Medal of Honor

This week's submission is authored by ODG team member BaTs.

It was a cold Feburary flight in the US Coast Guard MH-65C Dolphin helicotper.  Myself and two former US Army pilots were flying from New Jersey to Florida in support of the last night launch of the space shuttle. The pilot was a OH-58 Kiowa driver and the co-pilot was an AH-64 Apache driver.  Somewhere over North Carolina I got bored and decided to start a lively discussion, "Sir, which helicopter was better, the Kiowa or Apache?" Both pilots turned their heads to look at eachother and grinned.  I knew then, it was going to be a long flight.

 The Apache is a gunship.  It's primary objective is to kill tanks from a range that will keep the helicopter undetected and let it's armament of Hellfire missles do the job.  It provides a support role to our troops on the ground by detecting threats and destroying them before soldiers go into harms way, or it can be called in for straffing run with thier Hydra 70 rockets.  While this gunship is usually the first to go in and strike during the beginning of a theater, its operational necessity is no longer required as often when the area of conflict is becoming a secured region and utility helicopters are required.  This is where the Kiowa comes into play.

 In urban regions of Afghanistan and Iraq, an AH-64 Apache is a bit overkill and the OH-58 Kiowa is well suited for this environment.  The Kiowa is a reconnaissance, utility and direct fire platform helicopter.  It can be used to hover over regions and provide real-time recon information to troops navigating the streets and be called in for quick and immediate air support.  It too also carries an armament that would make any insurgent cringe.  It may not be as much as the Apache, but in a war where the enemy isn't in tanks but on the ground you don't need to go overkill with the weapon systems.

Regardless of which helicopter you believe is the best, remember that they are chosen by the commanders in the field based on the mission that needs to be performed.  Of course, it's not the weapons that the insurgents needs to worry about, it's just the sound of the rotor blades in the air overhead that make them cower in fear.

--
BaTs is an Active Duty US Coast Guard Flight Mechanic that writes articles for OffDutyGamers.com

Tweet