24/7 Wall St. Insights

• We used data from the Military Factory online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft
• Vietnam: The War That Changed America, a new docuseries by Apple TV+, was recently announced to be in the works
• Also, 2 Dividend Legends To Hold Forever

The Vietnam War is also known as the first helicopter war, which saw widespread use of these rotary-based aircraft. The UH-1 Iroquois made a name for themselves throughout the conflict, as well as the Huey Cobra. These aircraft provided close air support for troops on the ground, whether it was a fixed-wing gunship strafing the battlefield or a helicopter providing cover fire to evacuate soldiers. Both of these types of gunships were instrumental in executing U.S. military strategy and would set a precedent in military doctrine for decades to come.

Vietnam: The War That Changed America, a new docuseries by Apple TV+, was recently announced to be in the works. This series will explore many different aspects of the conflict, ranging from the societal impact on America to the iconography that sprung from it. Black Hawk helicopters first saw widespread use throughout the war, and these were just one of many vehicles, guns, or aircraft that gained iconic status.

Here, 24/7 Wall St. focuses on the gunships that were used in the duration, whether fixed-wing or rotary. To identify the American gunship aircraft of the Vietnam War, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of aircraft from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft used in militaries worldwide. We ordered these gunships chronologically and included supplemental information from the Military Factory regarding the type, manufacturer, top speed, and armament.

The AC-47 Spooky was one of the early gunships that mounted miniguns to the side of a C-47 Skytrain. These miniguns were effective in laying down heavy fire in a concentrated area. Later iterations of these fixed-wing gunships would actually incorporate a high-caliber howitzer that could take out more than just infantry.

Why Are We Covering This?

The Vietnam War was one of the first modern military conflicts to employ helicopters and fighter jets. As such, the tactics and strategies used throughout the conflict would be studied and refined for years to come. Understanding this facet of the conflict gives context to the overall conflict and provides insight into the evolution of military doctrine.

Here is a look at the gunships that fought the Vietnam War.

C-47 (Skytrain / Dakota)

• Type: Medium transport aircraft
• Manufacturer: Douglas
• Year introduced: 1942
• Top speed: 230 mph
• Armament: 12.7mm machine guns, 7.62mm machine guns

C-119 Flying Boxcar

• Type: Military transport/gunship aircraft
• Manufacturer: Fairchild
• Year introduced: 1949
• Top speed: 281 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm miniguns, 20mm Vulcan automatic cannons

H-19 Chickasaw

• Type: Multirole helicopter
• Manufacturer: Sikorsky
• Year introduced: 1950
• Top speed: 101 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm machine guns, 12.7mm machine guns, rocket pods

Mil Mi-4 (Hound)

• Type: Multirole utility helicopter
• Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
• Year introduced: 1953
• Top speed: 115 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm machine guns, rocket pods

Piasecki H-21 Workhorse

• Type: Tandem-rotor helicopter
• Manufacturer: Piasecki Helicopter
• Year introduced: 1953
• Top speed: 127 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm machine guns, 12.7mm machine guns, rocket pods

H-34 / CH-34 Choctaw

• Type: Close-air support helicopter
• Manufacturer: Sikorsky
• Year introduced: 1954
• Top speed: 173 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm machine guns, rocket pods

C-130 Hercules

• Type: Multirole transport aircraft
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
• Year introduced: 1956
• Top speed: 373 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm miniguns, 20mm Vulcan automatic cannons, 40mm cannons, 105mm field gun

UH-1 Iroquois

• Type: Multirole helicopter
• Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
• Year introduced: 1959
• Top speed: 137 mph
• Armament: 12.7mm machine guns, 7.62 machine guns, rocket pods, drop bombs, various calibers of cannons

SH-3 Sea King

• Type: Maritime patrol helicopter
• Manufacturer: Sikorsky
• Year introduced: 1961
• Top speed: 166 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm machine guns, Mk 44 or 46 torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, depth charges

UH-1B/C Huey Cobra / Frog

• Type: Gunship helicopter
• Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
• Year introduced: 1962
• Top speed: 95 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm machine guns, miniguns, rocket pods, 40mm grenade launcher

AC-47 Spooky

• Type: Fixed-wing gunship aircraft
• Manufacturer: Douglas
• Year introduced: 1965
• Top speed: 233 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm machine guns, Gatling guns

Mil Mi-8 (Hip)

• Type: Multirole medium-lift helicopter
• Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
• Year introduced: 1967
• Top speed: 162 mph
• Armament: Rocket pods, Swatter anti-tank missiles, Sagger anti-tank missiles, gun pods, 12.7mm machine guns

AC-119 (Shadow / Stinger)

• Type: Close-air support gunship
• Manufacturer: Fairchild
• Year introduced: 1968
• Top speed: 208 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm miniguns, 20mm Vulcan automatic cannons

AC-130H Spectre / AC-130 Spooky

• Type: Close-air support/force protection gunship
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Boeing
• Year introduced: 1972
• Top speed: 300 mph
• Armament: 20mm Gatling style cannons, 40mm automatic cannons, 105mm field gun

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.