Formally designated because the Little Hen, the MH-6 helicopter has a extra apt, extra generally used nickname: the Killer Egg. The identify suits; the MH-6’s 24-foot-long, nine-foot-tall fuselage does bear resemblance to an egg. And the MH-6 does have killer efficiency specs. Able to carrying an assortment of weapons, rockets, and missiles, the sunshine helicopter is famend for its maneuverability – and has been in service for over 4 a long time, efficiently performing assault, evacuation, transportation, and remark missions for US Special Forces.
In 1980, whereas 52 American hostages had been held prisoner on the US Embassy in Iran, President Jimmy Carter approved Operation Eagle Claw – an try to rescue the American hostages. The operation’s plan was complicated – in brief, it referred to as for US Marine Corps pilots, flying US Navy RH-53D helicopters, working in live performance with CIA and Army floor forces, to fly to Iran, conduct a rescue raid, and exfiltrate US hostages. For the operation, conflict planners decided 4 helicopters can be wanted – however to play it secure, the operation can be aborted if fewer than six helicopters made it to Iran. Carter despatched eight. Solely 5 arrived safely (one had a hydraulic malfunction, one was caught in a sandstorm, and one had a cracked rotor blade). The mission was aborted. Carter misplaced his reelection bid to Ronald Reagan, and to today, when requested what he would do otherwise about his presidency, Carter says: I might have despatched one other helicopter.
The US determined to attempt once more. Operation Credible Sport was to be the second try to rescue the US hostages in Iran. However the debacle of Operation Eagle Claw demonstrated concretely the shortcomings inside the US helicopter stock. US forces wanted a particular process power, and a particular helicopter in the event that they had been going to tug the mission off this time. A particular process power was created, which has since grow to be referred to as the revered one hundred and sixtieth Aviation Battalion – the Night time Stalkers. For the suitable helicopter, the foundation of the answer lay inside the present stock, with the OH-6 Cayuse.
The MH-6 is a contemporary variant of the OH-6, which first flew in 1963. The OH-6 was a game-changer; when first launched, the Gentle Remark Helicopter set 23 world information – for pace, endurance, and climb price. Two endurance information nonetheless stand: Jack Schwiebold’s 1,739 closed circuit file, which he carried out at Edwards Air Power Base, and; Robert Ferry’s long-distance world file, which he achieved when he loaded up a ton of gasoline – a ton as in 2,000 kilos – and flew from Culver Metropolis, California to Ormond Seashore, Florida. Ferry coated 1,923 miles in 15 hours. Certainly, the OH-6 was a succesful helicopter.
The MH-6 is much more succesful. Whereas the unique OH-6 had a four-blade rotor, the MH-6 has a six-blade rotor – and usually improved efficiency specs.
Whereas Operation Credible Sport was referred to as off, naturally, when Iran launched their US hostages, the US determined to maintain the Night time Stalkers process power – and their new MH-6s – operational. The Night time Stalkers and the Killer Egg have persistently contributed to US particular operations for the final forty years, together with Grenada, Panama, Somalia, and Iraq. Each the Night time Stalkers and the MH-6 are effectively documented in Mark Bowden’s Black Hawk Down.
Harrison Kass is the Senior Protection Editor at 19FortyFive. An legal professional, pilot, guitarist, and minor professional hockey participant, he joined the US Air Power as a Pilot Trainee however was medically discharged. Harrison has levels from Lake Forest School, the College of Oregon, and New York College. He lives in Oregon and listens to Dokken. Comply with him on Twitter @harrison_kass.
