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OH-58C Kiowa   OH-58D Kiowa   OH-58D Kiowa Warrior    

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The Bell OH-58C Kiowa Scout and Fire support helicopter is a recon chopper used by the NATO forces. Bell Helicopter manufactured the OH-58 for the United States Army based on the 206A JetRanger helicopter. The OH-58 has been in continuous use by the U.S. Army since 1969.

Equipped with a more robust engine, the OH-58C was supposed to solve many issues and concerns regarding the Kiowa's power. In addition to the upgraded engine, the OH-58C had unique IR suppression systems mounted on its turbine exhaust. Early "C" models featured flat-panel windscreens as an attempt to reduce glint from the sun, which could give away the aircraft's location to an enemy. The windscreens had a negative effect of limiting the forward view of the crew, a previous strength of the original design.

History[]

OH-58

Bell developed the D-250 design into the Model 206 aircraft, redesignated as YOH-4A in 1962, and produced five prototype aircraft for the Army's test and evaluation phase. The first prototype flew on 8 December 1962. The YOH-4A also became known as the Ugly Duckling in comparison to the other contending aircraft. Following a flyoff of the Bell, Hughes and Fairchild-Hiller prototypes, the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was selected in May 1965.

When the YOH-4A was rejected by the Army, Bell went about solving the problem of marketing the aircraft. In addition to the image problem, the helicopter lacked cargo space and only provided cramped quarters for the planned three passengers in the back. The solution was a fuselage redesigned to be more sleek and aesthetic, adding 16 cubic feet (0.45 m3) of cargo space in the process. The redesigned aircraft was designated as the Model 206A, and Bell President Edwin J. Ducayet named it the JetRanger denoting an evolution from the popular Model 47J Ranger.

In 1967, the Army reopened the LOH competition for bids because Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division could not meet the contractual production demands. Bell resubmitted for the program using the Bell 206A. Fairchild-Hiller failed to resubmit their bid with the YOH-5A, which they had successfully marketed as the FH-1100. In the end, Bell underbid Hughes to win the contract and the Bell 206A was designated as the OH-58A. Following the U.S. Army's naming convention for helicopters, the OH-58A was named Kiowa in honor of the Native American tribe.

These were used as Recon Helicopters in the Divisional Cavalry Air Troops along Armored Cavalry Regiment AIr Squadron has 6 in the three Air Cavalry Troops and 4 in the two attack troops. These were replaced by OH-58D.

Weapons[]

European Escalation[]

Weapons M134Minigun
Type Gatling Gun No Weapon No Weapon
Name M134 Minigun
Caliber 7.62mm
Ammo x 4000
Range Ground = N/A m
Helicopters = N/A m
This was first introduced in Wargame: AirLand Battle Airplanes = N/A m
Accuracy 4
AP Power 0
HE Power 1
Rate of fire 2499 r/min


Airland Battle[]

Weapons WAB Icon M134 Minigun
Type MMG No Weapon No Weapon
Name M134 Minigun
Caliber 7.62mm
Ammo x 2000
Range Ground = 1050 m
Helicopters = 875 m
This was first introduced in Wargame: AirLand Battle Airplanes = N/A m
Accuracy 4
AP Power N/A
HE Power 1
Suppression 36
Rate of fire 1052 r/min

Red Dragon[]

Weapons WRD Icon M134 Minigun
Type Gatling Gun No Weapon No Weapon
Name M134 Minigun
Caliber 7.62mm
Ammo x 2000
Range Ground = 1050 m
Helicopters = 1050 m
This was first introduced in Wargame: AirLand Battle Airplanes = N/A m
Accuracy 20%
Stabilizer 10%
AP Power N/A
HE Power 1
Suppression 36
Rate of fire 1052 r/min

Gallery[]

See also[]

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