Originally Posted by implicature

Basically i think that any tool or weapon the USMC gets our hands on will thrive. Just give the Marines time to work on this ugly beast. We will surely use it in ways that the designers never though possible and if this thing can help save Marines and KILL the enemy we will take it.

That is the heart of what makes me proud to be a vet.

wouldn't sponson mounted stores above the wheel wells be a relatively easy fix?

make then steerable though the pilots helmet.



(or have i been reading too much dale brown :blush: )

Implicature put it best.

I wish these men luck. It's quite a bit larger than a helicopter, and it's had issues before.

Originally Posted by mmarsh

But we have been down that path before. The Vietnam War taught some very valuable lessons about the dangers of landing unarmed Troop Transport Helicopters into hot zones. If you look at they development of the Huey during Vietnam it went from totally unarmed, to gunship, a reaction of how vulnerable they were.

Given the fact that the its mission profile is to drop troops in combat zones (like the Huey) you'd think the devolpement team might have read a history book or two when the Osprey was on the drawing board.

I am not against the Osprey, but its taking an awfully long time to get it ready.

When you consider that the lift assests it's designed to replace generally are only armed with M-2HBMG'S or M240 or M60D's in tubs in the side hatches you can't really call 46's or 53's heavily armed even on the rare occasions they are fitted out with GAU2B'S.

That's why you send slick's in with gun cover.

Originally Posted by 03USMC

When you consider that the lift assests it's designed to replace generally are only armed with M-2HBMG'S or M240 or M60D's in tubs in the side hatches you can't really call 46's or 53's heavily armed even on the rare occasions they are fitted out with GAU2B'S.

That's why you send slick's in with gun cover.

But I don't think that model (gunships protecting the transports) is going to be able to be used anymore because the Osprey has a much greater speed and range than your AH-1 Cobra gunship helicopter.

I believe the average speed of the MV-22 is 246mph the AH-1Z is only about 175mph. Thats a very large speed difference. The Gunships are going to have a tough time keeping up. The F-35B might be able to help in this role, although its not a true Gunship.