Attack helicopters
The granddaddy of US attack helicopter was the AH-1G HueyCobra, which was developed during the war in Vietnam. The helicopters were mainly used to escort troop-carrying helicopters and to provide close-air support. Over the years newer and more advanced versions of the HueyCobra were developed and the USMC still uses Cobra variants, represented in this picture by the currently most numerous model: the AH-1W SuperCobra (on the right). The US Army went in a different direction. They continued to use Cobras for many years after the end of the war, but what they really needed was a counter for the vast numerical superiority in tanks and armour of the Warsaw Pact. The AH-64 Apache, shown on the left, grew out of this.
Attack helicopters
The granddaddy of US attack helicopter was the AH-1G HueyCobra, which was developed during the war in Vietnam. The helicopters were mainly used to escort troop-carrying helicopters and to provide close-air support. Over the years newer and more advanced versions of the HueyCobra were developed and the USMC still uses Cobra variants, represented in this picture by the currently most numerous model: the AH-1W SuperCobra (on the right). The US Army went in a different direction. They continued to use Cobras for many years after the end of the war, but what they really needed was a counter for the vast numerical superiority in tanks and armour of the Warsaw Pact. The AH-64 Apache, shown on the left, grew out of this.