How were helicopters used in the Vietnam War?

Answer 1

Helicopter Pilots landed troops onto foreign soil, several stating they could smell the death in the air, also they evacuated the wounded. Firing cover for the troops, The door gunners &Pilots had a short life-span. The Pilots did use loud speakers on their choppers to put the "fear" of their music into the north(ex."Paint It Black") VC. And each time they landed in a "Hot" LZ meant enemy fire each time. The Choppers were invaluable in Viet Nam. RIP SSgt. Roy D. Nelson, 173rd AB & 82nd "Blackhorse" Armoured Calvary.1967-1971

Answer 2

Prior to the 20th century, men had to march or ride horse's to battle. From WW2 into Korea, men had to ride machines (tanks, trucks, carriers, parachute, etc.), or walk into battle. Those modes of transportation caused men to fight few battles, as travel time took time away from fighting. The helicopter allowed men to fly into battle quickly; depart the battlefield quickly; and deploy into another battle quickly. The helicopter allowed fighting men to fight MORE battles in one week, whereas before the helicopter, men could only fight one battle in that same time period. See General Westmoreland's remarks: Statistics About the Vietnam War

Answer 3

Because for the first time in the history of mankind, helicopters were used for nearly everything in a war:

1. Transportation of troops.
2. Transportation of artillery.
3. Transportation of wounded and dead.
4. Transportation of fuel and ammunition.
5. Transportation of Riverine Boats.
6. Transportation of M113 APC/ACAVs.
7. Transportation of fixed wing airplanes.
8. Transportation of other helicopters.
9. Entering enemy territory and rescuing downed US airmen.
10. The worlds first in combat general service attack helicopter: AH-1 Cobra.
11. The helicopter (OH-6 Cayuse) REPLACED the US Army's O-1 Bird Dog artillery observation airplane.

Every helicopter you see today anywhere in the world...police, ambulance, telephone pole repairmen, power line towers in the mountains, are the result of the helicopter experience of the Vietnam War.