OH-58 vs Taliban

[RIFLE_JTAC_TRAINING]

Hi,

 

I've been in the DCS A-10 since about 2010.  Once upon a time I was a JTAC with Canadian SOF.

In 2011 I had an amazing relationship with the OH-58 community.  I'd like to share an intimate moment between Canadian SOF, US ODA and several bad people doing bad things.

I hope this video gives everyone an idea of how to best employ the Polychop OH-58.  These guys and gals had huge nuts!  HUGE!!!

Enjoy.
 

 

 

[Coota0]

Where is that? I was in Kandahar 2012-2013. We replaced 2/6 Cav.

[RIFLE_JTAC_TRAINING]

Zanghabad.

[Coota0]

On 8/28/2021 at 1:52 PM, HAWG63 said:

Zanghabad.

Yup, I know the area.

[Gunrun_KS]

Kiowa pilots were good guys/gals.  They were good at resupply (dip/smokes) for the guys that did that stuff and M-4 Runs

[EricJ]

I dealt with them in 2008-2009 and they were a good bunch, but I was in the Kunar Province but still...  fun times.

[mkellytx]

Definitely good folks, summer of 2006 I was flew Iraqi planes out of Kirkuk.  The Air Force refused to give us radios or offer CSAR if we got shot down.  The Kiowa guys gave us their number and promised to come get us if we needed.  Fortunately, we never did, but no Kiowa pilot will ever need pay for their drink around me.

[Pappy2]

Hello everyone,
the Kiowa will soon be available for DCS, and I take advantage of this post to pay tribute to the crews that I was able to film and photograph in 2008 - 2009 in Kapisa/Nijrab French Tiger Force.
 

 

I have more photos if you want.

 

[Trigger]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing. Got more inside cockpit? Anyway - Please more!

[Pappy2]

So more photos:
OH-58 - "Arch Angel" - Nbr 20541 - A Troop, 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Squadron “Palehorse”, Kapisa 2009

The 17th Cavalry Regiment, Following a successful deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III, the Squadron was re-designated as 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry regiment on 10 April 2006, serving as part of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. 

In December 2008, the Squadron deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, establishing a base of operations at FOB Fenty, Jalalabad, Afghanistan. The Squadron served valiantly, earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Valorous Unit Award, and was recognized as the Army’s Top Aviation unit for their heroic and steadfast combat actions in the tough terrain and highly contested areas of Regional Command-East.

Approximately one year from their return from Jalalabad, the Squadron returned to Afghanistan in December 2010; this time establishing operations in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where they conducted, aggressive reconnaissance and security missions, as well as air assault security and training assistance to the Afghan Air Corps.

https://1cda.org/history/history-7-17c/

 

 

 

 

Edited June 2, 2024 by Pappy2

[YoYo]

Nice photos, thanx!

[Pappy2]

So more photos:
OH-58 - Nbr 20528 - 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Squadron “Palehorse”, Kapisa 2009

 

[Pappy2]

So more photos:
OH-58 - Nbr I-00559 Kapisa 2008

 

 

Edited June 6, 2024 by Pappy2

[markturner1960]

Wow, awesome shots....I think Polychops artists could do with taking a leaf out of Heatblurs book regarding the weathering in the cockpit .....Our version is pretty darn clean 

Edited June 6, 2024 by markturner1960

[MiG21bisFishbedL]

6 minutes ago, markturner1960 said:

Wow, awesome shots....I think Polychops artists could do with taking a leaf out of Heatblurs book regarding the weathering in the cockpit and exterior.....Our version is pretty darn clean 

I have to agree, that'd look super good.

[Pappy2]

So more photos:

 

 

Edited June 6, 2024 by Pappy2

[Pappy2]

The snow has arrived

 

 

 

Edited June 6, 2024 by Pappy2

[Pappy2]

Thank you very much for your comments.
A HUGE THANK YOU also to the OH-58 crew who supported us at that time.

These few photos are my tribute because I will not forget them.
They must not be forgotten.

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

Thank you for sharing these pictures! It is indeed great to have the little bird in DCS! 

[zerO_crash]

Granted, MD530F Cayuse, but it shows the conduct of attacks using machine guns in the same manner that Kiowa Warrior is used. Really good training material:

 

 

[Pappy2]

Indeed the "Cayuse" is also a good shooting platform

thanks for the video

[Nealius]

Was there anything done operationally to lighten them for the hot weather in Afghanistan? I've been building an Afghanistan sandbox mission and set the weather as close to current real weather as possible: 40C, 29.43 or thereabouts. At DCS Afghanistan's elevation that gives an actual mission temp of 33C, but my friends in their Kiowas can't get them off the ground without lowering the mission temp to the 20s or teens. 

[Pappy2]

Hello "Nealius"
I think that altitude and heat, like the cold in winter, was a factor that the pilots had to take into account in Afghanistan for the Kiowa and other helicopters.

I know for example that the SA342 Gazelle that flew exclusively with the EC725 Caracal, had the guns and missile mounts removed to save weight. The Gazelles were used only for reconnaissance and searches thanks to the "Vivianne" camera.

Summer in Afghanistan, which combines everything a helicopter hates: high temperatures and altitudes that inevitably degrade the performance of the aircraft (36 °C and at 2000 meters altitude) French helicopters operated at the end of their limits, which is why they flew a lot at night.

Each advanced FOB had a helipad for refueling ammunition and fuel for the helicopters. Moreover, during operations, the helicopters often returned to refuel.
It is therefore quite possible that the helicopter pilots had to calculate as accurately as possible the weight between the ammunition and the fuel carried and the support duration of the units in the area.

Edited August 18, 2024 by Pappy2