Aerial Rocket Artillery
Encyclopedia
Although sometimes used as a generic term for any armed helicopter
s, the term Aerial Rocket Artillery (abbreviated ARA, and sometimes just called Aerial Artillery) refers specifically to the armed helicopter
units which were organic to the division artillery
of the United States Army
’s two airmobile divisions during the Vietnam War
. The 2nd Battalion, 20th Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division and the 4th Battalion, 77th Artillery, 101st Airborne Division
, along with Battery F, 79th Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, were the only true ARA units that ever existed.
, the United States Army began experimenting with expanding capabilities and uses for them. In 1963, the 11th Air Assault Division was activated to test the concept of air mobility. Because the 8" and 175mm howitzer
s then organic to Army divisions as general support artillery were not transportable by helicopters, ARA was developed as a substitute. When the 11th Air Assault was deactivated in 1965, then reactivated as the 1st Cavalry Division and sent to Vietnam, the 2/20th artillery, “Blue Max
” became the first ARA unit to go into combat. The 4/77th artillery joined the 101st Airborne Division in 1969 becoming the second active ARA battalion. Battery F, 79th artillery, was formed from elements of the 2/20th as units were being withdrawn from combat.
as they became available.
The primary weapon of the ARA units was the 2.75" Folding Fin Aerial Rocket (FFAR)
. While the B and C model UH-1s could carry up to 48 of these rockets in two racks of 24 each (XM-3 subsystem), the faster, more powerful Cobras could carry 76. In addition to the rockets, the UH-1s carried a single M60 machine gun
s as defensive weapons operated by the aircraft's Crew Chief, while the Cobras were armed with 7.62mm minigun
s and 40mm grenade launchers. Some UH-1s were also armed with the AGM-22 wire guided missile and later versions of the Cobra with 20mm cannon
.
(LZ) preps, interdiction, and counter-battery fire. In addition to normal artillery missions, the helicopters were also employed as escorts for medevac
and re-supply helicopters. They also were teamed with light observation helicopters to perform reconnaissance missions.
near the A Shau Valley
, in what was to be the last major battle involving US ground forces.
At the battle of An Loc
, on April 13, 1972, an AH-1G from Battery F, 79th Artillery became the first helicopter in history to engage and destroy an enemy tank, thus helping to secure the helicopter’s place on the modern battlefield.
Armed helicopter
An armed helicopter is a helicopter equipped with weapons. Most commonly, it is used for attacking targets on the ground. Such helicopter could be either purposely designed for the ground-attack mission—in which case it would be more specifically categorized as an attack helicopter—or could be...
s, the term Aerial Rocket Artillery (abbreviated ARA, and sometimes just called Aerial Artillery) refers specifically to the armed helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
units which were organic to the division artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
’s two airmobile divisions during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. The 2nd Battalion, 20th Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division and the 4th Battalion, 77th Artillery, 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
, along with Battery F, 79th Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, were the only true ARA units that ever existed.
Beginnings
After the helicopter proved its effectiveness in the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, the United States Army began experimenting with expanding capabilities and uses for them. In 1963, the 11th Air Assault Division was activated to test the concept of air mobility. Because the 8" and 175mm howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
s then organic to Army divisions as general support artillery were not transportable by helicopters, ARA was developed as a substitute. When the 11th Air Assault was deactivated in 1965, then reactivated as the 1st Cavalry Division and sent to Vietnam, the 2/20th artillery, “Blue Max
Blue Max
Blue Max is an informal name of Pour le Mérite, a German military decoration from 1740 until the end of World War I.Blue Max may also refer to:* Blue Max , introduced in 1983* Blue Max , released in 1983...
” became the first ARA unit to go into combat. The 4/77th artillery joined the 101st Airborne Division in 1969 becoming the second active ARA battalion. Battery F, 79th artillery, was formed from elements of the 2/20th as units were being withdrawn from combat.
Organization and equipment
Each ARA battalion consisted of one H&HB (Headquarters & Headquarters Battery) and three firing batteries. Each firing battery was equipped with 12 attack helicopters. Initially the units were supplied with Bell UH-1B and UH-1C model helicopters but these were replaced with the newer AH-1G CobrasAH-1 Cobra
The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois...
as they became available.
The primary weapon of the ARA units was the 2.75" Folding Fin Aerial Rocket (FFAR)
Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket
The Mk 4 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket , sometimes called the Mighty Mouse, was a 2.75 in diameter unguided rocket weapon commonly used by U.S. military aircraft. It was intended as an air-to-air weapon to allow interceptor aircraft to shoot down enemy bombers with greater range and effectiveness than...
. While the B and C model UH-1s could carry up to 48 of these rockets in two racks of 24 each (XM-3 subsystem), the faster, more powerful Cobras could carry 76. In addition to the rockets, the UH-1s carried a single M60 machine gun
M60 machine gun
The M60 is a family of American general-purpose machine guns firing 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of M13 links...
s as defensive weapons operated by the aircraft's Crew Chief
Minigun
The Minigun is a 7.62 mm, multi-barrel heavy machine gun with a high rate of fire , employing Gatling-style rotating barrels with an external power source...
s and 40mm grenade launchers. Some UH-1s were also armed with the AGM-22 wire guided missile and later versions of the Cobra with 20mm cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
.
Missions
The aerial artillery batteries could and did perform any type of fire mission as performed by conventional tube artillery. These missions included support of ground troops, landing zoneLanding Zone
A Landing Zone or "LZ" is a military term for any area where an aircraft can land.In the United States military, a landing zone is the actual point where aircraft land...
(LZ) preps, interdiction, and counter-battery fire. In addition to normal artillery missions, the helicopters were also employed as escorts for medevac
MEDEVAC
Medical evacuation, often termed Medevac or Medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to the wounded being evacuated from the battlefield or to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities using...
and re-supply helicopters. They also were teamed with light observation helicopters to perform reconnaissance missions.
Notable achievements
ARA participated in both the first and last major battles in Vietnam for US ground troops. In 1970 it was the 4/77th that was heavily engaged at FSB RipcordFSB Ripcord
The Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord was a 23 day battle between the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and the North Vietnamese Army from July 1, 1970 until July 23, 1970. It was the last major confrontation between United States ground forces and North Vietnam of the Vietnam War. Little was...
near the A Shau Valley
A Shau Valley
The A Shau Valley is a valley in Vietnam's, Thừa Thiên province, west of the city of Huế along the border with Laos. The valley was one of the key entry points into South Vietnam for men and matériel brought along the Ho Chi Minh Trail by the communist forces and was the scene of heavy fighting...
, in what was to be the last major battle involving US ground forces.
At the battle of An Loc
An Loc
An Loc is a small town in Bình Phước Province in southern Vietnam, located approximately 90 km north of Saigon with a population of 15,000...
, on April 13, 1972, an AH-1G from Battery F, 79th Artillery became the first helicopter in history to engage and destroy an enemy tank, thus helping to secure the helicopter’s place on the modern battlefield.
