The UH-1
The most popular light utility helicopter ever made is the Bell Iroquois, also known as the Huey. The military has used a variant of it in around 60 countries.
Bell manufactured the UH-1 in two main versions: the twin-engine Models 212 and 412 and the single-engine Models 204 and 205.
The H-1 series began as the Bell XH-60 to meet an Army requirement for a utility helicopter for front-line evacuation of casualties, general utility missions, and instrument training. The XH-40 flew in late 1956, and the first production model, the HU-1A Iroquois, went to the Army on Jun. 30, 1959.
Major variations of the Model 204 series
The first three major variations of the Iroquois belonged to the Model 204 series, which has a 44-foot-diameter rotor. Deliveries of the HU-1A with a T53-L-1A engine began June 30, 1959, for utility transport and casualty evacuation with six seats or two stretchers. Following that model was the HU-1B with the 960-horsepower T53-L-5 engine, which accommodated eight passengers on three stretchers. It became the UH-1B when the HU designation changed to UH. This model served in Vietnam in various roles, including armed support. Southeast Asia was the proving ground for the gunship and demonstrated its value and potential. The last in the Model 204 series was the UH-1C, which had a 1,000-horsepower T-53-L-11 engine.
Huey armed with the Nord SS.11 anti-tank missile
According to the Aviation Classics Issue 27 – Bell UH-1 Iroquois, there were a number of field modifications to arm the UH-1 for its escort role in Vietnam. These were followed by official developments, initially given X or experimental designations.
Experiments to fit guided missiles to the UH-1 began with the AGM-22A, a license-built version of the Nord SS.11 wire-guided anti-tank missile aimed via an XM-70 sight. The M22 system was developed from this, with six missiles being carried, three on each side of a UH-1 B or C on an extended M156 mount. The M22 system had a number of improvements over the early trials, including the upgraded AGM-22B missile and the XM58 stabilized sight. The first 12 UH-1 Bs with the M22 system were deployed to Vietnam in September 1965 but saw limited use due to the lack of suitable targets.
One other system was developed to use the AGM-22, built by Warrant Officer Robert Maxwell in theatre. The Maxwell system as it became known, adapted the M3 weapons system fitted to his unit’s helicopters by removing one or two banks of six rockets from the 24 tube packs on either side of the UH-1. A custom-built short pylon was then added to the outside of the M3 packs with a launch rail for a single AGM-22B.
Aviation Classics Issue 27 – Bell UH-1 Iroquois is published by Mortons Books and is available to order here.
Photo by U.S. Army Missile Command
