oh-58d in iraq

Curtis,

From what I've seen, and from all the KW drivers I've spoken to, they always fly with the doors off.  Weapons configurations vary a lot, but .50 cal on the left and either rockets or Hellfires on the right seems pretty standard. 

curtis remington wrote:

i'm useing the 72 scale italeri oh-58d and it only comes with the 7 tube rocket launcher and 2 stingers, would it be likely for them to carry 2 rocket tubes?

Yes, kind of a "Heavy Hog" (all rocket gunship) set-up.  Stingers are not normally carried though since there is no air-to-air threat in Iraq.

HeavyArty wrote:

Here is a site that shows the authorized loadouts and different configurations.

thanks arty i've already checked that site but just wanted to see what the norm was over in the sandbox.

Scott,

Thanks for the confirm.  I'd heard rumblings, but didn't have any definite word on the GAU-19s on KWs.  Haven't gotten back up to Hanchey to ask any of my contacts in a few months, but I had a sneaking suspicion that we'd be seeing them on -58s pretty soon.

Jon

3 barrelled .50 cal?   I'm not aware of that weapon?  Does anyone have a link?  interesting to say the least.   7.62 always comes up short vs .51 cal..........the .50 cal seams like a good idea to be able to stand off and slug it out vs AK's and other small arms.......

phantom works wrote:

3 barrelled .50 cal?   I'm not aware of that weapon?  Does anyone have a link?

GAU-19

HeavyArty wrote:

phantom works wrote: 3 barrelled .50 cal?   I'm not aware of that weapon?  Does anyone have a link?  GAU-19

now thats a toy i would love to have lol

phantom works wrote:

...I don't recall seeing a .50 cal gatlin type gun before now?  Is the GAU-19 a new development?

Yes, I'ts still in the fielding process.  Only developed in the last few years.

The 160th has been using it since 2003 from what I can find.  Its first action MAY have been the Hadithah Dam firefight.  I've got an article that refers to 160th Little Birds carrying them there.

Would be cool commercial "Night Stalkers choose CocaCola" )))

That would make an interesting conversion for the "Little Bird" or OH-58.  I had seen pictures before but never saw one "installed" on an aircraft.  Thanks for the info and picture of the "Little Bird" and GAU 19

Its about time we've gotten pink teams back. 

Now I've got another option to scratch-build for my AV-22 when I get home...bushmaster chain guns, 40mm bofors and GAU-19's...Oh, my!

Good to see the KWs and Little Birds getting some extra punch. 

Now if you really want to model an OIF -58D in all of its bad@ss glory, have the co-pilot engaging Al-Qaida out the left seat with his/her M-4.  I've heard many a "winchester" call and then hear, "... engaging with my M-4" in support of the boots.  That would be a diorama worth admiring. The Cav have teamed up with, ahem, the Apache knuckledraggers and reformed the pink teams.  No standard loadouts from what I've seen but the normal is .50cal/7shot or 2 x 7 shots.

isn't it interesting how history has repeated itself?  apaches doing running fires and pink teams working AO's again.......leaving the hellfires at home and back to the mini guns and FFAR's.......the threats are the same as they were 30 years ago, RPG's, AK's, and manpads......and here we are again.