| AH-1S Cobra | AH-1E Cobra | AH-1F Cobra |
The American Bell AH-1S Cobra is a gunship chopper for NATO troops. Its perfect for support infantry and even destroying APCs.
History[]
By June 1967, the first AH-1G HueyCobras had been delivered. Originally designated as UH-1H, the "A" for attack designation was soon adopted and when the improved UH-1D became the UH-1H, the HueyCobra became the AH-1G. The AH-1 was initially considered a variant of the H-1 line, resulting in the G series letter.
AH-1 Cobras were in use by the Army during the Tet offensive in 1968 and through the end of the Vietnam War. Huey Cobras provided fire support for ground forces, escorted transport helicopters and other roles, including aerial rocket artillery (ARA) battalions in the two Airmobile divisions. They also formed "hunter killer" teams by pairing with OH-6A scout helicopters. A team featured one OH-6 flying slow and low to find enemy forces. If the OH-6 drew fire, the Cobra could strike at the then revealed enemy. Bell built 1,116 AH-1Gs for the US Army between 1967 and 1973, and the Cobras chalked up over a million operational hours in Vietnam. Out of nearly 1,110 AH-1s delivered from 1967 to 1973 approximately 300 were lost to combat and accidents during the war. The U.S. Marine Corps used AH-1G Cobras in Vietnam for a short time before acquiring twin-engine AH-1J Cobras.
AH-1Q Cobra in Fort Hood, Texas
AH-1 Cobras were deployed for Operation Urgent Fury, the invasion of Grenada in 1983, flying close-support and helicopter escort missions. Army Cobras participated in Operation Just Cause, the US invasion of Panama in 1989.
During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Gulf War (1990–91), the Cobras and SuperCobras deployed in a support role. The USMC deployed 91 AH-1W SuperCobras and the US Army 140 AH-1 Cobras; these were operated from forward, dispersed desert bases. Three AH-1s were lost in accidents during fighting and afterward. Cobras destroyed many Iraqi armored vehicles and various targets in the fighting.
Army Cobras provided support for the US humanitarian intervention during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia in 1993. They were also employed during the US invasion of Haiti in 1994. US Cobras were also used in operations later in the 1990s.
The US Army phased out the AH-1 during the 1990s and retired the AH-1 from active service in March 1999, offering them to NATO allies. The Army retired the AH-1 from reserves in September 2001. The retired AH-1s have been passed to other nations and to the USDA Forest Service. The AH-1 continues to be in service with the US military, by the US Marine Corps, which operate the twin-engine AH-1W SuperCobra and AH-1Z Viper.
Weapons[]
Airland Battle[]
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | MMG | Rocket Pod | Rocket Pod |
| Name | Twin M134 Minigun | Hydra 70 | FFAR |
| Caliber | 7.62mm | 70mm AoE | 70mm AoE |
| Ammo | x 2000 | x 38 | x 14 |
| Range | Ground = 1050 m Helicopters = 875 m  Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 2100 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 2100 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
| Accuracy | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| AP Power | N/A | N/A | 83 |
| HE Power | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Suppression | 36 | 161 | 161 |
| Rate of fire | 2758 r/min | 83 r/min | 27 r/min |
Red Dragon[]
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | MMG | Rocket Pod | Rocket Pod |
| Name | Twin M134 Minigun | M151 Hydra | FFAR |
| Caliber | 7.62mm | 70mm AoE | 70mm AoE |
| Ammo | x 4000 | x 38 | x 14 |
| Range | Ground = 1050 m Helicopters = 1050 m Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 2100 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 2100 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
| Accuracy | 20% | 20% | 15% |
| Stabilizer | 10% | 10% | 5% |
| AP Power | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| HE Power | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Suppression | 36 | 161 | 161 |
| Rate of fire | 2758 r/min | 132 r/min | 67 r/min |
