargo Hauler

Helicopters in VietnamUsesBomber

Helicopters in VietnamUsesMine Sweeping

The Helicopter War "What would we do [in Vietnam] without helicopters? We would be fighting a different war, for a smaller area, at a greater cost, with less effectiveness.

We might as well-have asked: 'What would General Patton have done without his tanks?'"General William WestmorelandQuoted by Lieutenant General John J. Tolson, USAAirmobility 1961-1971, Chapter 13

The Helicopter WarWhy did the U.S. Army adopt the Airmobile* doctrine?* using helicopters to move forces around the battlefield Concept not specifically developed for Vietnam Conceived to move forces around an atomic battlefield Ideally suited for Southeast Asia

The Helicopter WarThe problem in Vietnam is terrain jungles, mountains, rivers. Maneuver's a nightmare. That's why we came up with a plan to use helicopters. Leap in and out of battle.Dialogue from the movie We Were Soldiers (2002)Source

Helicopters in VietnamWhere do you land them?

Super BombsREQUIREMENT: Large explosive to quickly clear Landing Zones (LZs)SOLUTION:Post-WWII large conventional bombs from storageB-36 PeacemakerM121 15K lb. BombM121 Warhead

CH-54 Helicopter with 15K Bomb

BLU-82 BombsSuper BombsWhat do you do when you run out of M121s?Innovate!

BLU-82 Bombs

Instant Landing Zone!BLU-82 Bomb Employment

BLU-82 BombUGA Students?

Popular CultureDaisy Cutter BombRealityBLU-82 Bomb w/ Daisy Cutter Fuse

The Helicopter WarIa Drang Valley - 27:36Battlefield Mobility

Battle of Ia Drang ValleyVideo (27:36)

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