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The Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter was direct
effort to deal w/ the shortcomings of the UH-1.
It's was the world's first attack helicopter.
The weapons officer sat behind the pilot, affording
a thinner body that was tougher to shoot at.
It's usual tactic was to follow a transport helicopter
into the landing zone and then fire at any enemy
who tried to oppose the landing.
Sometimes a 'Loach' would perform as a
recon/spotter helicopter to draw enemy fire.
Cobras orbiting the area would then dive and attack the target.
At other times it acted as it's own recon helicopter.
The U.S. Army has replaced the Cobra w/ the Apache.
The Marine corps still uses an improved version.
It has 2 engines.
The original had 1 engine, but this made it susceptible
to Russia's shoulder-fired RPG and SAMs.The new
version was found to be in need of a night vision system
after Saddam Hussein ordered the ignition of Kuwait's
oil fields, obscuring the battlefield w/ thick smoke.
Today's Cobra's are using FLIR
(Forward Looking Infrared Radar),
laser range finders and bearingless rotors.
They Are Armed To The Teeth.
This AH-1 Was Sold To The Shah Of Iran
So He Could More Effectively
Kill Kurds
Who Were Photographed By U.S. Satellites.
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