Bell AH-1J Sea Cobra
Plane History | The Air Zoo’s Model | Plane Stats
Plane History
The Bell AH-1J Sea Cobra is the Marine Corps’ version of the Army’s AH-1 Cobra gunship and has its origins with the HU-1A Iroquois, the workhorse troop transport helicopter of the Vietnam War.
It was quickly found that in combat, the “Huey,” as Iroquois was commonly called, needed defensive weapons to survive its missions of moving troops, cargo and evacuating battlefield casualties. Many solutions were tried, but in the end the Army decided it needed a specialized, armed attack helicopter to “escort” the transport Hueys.
The Huey was followed by the Sioux Scout, the direct predecessor of the AH-1 Cobra series which was the marriage of a Sioux helicopter fuselage to a gunship nose. Twin turrets housing two 7.62mm weapons were placed behind the pilot. The aircraft was experimental only, but paved the way for the attack helicopters to come.
The AH-1 Cobra was to be an interim solution for the US Army’s Advanced Fire Support System, bridging the gap from the UH-1 Huey to the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne attack helicopter, and in fact Bell already had the prototype flying when it submitted the proposal.
The Cheyenne failed to live up to expectations and was cancelled, but the AH-1 Cobra ended up as the Army & Marine Corps front line attack helicopter for the next 40 years.
During Vietnam, the arrival of the AH-1 Cobra significantly reduced transport losses. Vietnam was a “helicopter war” for the U.S. Army, which in July of 1969 had 3,389 helicopters (441 AH-1s) and only 641 fixed wing aircraft. During the Southeast Asian conflict, the Cobra was the principle gunship and 173 AH-1s were lost to hostile actions and another 109 to operational causes.
The AH-1J Sea Cobra was the first real departure from the original Cobra design, because unlike the Cobra, it has two engines for additional power and for insurance in case one engine failed. It was used by the Marines in a similar fashion as the Cobra was used by the Army, as an attack aircraft.
Over the years, the Cobra family’s role has changed from one of an escort for transport helicopters to an offensive weapon that can provide close-support for troops on the ground. The Marine Corps’ Sea Cobra supporting amphibious assault troops have participated in conflicts big and small, including the invasion of Grenada, 1991’s Operation Desert Storm in Iraq and even today in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Cobras were equipped with TOW (Tube-launched Optically-tracked, Wire-guided) missiles and also had a role as anti-tank weapons.
The Air Zoo’s AH-1J Sea Cobra (Bu. No. #159211)
The Air Zoo’s Sea Cobra is on loan from the Marine Corps and has a 20mm Gatling gun in the nose with wing stubs for other armaments. It came to the Air Zoo for display in 1999.
Plane Stats
Powerplant: Two Pratt & Whitney Canada T400-CP-400 (PT6T-3 Turbo Twin Pac) turboshaft, 1,800 HP (1,342 kW) each
Armament:
- M197 3-barreled 20mm “Gatling-style” cannon in the M97 turret (750 rounds ammo capacity)
- 2.75 in (70 mm) MK-40 or Hydra 70 rockets - 14 rockets mounted in a variety of launchers
- 5 in (127mm) Zuni rockets - 8 rockets in two 4-round LAU-10D/A launchers
- AIM-9 Sidewinder Anti-Aircraft Missiles - One mounted on each hardpoint
Rotor Diameter: 43 ft 11 in (13.4 m)
Length: 44 ft, 3 in (13.5 m)
Height: 13 ft 5 in (4.1 m)
Weight: 6,595 lbs. (2,998 kg) (E); 9,979 lbs. (4,525 kg) (L)
Speed (max.): 190 knots (218 mph, 352 km/h)
Service Ceiling: 11,398 ft. (3,475 m)
Range: 408 nm (355 mi, 574 km)
Crew: 2 (pilot, co-pilot/gunner)