How crap are helicopter gun ships?

[BeBMan]

Yes, they do, some were shown over Umm Qasr recently

[BeBMan]

Slight threadjack

Btw, has someone an idea why the attack near Karbala (were one Apache was lost) was carried out by attack helis, and not by "normal" airpower (jets)?

I mean - didn´t they know the AA capacity in that area, or did they underestimate it (and were finally suprised by the real strength)? I thought in such cases they would try to soften up those positions by airstrikes, and that they would try to destroy AA weapons at first.

Here´s a CNN report about that

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/23/apache.attack/index.html

[ixnay]

Apparently it was shot down by a farmer. With a rifle.

[*End Is Forever*]

I read that the Apache in question was "shot down by farmers"...

[CerberusIV]

It seems strange as the Apache doesn't show much damage. No evidence of a missile or even that it got caught in a burst of automatic cannon fire. They are supposed to be largely resistant to 23mm cannon fire (from Soviet ZSU-23 AAA) so the idea that an Iraqi farmer shot one down with a rifle is pretty ludicrous.

Are there any shots of the tail rotor? Damage to that area seems the most likely cause of the crew having to put down.

[*End Is Forever*]

Lucky shot, obviously.

[*End Is Forever*]

That, or it wasn't actually brought down by a farmer at all. Good propoganda for the Iraqi government to say that it was... the 'copter does look pretty much undamaged on the TV pictures I've seen.

Technical fault perhaps?

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by *End Is Forever*
Technical fault perhaps?

Infinitely more likely.

[BeBMan]

Well, yes I read the farmer story too, but I find it hard to believe. I also think it is strange that the heli on TV looked so good - even all the missiles were under the little wings...

Maybe it is possible to down it with a lucky shot, I don´t know, but it is still strange...

[Demerzel]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


LOL at this - see you at the end of the war. You just earned a little time off - for the duration.

gj

On topic - IIRC there were supposed to be serious adverse conditions when the helicopters crashed into each other including high winds and a nasty sandstorm?

[Tolls]

As has been mentioned the Sea King is being replaced by the Merlin (EH101), another of those great cost and time overrun defence projects of the 90s...not sure how far they've got with the replacement program, but obviously not far enough (since I think they should all have been replaced some 3 years ago).

[CerberusIV]

The UK ordered about 60 Merlins and Westland have sold a few elsewhere. However Westland are now warning about low order books and laying off workers. The unions are asking for more MoD orders. (I can't remember the link but search the BBC website for helicopters and the story will come up)

[*End Is Forever*]

The trade unionists are opposed to war and conflict... unless their members' jobs are at risk. Hypocrites.

[Tolls]

Amicus, the main union representing the lot at the plant, were one of the three unions to block a "No war" vote at last years TUC thingamajig. They supported a war with UN backing.

At least get your facts straight...

[*End Is Forever*]

I never let the facts get in the way of a good rant at trade unionists...

Besides, saying you support "a war with UN backing" when one country has made it clear that they will block any resolution regardless is absolutely meaningless.