The Helicopter War: How Gunships Ruled the Air in Vietnam

While helicopters were used to some extent during World War II, and more frequently during the Korean War, widespread use took off during the conflict in Vietnam. Also known as the “Helicopter War,” the US military relied on helicopters and other gunships during the Vietnam War to transport troops, weapons, and supplies over the difficult terrain of the dense jungle environment. In addition to transportation, gunships were heavily armed and used for combat missions. (Also see every vehicle used in the Vietnam War.)

24/7 Wall St. has compiled a list of gunships (fixed-wing and rotary) used by the US during the Vietnam War by reviewing 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.

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)

Mil Mi-4 Hound '0538' (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

• 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

Hatzerim 240615 Samson 03 (CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED) by Oren Rozen

• 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

Douglas C-47A Skytrain u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u00982928... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

• 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)

Soviet Helicopter Mil' Mi-8. u00d0... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Andrey Korchagin

• 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