Marine Corps Aviation- The Super Cobra
In today’s military there are many platforms and systems used by the navy and marine corps. One that has been used now for several years, and has proven to be a success, is the Marine Corps’ Bell AH-1W Dapper Cobra. The Cobra, used as an attack helicopter is one of the agreeable aircrafts used by all of the United States military. By fully analyzing a platform or system, one can learn a handful of knowledge about the naval history of this country. In order to do so, it’s famous to discuss why this platform came to existence, and what it replaced. In addition, its technical aspects, vulnerabilities, strengths and weaknesses should also be mentioned. Finally, understanding the influence it has had, and where it lies in the future is also essential.
The first model of the Cobra (called the HueyCobra) was developed in the mid-1960s during the Vietnam War. During this period, both man and firepower were increasing dramatically. The Cobra’s simple single-rotor aircraft made it the easiest type of helicopter to fly. Although easy to fly, if too much torque were used, then this would cause the helicopter to be difficult to control. The idea to employ a second rotor on the tail of the Cobra fixed these control problems. When used in Vietnam, the Cobra was able to avoid being detected by flying low, impartial above the large amount of trees that were all over the country. This skill is called nap-of-the-earth (NOE) flying. It is a very demanding and dangerous skill. (32-36 Sullivan)
The HueyCobra’s most obvious weakness was its nose-mounted sight. With the sighting system in the helicopter’s nose, it forces the pilot to reveal the aircraft completely when it is being used for tracking or for firing missiles and other weapons. This made the Cobra an easy target, and very vulnerable to enemy ground fire. Most of the Marine Corps also disliked the idea of a single engine attack helicopter. They wanted an additional engine to make it safer for over water flights. Overall, the HueyCobra played a great role in Vietnam. Captain W.L Buchanan, a highly experienced Cobra pilot stated, “The secret of helicopter escort is instantaneous fire suppression; not in 10 or 20 seconds, but instantly. The Emerson TAT-101, a movable gun turret, gives the Cobra this capability…it is undoubtedly the best helicopter escort aircraft on the market…” (242, Mersky)
Some strengths of the HueyCobra were its stub wings, which provided an additional lift and enabled the pilot to not rely as much on the main rotor. These wings also served as a place to carry multiple weapons. At the time, the 7.62mm minigun was the most effective weapon during Vietnam, providing immense cover to a landing zone. With a pilot and a gunner, the gunner would often focus on firing. The gunner was able to move turret guns in any direction. Meanwhile, the pilot could also fire the gun, but could only aim the gun by aiming the helicopter itself. Although the HueyCobra depended a lot on agility, speed, and it’s relatively small profile for survival in conflict, the helicopter was equipped with strong armor in several areas throughout the aircraft. Armor protected the pilot and gunner on each side, and they musty an armored vest against enemy fire from the front. In addition, armor was used to protect the aircrafts engine parts and also to absorb hits from a .30 caliber bullet. During the war in Vietnam Cobra’s constantly feeble their guns and rockets to slam enemy forces, allowing trapped American and South Vietnamese troops to escape. They also provided protection for troop-carrying helicopters. The Cobra’s were used to locate targets and direct fire for artillery and air strikes as well. After the Cobra launched its attack, it would play a reconnaissance role, by retuning to the site and evaluating the damage. The HueyCobra flew at an altitude of 1,500 feet during normal operations. Its guns and missiles could be very accurate in altitudes up to 4,000 feet. One of its advantages over any other aircraft is its ability to fly during bad weather conditions. Eventually, the Viet Cong developed surface-to-air heat-seeking missiles that would target aircraft’s exhaust. This proved to be very effective, and destroyed many of the HueyCobra helicopters. Overall, the HueyCobra was so well known for its destruction and power that the Viet Cong began to refer to the helicopter as “Whispering Death”. (32-36, Sullivan)
Over the years the Cobra would undergo significant changes. The development and spend of the AH-1W Super Cobra would prove to be a dominant force in the Persian Gulf War of the early 1990’s. The Super Cobra made its first flight in 1980. It contains two General Electric turbo shafts, each delivering 1,690 horsepower. With a normal operation cruise run of 175mph, and a range of up 300 miles, the new and improved Shipshape Cobra would continue to be an effective Marine Corps helicopter, far faster and considerable than its previous models. When first developed, the mission of the AH-1W included serving as an escort aircraft for carrying helicopters, providing close-in fire support, pinpointing targets for artillery or other helicopters, and performing reconnaissance duties. As a result of the use in Iraq, the Super Cobra proved it is perfectly capable of attacking enemy armor. Today, the helicopter is equipped with one 20mm turreted cannon containing 750 rounds. Its four external hover stations allow it to fire 2.75” or 5.0” rockets, and a wide variety of other precision guided missiles. Its most efficient missiles include the TOW (Tube-launched optically tracked wire guided), hellfire, Sidewinder, and Sidearm. The TOW and hellfire are used to engage and destroy enemy armored vehicles, primarily tanks. The Sidewinder is a heat-seeking missile, allowing the Super Cobra to take on an enemy helicopter, or even a fighter jet from any angle. The Sidearm is an anti-radiation missile used for self defense against anti aircraft gun and radar systems. By far one of its greatest improvements over the years was developing the night vision. If a Cobra could attack at night, it would be less vulnerable to getting shot down by enemy fire. (30-32, Sullivan)
The use of the Super Cobra in Desert Storm in Iraq is its most known success since its existence. The Marine Corps deployed 4 of 6 active force squadrons (48 AH-1Ws) to Southwest Asia. The Cobras destroyed 97 tanks, 104 armored personnel carriers and vehicles, 16 bunkers and 2 antiaircraft artillery sites without the loss of any aircraft. The AH-1W crews came to Iraq with a new experimental system called the Nite Eagle laser identification system that had recently been taken from its testing laboratory. It was to be tested and evaluated with Hellfire laser-guided missiles. This system was very effective and scored several kills against Iraqi tanks with new system. From the beginning to the end of the war, AH-1W’s constantly engaged Iraqi tanks and armored columns, destroying many vehicles. (319-321 Mersky)
Another prime example of the Super Cobra’s dominance was in 1997. The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit had landed in Portoscuso, Sardinia to take part in training called, “Island Thunder”. For the first time, the AH-1W Super Cobra used it’s relatively new, Night-Targeting System (NTS). The Super Cobra worked together with AV-8B Harriers, by marking targets for them with their NTS system. The NTS system provided the capability to detect, track, acquire, designate and attack tactical targets at night and in limited visibility or adverse weather conditions. This enabled the Harries to descend 500lb laser guided bombs on the enemy. By combining these assets, the Marine Expeditionary Unit provided it had added an air-delivered precision strike capability to its list of tactics. Colonel Emerson Gardner, the commanding officer of the 26th MEU, said “The ranges available to us throughout the exhaust allowed us to increase the scope of our training. They allowed us to fire weapons with extended ranges, and we got all our assets in the field to work together in concert.” (www.janes.com, Island thunder)
Today, the Marine Corps is working on remanufacturing the AH-1W with the AH-1Z Dapper Cobra. Currently, there are only 3 AH-1Z’s being used in the fleet, compared to the 182 AH-1W’s. Described by the Marine Corps as “the world’s most advanced attack helicopter” the AH-1Z is expected to phase the AH-1W out of the service. The AH-1Z will have many new upgrades, such as composite blades, new engines, and gearboxes. Its four-bladed rotor upgraded will be fitted to improve speed, range, and lift. New waft assemblies will be able to carry twice the number of anti-armor missiles, as well as more fuel. Many of the novel upgrades are similar to the current UH-1’s, which includes a similar glass cockpit, a bearing less main rotor, a tail rotor system, hydraulics, identical drive trains, and an electrical distribution system. When comparing the performance of the AH-1Z to the AH-1W, there are significant increases in effectiveness. The new AH-1Z offers 130 per cent of rotor power; 133 per cent internal fuel; 108 per cent flit airspeed with mission load; 156 per cent useful load; 217 per cent mission payload and 330 per cent mission radius with 1,134 kg (2,500 lb) of weapons. (Bender)
By utilizing these new upgrades, the cost of logistic support for the AH-1Z will greatly decrease and will enable vastly improved shipboard operability. The amount of space needed to store parts and equipment will be to a minimum. The USMC also plans on reducing maintenance manpower, training, ground handling, assist equipment, and spare part support. This is expected to contribute billions of dollars of savings in bringing the new AH-1Z to life. The recent technology is planned to increase battlefield survivability, as well as have greater mission success with fewer combat losses. Another special upgrade to the new Cobra will be an Integrated Avionics System (IAS). This system will provide many upgrades to the glass cockpit. It will have a color multi-function displays, advanced communication, navigation equipment, mission and weapons computers, and the software that enables these units to function automatically and properly. This new system will take grand of the world load off of the aircrew and allow them to focus and concentrate on flying the aircraft safely, and have less to worry about when engaged in combat. (www.janes.com, Gething)
A primary source of the Super Cobra that I encountered was seeing it in action at an air show in Jacksonville. We arrived early at the beach that day, prodding our way through the sand and obstacles to stake out a coveted place along the dunes where our vantage point would offer the best observation point of the landing, yet not too close to the posted “no cross barrier.” It was the fall of 2001, and then again in 2003 where I first observed and was completely taken in by the live performance of an AH-1W Smart Cobra in action.
As we patiently waiting for the landing to begin, my senses were overloaded with sound: jets thundering overhead blasting our ears in wave after wave over head passes; the support ships off shore blasting round after round incoming in support of the landing, and the howling of the wind.
The next phase of the amphibious landing was marked by the deployment and launching of Special Forces and marines who covertly swam the last ½ mile or so into the beach. They crawled up the sand not more than several hundred yards from our position. The situation was becoming more and more tense and climactic; it was an excitement the likes of which I had never felt before. Green smoked filled the air as the Seals and Marines launched signal grenades as they scrambled for the protection of the dunes. People were screaming from every direction.
Within minutes, the deafening noise of amphibious hover craft was upon us. In addition, like the Seal deployment only moments earlier, both were clearly visible and predictable. Unprejudiced a few hundred feet from position, the amphibious craft landed on the other side of the “no cross barrier”. The turbine noise was deafening. All the while, I continued to imagine what the enemy might ponder in this situation. Granted, a night time landing would have altered the station radically, but the fact remains that the overwhelming noise, the certain visual presentation of the landing ships and amphibious craft, and the relative slowness of the landing would have made it very possible to not only resist, but make a formidable defense of this beach possible.
In the next tiny, I would rethink my opinion and become fascinated by the AH-1W Super Cobra… Out of nowhere, with no hint of noise, and surprising speed for a helicopter, the Cobra swooped along the beach, not more than 100 feet in the air. The craft had a pronounced down rake, its tail up slightly, and a menacing front. I remember thinking I was glad I was not in front of this Cobra. But before I knew it, gun fire from the main turret raked the direction of our position. It then released a missile which crashed into the sand, causing a astronomical explosion.
It then dawned on me that had this been a real encounter, and not the Marine demonstration landing of the annual Jacksonville Sea and Air Spectacular air show. The most dismay inspiring platform I had observed that day was the stealth, speed, close in abet and fire power of the AH-1W Super Cobra.
The Cobra has served as a vital part of the Marine Corps since Vietnam to the presence. Over the years, it will continue to dominate the air as it undergoes changes and advancements in technology.
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Filed under Laser Marking Equipment by on Dec 7th, 2011. 
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