question: USMC & TOW missiles

[exdraken]

Question: is the TOW missile still used on USMC Ah-1W Super Cobra helicopters? Or since when would they use Hellfire only?

Building such a maschine at the moment in the Huey GB

 

Thanks!

Edited September 20, 2016 by exdraken

[tonywood]

The AH-1W has been replaced in service with the AH-1Z, i believe the Z carries only Hellfire, Hydra rockets and Sidewinders.

I think the AH-1W routinely carried a load of Hellfires on one pylon balanced by TOW on the other pylon in the late nineties.

[scotthldr]

There are still plenty of AH-1W's in service, with at least 6 units still flying them. Currently 22 MEU are carrying out combat ops against IS/Daesh with the AH-1W from onboard the USS Wasp (LHD1).

 

Loadout is TOW/Hellfire/ 7 and 19 shot Zuni pods, or a combination of.

[exdraken]

thanks a lot guys!

 

so load out will be from port to starboard_

TOWs(2) 19shot rocket pod -empty - Hellfire 2 or 4

 

 

 

[scotthldr]

The loadouts I saw in Iraq varied, but a common one port to starboard was

 

2 TOW

7 Shot Zuni

7 Shot Zuni

4 Hellfire(sometimes only two were carried on a 4 shot launcher)

[Finn]

Go here:

 

http://www.navy.mil/gallery_search_results.asp

 

type in AH-1W in the search box and you'll get several images. 

 

Jari

[Murph]

With mixed loads the Marines prefer to put the TOW missiles on the side opposite the tail rotor in case the TOW guidance wire breaks; there's less chance of it fouling the tail rotor that way.

 

Regards,

Murph

Edited September 21, 2016 by Murph

[Flying Leathernecks Decals]

On 9/21/2016 at 7:08 PM, Murph said:

With mixed loads the Marines prefer to put the TOW missiles on the side opposite the tail rotor in case the TOW guidance wire breaks; there's less chance of it fouling the tail rotor that way.

 

Regards,

Murph

 

That isn't necessarily true. We flew 3 x LAU-68 with TOW on numerous missions in Afghanistan and the TOW was almost always on the starboard side of the aircraft.

 

[exdraken]

thanks everybody!

 

very interesting all this first rate info to me!

so much to learn obviously!!

 

 

just in case sombody interested in the build itself: 

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235007660-ah-1w-super-cobra-nts-exhaust-mod-hmla-467-tribute-148/&page=2

 

 

Edited September 24, 2016 by exdraken

[Julien]

23 hours ago, Flying Leathernecks Decals said:

 

That isn't necessarily true. We flew 3 x LAU-68 with TOW on numerous missions in Afghanistan and the TOW was almost always on the starboard side of the aircraft.

 

I dont fancy the front gunners job!

[XV107]

On 9/24/2016 at 11:21 AM, Flying Leathernecks Decals said:

 

That isn't necessarily true. We flew 3 x LAU-68 with TOW on numerous missions in Afghanistan and the TOW was almost always on the starboard side of the aircraft.

 

 

Might I ask if there was/is any particular reason for the 7-shot pod being preferred over the 19 <forgets which LAU that is>? 

[scotthldr]

 I actually think the 19 shot would be preferred due to the extra punch, however weight with a full load and operating in hot climates may be an issue. 

[XV107]

Thanks - I did wonder about that (because of the 2x TOW load), and whether the margins/clearances were such that a 3x 7 shot was better than a 1 x 7 shot and 1x 19 shot mix.

[Finn]

3 hours ago, scotthldr said:

 I actually think the 19 shot would be preferred due to the extra punch, however weight with a full load and operating in hot climates may be an issue. 

 

It's most likely they were going up on patrol, if they had to engage a target they had enough firepower to handle the situation but if no combat, they can still be within weight limits for landing as mentioned in a hot climate. 

 

Jari

[exdraken]

thanks everybody for your input!

 

new as we are at it,

 

what advantages does the Hellfire- TOW mix bring to the battle?  as i understand it it is IR guidance vs wire guidance. And warhead size?

 

thanks!

 

Werner

[1903flight]

I understand, from reading an article in AFM a year or so ago, that the TOW warhead is smaller and is preferred when taking out a building etc and avoiding collateral damage.

 

Hellfire is a much more powerful weapon.

 

However TOW is also cheeper, and I suspect that is also part of the reason.

 

James