Apache helicopter mission in Iraq

[jvang125]

For those of you who have seen the video where some Iraqi soldiers were gunned down by a supposedly Apache attack helicopter, is it really an Apache? According to the title of the video it was an Apache but how could the Iraqi soldiers not hear the helicopter hovering nearby? It couldn't be that far away either because it looked like they were shooting some sort of heavy machine gun with 300 rounds so their range was limited.

can anyone confirm if it's really an Apache or just a fake title?

 

[MournSanity]

I'm wondering as well.

 

[HappyPuppy]

I can't answer your question, but I believe Apache helos have a "stealth" or "silent" mode they can go into while acquiring targets. Perhaps someone better schooled in military hardware will clear this up.

 

[fs5]

to me it looked like the targets in the video were some type of cilivian farms so they didn't think the aphace would fire upon them. but that's just me.

 

[Rage187]

link to vid?

 

[Shooters]

Originally posted by: Rage187
link to vid?

You can find it in this thread.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
I can't answer your question, but I believe Apache helos have a "stealth" or "silent" mode they can go into while acquiring targets. Perhaps someone better schooled in military hardware will clear this up.

I think you're thinking of the Commanche, which was cancelled.

 

[screw3d]

There seem to be a delay between the firing and the actual impact.. so the chopper must be some distance away?

 

[lobadobadingdong]

I used to do a lot of work on Hood as a subcontractor, the apache is a very quiet helo, anything over 200 yards away you can barely hear it.

edit: I watched the video, the background noise from the helo is most likely the apache, I can't think of any other helo that has the low volume high pitch whine, but I'm not an expert, I've just been around several.

 

[Isshinryu]

The Apache Longbow carries a M230 30mm chaingun with an maximum effective range of 4km, as witnessed during the Desert Storm Operation.

 

[Nyical]

M230 30mm Chain Gun has about 6km ( roughly 19,000ft ) range

 

[Isshinryu]

Originally posted by: Nyical
M230 30mm Chain Gun has about 6km ( roughly 19,000ft ) range

The bullet will go that far, but it won't hit what you're aiming at, and it won't go through any armored vehicle at that distance, either.

 

[jvang125]

I just watched the Apache vs Lotus video from Top Gear. Comparing the targeting system in that video with the Iraqi one, they are very similiar so I can safely say now that it is an Apache Helo blasting the soldiers and vehicals with its chaingun. Awesome!

 

[screw3d]

The apache is one amazing piece of machine

 

[datalink7]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5
to me it looked like the targets in the video were some type of cilivian farms so they didn't think the aphace would fire upon them. but that's just me.

That's because some ass edited the video. The full video, which I have on my computer but don't remember where I downloaded it, clearly shows those guys sticking RPG's in the field in the minute before the attack (which is what that one went running to grab before he got shot (the second guy)).

 

[Nyical]

Originally posted by: Isshinryu

Originally posted by: Nyical
M230 30mm Chain Gun has about 6km ( roughly 19,000ft ) range

The bullet will go that far, but it won't hit what you're aiming at, and it won't go through any armored vehicle at that distance, either.

Yep, this I know, he just asked a general question and I replied back with a general answer is all.

Now if he asked what the effective range and what type of round(s), how many rounds the Zpod carried
and the fire rate I would have told him

 

[Daaavo]

Here's the full video.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Come on guys, it is definatly AirWolf.

 

[Rogue]

As stated earlier, Apaches are very quiet, especially if they're sitting in behind a burm or something to mask the sound of the rotors. You can't hardly hear them until they're right up on you. I live near an Army installation and have been around helos all my life as both a Reservist and an Army brat growing up. I can say first hand that they're quiet until almost directly overhead.

Also, at maximum range with that cannon, they could have easily killed them the way they did using HE (high explosive) rounds which would only require them to get "close" to the target, not dead on as the round would simply explode upon impact. I'm fairly certain they wouldn't be using AP (armor piercing) rounds against those targets anyway.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Come on guys, it is definatly AirWolf.

Wow, that takes me back.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: datalink7

Originally posted by: fivespeed5
to me it looked like the targets in the video were some type of cilivian farms so they didn't think the aphace would fire upon them. but that's just me.

That's because some ass edited the video. The full video, which I have on my computer but don't remember where I downloaded it, clearly shows those guys sticking RPG's in the field in the minute before the attack (which is what that one went running to grab before he got shot (the second guy)).

I've got it as well, but no link. And a ~50MB (IIRC) video would rape my bandwidth in a heartbeat. I'll upload if someone's willing to host it.

But yeah, it is an Apache, those are HE rounds, and they were justified in firing. You don't like it, go whine in P&N.

- M4H

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: Rogue
As stated earlier, Apaches are very quiet, especially if they're sitting in behind a burm or something to mask the sound of the rotors. You can't hardly hear them until they're right up on you. I live near an Army installation and have been around helos all my life as both a Reservist and an Army brat growing up. I can say first hand that they're quiet until almost directly overhead.

Also, at maximum range with that cannon, they could have easily killed them the way they did using HE (high explosive) rounds which would only require them to get "close" to the target, not dead on as the round would simply explode upon impact. I'm fairly certain they wouldn't be using AP (armor piercing) rounds against those targets anyway.

I dont think Apaches can select which rounds they want to fire on an in-flight basis. I think they fire whatever mix of ammo they got loaded with.

But yeah, they were certainly firing HE rounds. But they may have been firing AP rounds, too.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
I can't answer your question, but I believe Apache helos have a "stealth" or "silent" mode they can go into while acquiring targets. Perhaps someone better schooled in military hardware will clear this up.

I think you're thinking of the Commanche, which was cancelled.

Army will be taking some of the Commanche technology and putting it into the Apache. (So they say)

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
I can't answer your question, but I believe Apache helos have a "stealth" or "silent" mode they can go into while acquiring targets. Perhaps someone better schooled in military hardware will clear this up.

I think you're thinking of the Commanche, which was cancelled.

Army will be taking some of the Commanche technology and putting it into the Apache. (So they say)

They say a lot of things.

But it would be nice to see something come of the Commanche project.

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: datalink7

Originally posted by: fivespeed5
to me it looked like the targets in the video were some type of cilivian farms so they didn't think the aphace would fire upon them. but that's just me.

That's because some ass edited the video. The full video, which I have on my computer but don't remember where I downloaded it, clearly shows those guys sticking RPG's in the field in the minute before the attack (which is what that one went running to grab before he got shot (the second guy)).

Yep. There is an edited version that has been passed around the net. The full version with audio shows them tossing the RPG in the field then trying to go grab it again. It also includes the audio of the communication back and forth (not sure who it is that's talking) to verify that they are sure it is a weapon before authorization is given to fire.

I posted a link to the full video in the the thread mentioned here:

Originally posted by: Shooters

Originally posted by: Rage187
link to vid?

You can find it in this thread.